To Melt The Snow, Epilogue
Series: Thor (Movie), The Avengers (Movie)
Characters: Thor, Loki, Odin, Bruce Banner, The Avengers
Couple: Thor/Loki
Title: To Melt The Snow
Word Count: 5652
Chapter: 20/20
Status: Complete
Rating: R/Mature
Disclaimer: I have no claim whatsoever on any the marvel franchises at all, I'm just borrowing them for my story that will bring me no money whatsoever. I shall be forever broke.
Summary: Loki is sentenced to death and in order to save him, Thor must take him to one of the most dangerous places for his brother to be: Midgard.
(For jenniebennie, who wanted to see their wedding. I considered breaking up the wedding night into a separate chapter, like a part b of the epilogue, but it failed to flow right if I did that, so here’s your warning that this is not worksafe.)
The activity that bustled around him didn’t seem to disturb or upset Balder. The boy was watching with wide eyes at the people that were still setting up the small church with the necessary items. Loki wasn’t sure all the extra preparation was necessary, Odin could marry them in the bathroom if he wanted, but Tony had insisted that there was a certain way of doing things and no one seemed keen to talk him out of it besides himself.
When a man he didn’t know, likely a member of SHIELD, was clearly heading his way to put a vase of flowers where he was standing, Loki ducked out of the way and out a side door. He held Balder tightly to him, but there were no other humans besides the ones he knew and SHIELD agents. As he wandered away, he heard someone call out to him that he shouldn’t leave the secured area.
Loki hadn’t realized just how badly the revelation of their relationship would be. The backlash had been enormous, to the point that the Avengers had feared for his safety, and when Balder became known, it had only increased the fervor. The only reason he had still been on Midgard was because Loki had put his foot down about leaving and going to Asgard without Thor. It was hardly going to be safer, despite the fact that his child wasn’t such a shock there.
“Getting cold feet?”
He blinked and turned to see Tony standing there, crossing his arms. He’d worn a suit, and in fact, all the Avengers had dressed up for the event. “My feet are not cold, no, but I suspect that what you said is less literal and more figurative in your charming little language,” he said, shifting Balder as he began to toothlessly chew away on a necklace Loki wore.
“It means, are you thinking of backing out of marrying Thor.”
Loki’s gaze narrowed. “You think that I would hurt Thor in such a way, when I know how much it means to him?”
“Everybody has cold feet just before they get married.”
“I do not.”
“Then where are you going?”
He looked around. He hadn’t realized in his wandering, lost thoughts just how far away he’d gotten from the church. “Nowhere,” he answered honestly.
“Then get back there before you give Fury a heart attack by slipping his security. Which are in place, I might add in passing, to protect you.”
“I am fully capable of protecting myself,” he spat, but did turn around and walk back slowly.
“Yeah, but we’d rather you not have to. So who, exactly, did Thor go to get from Asgard?”
“Were you not listening when I explained it?”
“Nope,” the man said with an unrepentant shrug.
“Then why should I tell you now?”
“Because I helped you when you were in labor, and because you owe me for almost burning out my eyes when I saw you two in flagrante delicto.”
Loki felt like he was missing something when he didn’t know the words, but the point was brought across by the emphasis Tony put on the phrase and the suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows. He rolled his eyes and cursed internally his future husband. It was all because of Thor that he’d gone so soft.
“The Allfather, Frigga, and the Warrior’s Three and Sif.”
“So…Sif’s coming then. Despite having held a torch for Thor for years.”
The church came into view again, but no one accosted him for leaving. “She is not as petty as she seems, I suppose.”
“You really don’t like her, do you?”
“No.”
“You do know she isn’t a threat to you, right? Thor’s so head over heels for you, he’d probably disembowel himself if you asked. …That was dark, I must be hanging around you too much,” the genius added with a grin.
“No, she is not a threat.”
“Then who… Jane? Are you still worried about her?”
“Thor only left Jane because of our deal. That does not mean that he does not hold feelings for her.”
“So…what, you think if they’re ever in the same room together, it’ll be like two magnets and they’ll instantly rip each other’s clothes off and go at it like rabbits? Sorry, Loki, he’s only like that with you. It’s a wonder he even lets you wear clothes with how often he takes them off.”
Loki worked hard to prevent the flush coming to his cheeks at Tony’s comments. “Stark-”
“Loki!”
Balder let out a coo of delight as Banner called to him and gestured. “Thor’s here, so it’s time to get ready.”
Loki nodded, but before he could go in through the front door, Tony had grabbed his arm. “No, over here. Thor can’t see you before the wedding.”
“…Is this another of your traditions?”
“Yes.”
Banner smiled indulgently at the two of them and led the way back to the side door and a small room. Frigga was there with her arms full of clothes. “Loki,” she said warmly. “I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time.”
Reluctantly Loki handed over his son to the soft-spoken scientist. “I do not recognize those clothes.”
“I had them made for you, just like I did Thor. Such an occasion only comes once.”
“I shall remind you that I did not ask for any occasion,” he argued with a glare as he began to pull off his clothes. “I would have been content to have the Allfather say the rites back at our home.”
He only realized his slip of the tongue when he saw Tony smirk and Bruce smile widely, but in the interest of not embarrassing himself further, he didn’t acknowledge it. “You would regret not having a ceremony later in life, Loki,” Frigga murmured.
“Everyone keeps saying that, but I shall retain my skepticism of that statement, thank you,” he muttered. Given what happened before, neither Bruce or Tony seemed particularly embarrassed as he dropped his pants and stood naked in front of them. He glanced over to Balder at a noise he made and touched his head softly.
Reluctantly telling himself that he had to get dressed and that the ceremony would be over fairly quickly so he could hold his son again, Loki turned away. What Frigga had had made for him was beautiful and the work incredible. It was predominantly black and green with quite a bit of gold and splashes of white expertly placed. He studied it and he could feel the magic in the threads, which explained the amazing needlework. The material was light and smooth and it almost felt as if he wore nothing at all when he pulled it on. First the black pants, the sides embroidered with gold and green, then a pure white shirt. A vest went over that, black to set off the color, but you almost couldn’t tell with the threads of gold around white material. Now that he looked closely at it, he noticed that, in fact, on each side of the buttons the white material was made so that it resembled the wings of Thor’s helm.
He rolled his eyes, but put it on and ignored his mother’s satisfied look. There were two coats that went with it, one lighter and shorter. It was half white and when he pulled it on, he heard a snicker behind him. Frowning, he looked at Tony, who seemed to struggle not to laugh, and turned to Banner silently for explanation.
The scientist was also smiling and he shifted Baldur, gesturing at a three-piece mirror set up in the corner. He turned to look at the back and then snapped his head to glare at his mother. Like the design on his vest, this was also of Thor’s helm. It was made of white material, with that gleaming green and gold edging made in a stylized silhouette of his lover’s helm. Frigga gave him an impish smile and he couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her, if only because she was his mother.
Loki grabbed the final outer coat made of heavier material than the rest, clearly leather. It was the most elaborate, the colors the most vibrant, and as he settled it in place, Frigga wrapped a white cloak around his back and attached it. He missed his usual green, but kept his grumbling to minimum. It was longer than usual, trailing the floor, which would mean it was only for ceremonial purposes. It would get in the way if he had to fight.
Loki sighed heavily, once and kissed Baldur’s forehead before pulling on his helm. It comforted him to wear it. He hadn’t since his attempted invasion of Midgard. His mother looked him over critically, adjusted the cloak and jacket once, then nodded. “Are you ready, Loki?”
I was ready four months ago, he thought in annoyance, but said, “Yes.”
Tony opened the door to the church proper and left first and he could almost see the genius winking at the Avengers. Bruce shifted Balder in his arms and with a nod of encouragement, followed his friend. Frigga took Loki’s hand and he turned, staring into her eyes and realizing right then when he saw her understanding and compassion that he really was nervous. His stomach was clenching for reasons he couldn’t name. He knew that this was just a formality. Thor loved him, they’d stay together regardless, so why did he feel this way?
So instead, he bit his lip briefly, squeezed her fingers, and then held out his arm to her. She slid her hand into the crook of his arm and it was then he noticed that she had truly dressed for the occasion. He had only ever seen her wear such a beautiful dress in the images of her wedding with his…with the Allfather. Tony had insisted loudly that it was the father that walked down the aisle with the ‘bride’, but Loki had been adamant. Besides, Odin had to officiate for it to be recognized in Asgard and there was no sense in doing it twice. Laufey was hardly available, so they had compromised: his mother would walk with him.
It was a small gathering of SHIELD agents, the Avengers, and his family from Asgard. The room itself was very changed from when they’d first arrived at almost the middle of the night. The humans had actually moved the benches to the side, leaving everyone standing. This was more like a wedding in Asgard, as no one sat during the ceremony, but it was less about making the Asgardians comfortable and more because Fury insisted that they would have the dancing and reception there as well since it was easier to secure just one location and keep the press away.
The Avengers and the Warriors Three and Sif were near the head of the church where Odin stood on a raised area. Once he’d looked in that direction, Loki’s eyes were drawn to Thor and he gulped silently, just a little, and resisted the urge to hold off the ceremony for a few hours while he shoved his lover into a room for some intense sex.
Because Thor was gorgeous. His hair, for once, had been brushed and the braids designed to represent his status as a warrior and the Prince of Asgard. It was just a quick glimpse before his helm was on, as if he had forgotten it and only remembered when he saw Loki’s. His clothing was a mirror Loki’s, only red where the trickster’s was green. He was beaming at his brother, but there was a dark, heated look in his eye that said he was feeling the same impulse to spend some time alone in the most carnal of senses. Mjolnir was sitting on a small table brought specifically for that purpose, almost like a place of honor. Despite knowing what he looked like, and that it was good, Loki felt almost shabby in comparison to his future husband. He seemed to gleam just a little, all light and gold, with a flare to his cape that was both annoyingly dramatic and so Thor that it made it hard to breathe.
The distance he had to walk was short and he was thankful for Frigga because she was the one that brought their hands together, breaking him of his stunned state. She continued forward after that, moving to stand next to her husband and her gown resting over the steps in front of them. She truly made every woman pale in comparison, Loki thought fondly.
Despite the surroundings, the rest of the wedding was in Asgardian customs. Thor turned to his father and said loudly, with pride and an embarrassing amount of enthusiasm, “I petition the Allfather to bind Loki and I in union.”
Odin, who had remained silent and motionless as a statue in his ceremonial robes and helm, finally shifted. “Your petition has been heard, and will be granted.” That wizened hand reached out and rested on top of their joined ones. “I give my blessing, as King of Asgard and as a father. Let your union form and be recognized among all the worlds on Ysggradil.”
Frigga turned and picked up a small, golden box. She carefully opened the lid and presented it toward Loki and Thor. Sitting there, nestled on a soft cloth, were two rings. Like their clothes, these had clearly been made specifically for this occasion. Thor picked up a gold band that had a design that mirrored the stylized silhouette on the back of his coat and eased it onto Loki’s finger. He could feel the same strong enchantment on it as the engagement ring, prompting him to fight down the color that wanted to come to his cheeks. So Odin was expecting more grandchildren then?
Loki picked up the remaining ring and marveled at it a bit. He could only assume this stylized silhouette of his helm was on the back of Thor’s inner coat as well. His thumb ran over the gold ring, but he felt no magic on it. That didn’t mean he couldn’t place one, but at the last minute he decided against it. He had to, had to trust that Thor would not leave him and return to Jane. If he didn’t trust him now, then their entire relationship, both their own and any of his children, would be ruined. Trust did not come easily to him, but he would rather force himself to trust than sabotage his own future.
So he slipped the unenchanted ring onto his lover’s finger until it rested snug against his knuckle. Thor was beaming, the fool, as Odin said, voice booming despite not speaking loudly, “The union is complete.”
Loki was about to turn as those around them began to applaud, but Thor’s arm swept around his waist and dragged him close, almost dipping him back as suddenly their lips met. He could feel Thor’s passion crashing into him like a wave against the shore, and he tried not to moan as he returned it. His fingers clenched into his husband’s cloak and he felt the man’s other hand slid down his back, settling onto his rear as if it belonged there.
Only a throat clearing kept Loki from wrapping his leg around Thor’s. It still took several long seconds before they could bear to break their lips apart and Thor didn’t even give a sheepish grin like he was expecting. Instead he turned and beamed at the crowd of Avengers, SHIELD agents, and Asgardians. Volstagg was clearly restraining himself from demanding a drink in celebration of the event, and in fact Loki was surprised to see that all of the Warrior’s Three seemed happy, even Sif. The usually surly Fury was smiling too.
“All right, off you too go for a bit while we get the tables out and ready for dancing and whatnot,” Tony said, gesturing with his hands in a shooing motion.
Loki turned to look at Balder, who had fallen asleep in Bruce’s arms in concern, but the man shook his head. “This is your wedding day and you two should spend some time alone.”
Thor trusted far more easily than he did, and he nodded at his friend’s words. Mjolnir flew across the short distance to his hand and Thor proudly led Loki out of the church. There was a surprising gust of wind making their cloaks flap in the air and a low rumble of thunder despite the bright and cloudless sky, and he said, “Thor, at least control your emotions a little!”
“I cannot help it,” Thor told him, touching his face just a little. “Would you begrudge me my happiness?”
He softened just a little, damning his partner for making him so indulgent. “…No.”
This time their kiss was soft and slow and only when they pulled apart did Thor hold him closer. Mjolnir swung in his hand several times before they were in the air. For the first time, Loki did not resent being flown. This was not Thor being overbearing in his concern or forcing him to do it, and it was actually a unique experience he had not had the opportunity to enjoy before. He tried to pay attention to the sky around them, really, but with Thor kissing his jaw, it was all but impossible.
“Concentrate on your flying,” he muttered. “I do not fancy falling because you were distracted.”
Thor chuckled and kissed him on the lips before they landed on…snow? He looked around, seeing that they had landed on a plateau on a mountain somewhere, trees around them and stretching for miles below them. It felt cold and nice up this high, the wind was almost fierce. It wasn’t as severe cold as Jotunheim, not by a long shot, but it was comfortable to him and probably very uncomfortable for most humans.
“Loki…”
“Hmm?” he murmured as Thor kissed his neck.
“I love you.”
Loki couldn’t help but smile and turned, giving in to a passionate kiss. He felt Thor’s tongue ease between his lips and a hand crawling down his chest to touch between his legs. He shuddered, whimpering, but pulled back. “Not yet.”
“Loki…” This time his name was a growl rather than a moan.
“Trust me, tonight I will make you scream in pleasured madness, but we still have the rest of the day to get through.”
Despite more cajoling and a devastating roll of their hips that had Loki reconsidering his decision, Thor brought them back to the church within half an hour. Tables had been set up to the sides and there was a wide area left in the middle for dancing. Loki had never been much of a dancer. Not that he wasn’t good at it, because he was as limber as they came, but that he didn’t wish to be ridiculed by the Warrior’s Three back in the day.
“Ahh, there are the lovebirds!” Tony said. “Good! Time for food and dancing! Oh, and off with the helmets, they’re an eyesore. Come on.”
Loki rolled his eyes, but removed his helmet and set it aside on the same small table that Mjolnir was now sitting on again. Thor did the same and they were led to the biggest table, sitting at the head for once, rather than on the sides as Odin took that place. Bruce handed him his son, and Loki took him gratefully. Balder was awake again and seeming far more lively than that morning. He set the boy on his knee and Thor apparently couldn’t resist leaning over and letting Balder grip his finger.
“Time for the speeches!” the genius announced from his seat at the main table.
“If we are to have speeches, then we require ale!” Thor said.
“Let’s stick with the champagne,” Natasha suggested and she had actually worn a dress for the occasion. It was a deep blue color, tight and went down to her knees, but she looked nice regardless. A man that Loki assumed to be a SHIELD agent came over with a tray. He was handed a glass, which he took and smiled as he kept the stem away from his curious son’s seeking hands.
Once everyone had a glass, it was Sif who stood. “I request the first speech.”
Loki raised his eyebrow and glanced at Thor, who seemed equally surprised, but nodded. She wore her ceremonial armor, complete with her own cloak, because no amount of suggestions by Tony would get her to wear a dress on Midgard. Loki doubted she would have worn one even in Asgard.
“I speak for myself and your friends, Thor, when I say that we are pleased that you are so happy. Regardless of the…past and what has occurred, we have never seen you as content as you are with your son and your husband.” There was a moment’s pause as her eyes met Loki’s and he wondered just what she would say about him. “You have chosen a fine warrior to be your mate and when you choose to take the throne, there will be no shrewder adviser.”
As she sat down, there was a smattering of clapping, and wisely no one asked them if they trusted Loki. That was fine, he didn’t know if he could fully trust them either and the bad blood between them that stemmed from childhood would likely not fade. As long as he knew that he wouldn’t wake up with a sword at his throat, he didn’t care if they liked him or not.
Almost as if he’d been waiting for the opportunity, Tony had grabbed his glass next. “Well I don’t know if I speak for the rest of us, but I for one am going to be the first when I say: finally! Ever since you two arrived over a year ago, man it’s almost going to be two years soon, you’ve been dancing around each other for awhile. At first I was concerned about this because I don’t about the rest of you, but I didn’t have the greatest first impressions of Loki.” His face was serious and no one laughed because they knew very well what he was referring to. He turned to it head on rather than Sif’s movement around it.
“I didn’t see what Thor did when he always said that hate and bitterness wasn’t all that Loki was. It didn’t help that he seemed determined to make us hate him, but despite that, Loki grew on me. Kind of like a rash.” There was a smattering of chuckles at that and Loki half-glared at him. “He’s really not all that bad once you get to know him and honestly, I don’t think there’s a man or woman alive that makes Thor as happy as he does. I can only hope that one day, I’ll be in their seat.” He winked at Pepper, who blushed and waved her hand at him that they’d talk about it later.
“So, to their future happiness, fights, and make-ups, and probably a lot more babies!” He lifted his glass before bringing it to his lips and everyone else did the same.
There were more speeches after that and honestly, Loki hadn’t thought everyone could find such nice things to say about him. At least from the Avengers it seemed genuine. The food was gone fairly quickly, which left the final task before the event was over: the dance.
Frigga was the one that called attention to it by saying loudly, “It is time for the dance.”
Thor stood up and held out his hand to Loki, who frowned but once again reluctantly passed his son to the person next to him. Odin smiled at his grandson, resting him on his knee and leaning back in his chair as if it were a throne and he wondered how often Odin had done that after Thor had been born. He had heard that shortly after he’d been brought to Asgard, he had allowed the older Thor to sit in his lap and hold Loki, but he wasn’t sure how true the stories were.
“I am quite amazed you know the steps,” Loki muttered as they settled on the dance floor. He was uncomfortable being the center of attention as he was right then. So very often most of the attention he received was not a good one.
“I do pay attention.”
“On rare occasions, yes,” he replied, enjoying the banter as they danced. Loki never quite forgot about their audience, but it ceased to bother him after a few minutes. For a day he realized he had almost dreaded, it had turned out…exceptional. Before long other dancers joined them as their parents watched on and Loki acknowledged just to himself that maybe, just maybe, Odin might actually view him as a son and not a tool.
It was evening by the time the ceremony completed and SHIELD and the Asgardians departed. Balder had fallen asleep again and so Loki merely teleported back to Stark tower, leaving the rest to make their way home themselves. He gently eased his son into his cradle, watching the soft breathing as he waited. Thor didn’t make him wait long. His husband had dropped Mjolnir the moment he walked into their bedroom and all but attached himself to Loki’s back.
“We have to be quiet,” he whispered with a smile as Thor turned him around to kiss him. “Can you do that or must I gag you?”
There was a darkening of lust in Thor’s eyes as they stumbled to the bed. “Loki, not tonight. I cannot tonight.”
“Gag it is,” he whispered seductively and proceeded to flip his new husband onto his back and straddle him.
Thor’s hands rested on his hips softly. “Loki, are you happy?”
“Why do you ask?” he answered quietly.
“You know why.”
Loki knew he wanted the truth and he sighed. If he wanted Thor to get lost in their actions later, he had best answer the question now. “Yes, though I remain…concerned.”
“About what?”
“Jane.”
Thor frowned. “How long must you harbor such fears? Did I not tell you before Balder was born, even conceived, that what I felt for her pales in comparison to you? Why do you not believe me?”
“It is not in my nature to believe easily.”
“Then let me prove it to you tonight, once and for all.”
“You will rut it into me?” he asked with a slow smirk.
“If that is what it takes,” Thor told him.
“Then go on. I shall endeavor not to get with child from your vigorous attention.”
Thor’s eyes flashed in lust and his hands gripped more tightly to his hips. “Oh, Loki, you will be with child by the time we fall asleep.”
Loki threw back his head and laughed, albeit quietly, and threw off the heavier leather coat, letting it fall on the floor. “What a bold claim, husband,” he murmured seductively, slowly releasing one button at a time on his vest. With a single move, he’d pulled off both the lighter inner coat and vest, also letting that fall to the floor.
“It is one I intend to keep,” Thor replied.
“So confident.” Loki reached over to the bedside table and reached into a drawer, pulling out a leather glove that he’d rarely used. “We must not forget to gag you, brother.”
Slowly his lover opened his mouth and bit down on the glove as Loki went back to work on divesting himself of his clothing. He heard the occasional whimper of delight from Thor. By the time he had worked off his pants, he could see the man straining in his trousers. In an almost tormenting fashion, Loki eased back up over his brother, letting his bare skin rub along the soft material of his brother’s wedding clothes. “I wonder,” he commented quietly, “whether I have the patience to undress you.”
Idly, as if he was contemplating it, he reached under the pillow near Thor’s head and pulled the tube of lubricant they kept there. Thor’s eyes were glued to him as he eased some out onto his fingers and reached back behind himself. He gasped softly, arching into his fingers, and looked down in time to see Thor ripping at his clothes.
“Now be careful, Thor. Mother had those made for us.”
His words probably saved the poor garment from being rent in two. The man beneath him squirmed enough to get out of the heavier jacket and then went to his pants, yanking up his shirt. Loki abruptly reached out and stopped him then. Thor froze, eyes going back up to him, and rather than pull off the clothes, he just loosened those pants and eased his hand in to pull him out. “This will do, I think,” he whispered and pulled his hand free from both Thor and himself.
Thor’s hands gripped his hips, squeezing in desperation. Loki tried to tell himself that it was because he took pity on his brother, but really he quickly coated the man with lubricant because seeing that beautiful, golden man beneath him made his own arousal throb in need. When he eased down, Thor threw his head back with a deep moan that was muffled by the glove he still clenched down on.
“Shhh,” he whispered as he settled, feeling Thor’s trembling and his fierce stubbornness of holding back thrusting up with abandon. “This is our first night as husbands. Let me lead for once. Trust me.”
Those blue eyes looked at him a bit hazily and Loki rewarded the man for his patience by sitting up and back down. A sharp clench created a burst of whimpers and he felt those fingers abruptly digging into his rear. He allowed Thor to thrust up, meeting his pace and Loki moaned softly as soon he had found the perfect angle.
Loki leaned down, bracing himself on his arms on the bed, leaving feather-light, butterfly kisses along that occupied mouth. It was his soft pants amid their gentle movements that were driving Thor to madness, if the look in his eye was anything to go by. He deliberately ran his wedding ring over Thor’s neck and the dam seemed to break then. Suddenly the pace increased and he bit his lip to keep his sounds quiet.
He allowed Thor to roll them over and hooked one of his legs over his husband’s hip. Loki smirked when Thor pulled the glove from his mouth and instead used Loki’s tongue to keep himself quiet. His fingers clenched into the back of Thor’s clothes as he was inexorably pushed to his orgasm. Thor’s movements were getting jerkier, less coordinated, and he arched as he came, dragging his brother along with him. He hissed a little as suddenly Thor bit into his shoulder to keep his scream quiet, knowing it would leave a mark and yet failing to care.
Slowly the passion died down to a simmering, low flame. It gave Thor time to ease up to his knees and actually pull off the rest of his clothes. Loki watched idly before he was all but attacked again, Thor unable to keep his hands to himself. He laughed silently in between kissing him; Thor truly was besotted with him and he should reward that, shouldn’t he?
He in soreness the next morning, having passed out somewhere nearing dawn, and blinked when he realized neither Thor nor Balder were there. Worriedly he pulled on a robe and pants and hurried out of their room, not relaxing until he spotted both his family sitting at the table with the other Avengers. They were peering at something on the table, discussing it.
Thor was the first to notice him and he smiled widely before gesturing him over. “Loki! Did you sleep well?”
“Did you sleep at all?” Tony interjected with a lecherous smirk.
“What are you looking at?” he asked, ignoring both questions and coming closer, stealing a bit of bacon from Thor’s plate.
“One photographer got through the crush of agents,” Clint commented, picking up a paper and handing it over to him. On the front page, taking almost all of the space, was an image of Thor and Loki. He recognized the moment they’d been outside the church after they’d been bound. It was not when they’d been kissing, but there was no disguising how close they physically were. The wind had tangled their cloaks together in that moment in time and they looked downright alien compared to the mundane Midgardian surroundings.
“You’re a photogenic couple. That’s on the front page of every newspaper and on the news.”
He shrugged at the SHIELD agent, who didn’t seem at all concerned and neither was he. Rather than appear worried, Thor was surprisingly happy. “What are you smiling about?” Loki asked him suspiciously.
Thor shook his head. “You know why.”
“…Yes, you always were one to show off your new toys.”
His lover didn’t take offense, as he suspected he wouldn’t. As he settled at the breakfast table, watching the Avengers fight over the bacon and pass the paper around, it felt normal. It was the oddest thing for him to think, but Loki thought if normalcy ever applied to him, this would be it and it was surprisingly good. His eyes flickered to the ring on his finger, something that was so far from subtle that it would be impossible to miss, and decided he didn’t mind it.
There were worse places to call home, after all.
Characters: Thor, Loki, Odin, Bruce Banner, The Avengers
Couple: Thor/Loki
Title: To Melt The Snow
Word Count: 5652
Chapter: 20/20
Status: Complete
Rating: R/Mature
Disclaimer: I have no claim whatsoever on any the marvel franchises at all, I'm just borrowing them for my story that will bring me no money whatsoever. I shall be forever broke.
Summary: Loki is sentenced to death and in order to save him, Thor must take him to one of the most dangerous places for his brother to be: Midgard.
(For jenniebennie, who wanted to see their wedding. I considered breaking up the wedding night into a separate chapter, like a part b of the epilogue, but it failed to flow right if I did that, so here’s your warning that this is not worksafe.)
The activity that bustled around him didn’t seem to disturb or upset Balder. The boy was watching with wide eyes at the people that were still setting up the small church with the necessary items. Loki wasn’t sure all the extra preparation was necessary, Odin could marry them in the bathroom if he wanted, but Tony had insisted that there was a certain way of doing things and no one seemed keen to talk him out of it besides himself.
When a man he didn’t know, likely a member of SHIELD, was clearly heading his way to put a vase of flowers where he was standing, Loki ducked out of the way and out a side door. He held Balder tightly to him, but there were no other humans besides the ones he knew and SHIELD agents. As he wandered away, he heard someone call out to him that he shouldn’t leave the secured area.
Loki hadn’t realized just how badly the revelation of their relationship would be. The backlash had been enormous, to the point that the Avengers had feared for his safety, and when Balder became known, it had only increased the fervor. The only reason he had still been on Midgard was because Loki had put his foot down about leaving and going to Asgard without Thor. It was hardly going to be safer, despite the fact that his child wasn’t such a shock there.
“Getting cold feet?”
He blinked and turned to see Tony standing there, crossing his arms. He’d worn a suit, and in fact, all the Avengers had dressed up for the event. “My feet are not cold, no, but I suspect that what you said is less literal and more figurative in your charming little language,” he said, shifting Balder as he began to toothlessly chew away on a necklace Loki wore.
“It means, are you thinking of backing out of marrying Thor.”
Loki’s gaze narrowed. “You think that I would hurt Thor in such a way, when I know how much it means to him?”
“Everybody has cold feet just before they get married.”
“I do not.”
“Then where are you going?”
He looked around. He hadn’t realized in his wandering, lost thoughts just how far away he’d gotten from the church. “Nowhere,” he answered honestly.
“Then get back there before you give Fury a heart attack by slipping his security. Which are in place, I might add in passing, to protect you.”
“I am fully capable of protecting myself,” he spat, but did turn around and walk back slowly.
“Yeah, but we’d rather you not have to. So who, exactly, did Thor go to get from Asgard?”
“Were you not listening when I explained it?”
“Nope,” the man said with an unrepentant shrug.
“Then why should I tell you now?”
“Because I helped you when you were in labor, and because you owe me for almost burning out my eyes when I saw you two in flagrante delicto.”
Loki felt like he was missing something when he didn’t know the words, but the point was brought across by the emphasis Tony put on the phrase and the suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows. He rolled his eyes and cursed internally his future husband. It was all because of Thor that he’d gone so soft.
“The Allfather, Frigga, and the Warrior’s Three and Sif.”
“So…Sif’s coming then. Despite having held a torch for Thor for years.”
The church came into view again, but no one accosted him for leaving. “She is not as petty as she seems, I suppose.”
“You really don’t like her, do you?”
“No.”
“You do know she isn’t a threat to you, right? Thor’s so head over heels for you, he’d probably disembowel himself if you asked. …That was dark, I must be hanging around you too much,” the genius added with a grin.
“No, she is not a threat.”
“Then who… Jane? Are you still worried about her?”
“Thor only left Jane because of our deal. That does not mean that he does not hold feelings for her.”
“So…what, you think if they’re ever in the same room together, it’ll be like two magnets and they’ll instantly rip each other’s clothes off and go at it like rabbits? Sorry, Loki, he’s only like that with you. It’s a wonder he even lets you wear clothes with how often he takes them off.”
Loki worked hard to prevent the flush coming to his cheeks at Tony’s comments. “Stark-”
“Loki!”
Balder let out a coo of delight as Banner called to him and gestured. “Thor’s here, so it’s time to get ready.”
Loki nodded, but before he could go in through the front door, Tony had grabbed his arm. “No, over here. Thor can’t see you before the wedding.”
“…Is this another of your traditions?”
“Yes.”
Banner smiled indulgently at the two of them and led the way back to the side door and a small room. Frigga was there with her arms full of clothes. “Loki,” she said warmly. “I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time.”
Reluctantly Loki handed over his son to the soft-spoken scientist. “I do not recognize those clothes.”
“I had them made for you, just like I did Thor. Such an occasion only comes once.”
“I shall remind you that I did not ask for any occasion,” he argued with a glare as he began to pull off his clothes. “I would have been content to have the Allfather say the rites back at our home.”
He only realized his slip of the tongue when he saw Tony smirk and Bruce smile widely, but in the interest of not embarrassing himself further, he didn’t acknowledge it. “You would regret not having a ceremony later in life, Loki,” Frigga murmured.
“Everyone keeps saying that, but I shall retain my skepticism of that statement, thank you,” he muttered. Given what happened before, neither Bruce or Tony seemed particularly embarrassed as he dropped his pants and stood naked in front of them. He glanced over to Balder at a noise he made and touched his head softly.
Reluctantly telling himself that he had to get dressed and that the ceremony would be over fairly quickly so he could hold his son again, Loki turned away. What Frigga had had made for him was beautiful and the work incredible. It was predominantly black and green with quite a bit of gold and splashes of white expertly placed. He studied it and he could feel the magic in the threads, which explained the amazing needlework. The material was light and smooth and it almost felt as if he wore nothing at all when he pulled it on. First the black pants, the sides embroidered with gold and green, then a pure white shirt. A vest went over that, black to set off the color, but you almost couldn’t tell with the threads of gold around white material. Now that he looked closely at it, he noticed that, in fact, on each side of the buttons the white material was made so that it resembled the wings of Thor’s helm.
He rolled his eyes, but put it on and ignored his mother’s satisfied look. There were two coats that went with it, one lighter and shorter. It was half white and when he pulled it on, he heard a snicker behind him. Frowning, he looked at Tony, who seemed to struggle not to laugh, and turned to Banner silently for explanation.
The scientist was also smiling and he shifted Baldur, gesturing at a three-piece mirror set up in the corner. He turned to look at the back and then snapped his head to glare at his mother. Like the design on his vest, this was also of Thor’s helm. It was made of white material, with that gleaming green and gold edging made in a stylized silhouette of his lover’s helm. Frigga gave him an impish smile and he couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her, if only because she was his mother.
Loki grabbed the final outer coat made of heavier material than the rest, clearly leather. It was the most elaborate, the colors the most vibrant, and as he settled it in place, Frigga wrapped a white cloak around his back and attached it. He missed his usual green, but kept his grumbling to minimum. It was longer than usual, trailing the floor, which would mean it was only for ceremonial purposes. It would get in the way if he had to fight.
Loki sighed heavily, once and kissed Baldur’s forehead before pulling on his helm. It comforted him to wear it. He hadn’t since his attempted invasion of Midgard. His mother looked him over critically, adjusted the cloak and jacket once, then nodded. “Are you ready, Loki?”
I was ready four months ago, he thought in annoyance, but said, “Yes.”
Tony opened the door to the church proper and left first and he could almost see the genius winking at the Avengers. Bruce shifted Balder in his arms and with a nod of encouragement, followed his friend. Frigga took Loki’s hand and he turned, staring into her eyes and realizing right then when he saw her understanding and compassion that he really was nervous. His stomach was clenching for reasons he couldn’t name. He knew that this was just a formality. Thor loved him, they’d stay together regardless, so why did he feel this way?
So instead, he bit his lip briefly, squeezed her fingers, and then held out his arm to her. She slid her hand into the crook of his arm and it was then he noticed that she had truly dressed for the occasion. He had only ever seen her wear such a beautiful dress in the images of her wedding with his…with the Allfather. Tony had insisted loudly that it was the father that walked down the aisle with the ‘bride’, but Loki had been adamant. Besides, Odin had to officiate for it to be recognized in Asgard and there was no sense in doing it twice. Laufey was hardly available, so they had compromised: his mother would walk with him.
It was a small gathering of SHIELD agents, the Avengers, and his family from Asgard. The room itself was very changed from when they’d first arrived at almost the middle of the night. The humans had actually moved the benches to the side, leaving everyone standing. This was more like a wedding in Asgard, as no one sat during the ceremony, but it was less about making the Asgardians comfortable and more because Fury insisted that they would have the dancing and reception there as well since it was easier to secure just one location and keep the press away.
The Avengers and the Warriors Three and Sif were near the head of the church where Odin stood on a raised area. Once he’d looked in that direction, Loki’s eyes were drawn to Thor and he gulped silently, just a little, and resisted the urge to hold off the ceremony for a few hours while he shoved his lover into a room for some intense sex.
Because Thor was gorgeous. His hair, for once, had been brushed and the braids designed to represent his status as a warrior and the Prince of Asgard. It was just a quick glimpse before his helm was on, as if he had forgotten it and only remembered when he saw Loki’s. His clothing was a mirror Loki’s, only red where the trickster’s was green. He was beaming at his brother, but there was a dark, heated look in his eye that said he was feeling the same impulse to spend some time alone in the most carnal of senses. Mjolnir was sitting on a small table brought specifically for that purpose, almost like a place of honor. Despite knowing what he looked like, and that it was good, Loki felt almost shabby in comparison to his future husband. He seemed to gleam just a little, all light and gold, with a flare to his cape that was both annoyingly dramatic and so Thor that it made it hard to breathe.
The distance he had to walk was short and he was thankful for Frigga because she was the one that brought their hands together, breaking him of his stunned state. She continued forward after that, moving to stand next to her husband and her gown resting over the steps in front of them. She truly made every woman pale in comparison, Loki thought fondly.
Despite the surroundings, the rest of the wedding was in Asgardian customs. Thor turned to his father and said loudly, with pride and an embarrassing amount of enthusiasm, “I petition the Allfather to bind Loki and I in union.”
Odin, who had remained silent and motionless as a statue in his ceremonial robes and helm, finally shifted. “Your petition has been heard, and will be granted.” That wizened hand reached out and rested on top of their joined ones. “I give my blessing, as King of Asgard and as a father. Let your union form and be recognized among all the worlds on Ysggradil.”
Frigga turned and picked up a small, golden box. She carefully opened the lid and presented it toward Loki and Thor. Sitting there, nestled on a soft cloth, were two rings. Like their clothes, these had clearly been made specifically for this occasion. Thor picked up a gold band that had a design that mirrored the stylized silhouette on the back of his coat and eased it onto Loki’s finger. He could feel the same strong enchantment on it as the engagement ring, prompting him to fight down the color that wanted to come to his cheeks. So Odin was expecting more grandchildren then?
Loki picked up the remaining ring and marveled at it a bit. He could only assume this stylized silhouette of his helm was on the back of Thor’s inner coat as well. His thumb ran over the gold ring, but he felt no magic on it. That didn’t mean he couldn’t place one, but at the last minute he decided against it. He had to, had to trust that Thor would not leave him and return to Jane. If he didn’t trust him now, then their entire relationship, both their own and any of his children, would be ruined. Trust did not come easily to him, but he would rather force himself to trust than sabotage his own future.
So he slipped the unenchanted ring onto his lover’s finger until it rested snug against his knuckle. Thor was beaming, the fool, as Odin said, voice booming despite not speaking loudly, “The union is complete.”
Loki was about to turn as those around them began to applaud, but Thor’s arm swept around his waist and dragged him close, almost dipping him back as suddenly their lips met. He could feel Thor’s passion crashing into him like a wave against the shore, and he tried not to moan as he returned it. His fingers clenched into his husband’s cloak and he felt the man’s other hand slid down his back, settling onto his rear as if it belonged there.
Only a throat clearing kept Loki from wrapping his leg around Thor’s. It still took several long seconds before they could bear to break their lips apart and Thor didn’t even give a sheepish grin like he was expecting. Instead he turned and beamed at the crowd of Avengers, SHIELD agents, and Asgardians. Volstagg was clearly restraining himself from demanding a drink in celebration of the event, and in fact Loki was surprised to see that all of the Warrior’s Three seemed happy, even Sif. The usually surly Fury was smiling too.
“All right, off you too go for a bit while we get the tables out and ready for dancing and whatnot,” Tony said, gesturing with his hands in a shooing motion.
Loki turned to look at Balder, who had fallen asleep in Bruce’s arms in concern, but the man shook his head. “This is your wedding day and you two should spend some time alone.”
Thor trusted far more easily than he did, and he nodded at his friend’s words. Mjolnir flew across the short distance to his hand and Thor proudly led Loki out of the church. There was a surprising gust of wind making their cloaks flap in the air and a low rumble of thunder despite the bright and cloudless sky, and he said, “Thor, at least control your emotions a little!”
“I cannot help it,” Thor told him, touching his face just a little. “Would you begrudge me my happiness?”
He softened just a little, damning his partner for making him so indulgent. “…No.”
This time their kiss was soft and slow and only when they pulled apart did Thor hold him closer. Mjolnir swung in his hand several times before they were in the air. For the first time, Loki did not resent being flown. This was not Thor being overbearing in his concern or forcing him to do it, and it was actually a unique experience he had not had the opportunity to enjoy before. He tried to pay attention to the sky around them, really, but with Thor kissing his jaw, it was all but impossible.
“Concentrate on your flying,” he muttered. “I do not fancy falling because you were distracted.”
Thor chuckled and kissed him on the lips before they landed on…snow? He looked around, seeing that they had landed on a plateau on a mountain somewhere, trees around them and stretching for miles below them. It felt cold and nice up this high, the wind was almost fierce. It wasn’t as severe cold as Jotunheim, not by a long shot, but it was comfortable to him and probably very uncomfortable for most humans.
“Loki…”
“Hmm?” he murmured as Thor kissed his neck.
“I love you.”
Loki couldn’t help but smile and turned, giving in to a passionate kiss. He felt Thor’s tongue ease between his lips and a hand crawling down his chest to touch between his legs. He shuddered, whimpering, but pulled back. “Not yet.”
“Loki…” This time his name was a growl rather than a moan.
“Trust me, tonight I will make you scream in pleasured madness, but we still have the rest of the day to get through.”
Despite more cajoling and a devastating roll of their hips that had Loki reconsidering his decision, Thor brought them back to the church within half an hour. Tables had been set up to the sides and there was a wide area left in the middle for dancing. Loki had never been much of a dancer. Not that he wasn’t good at it, because he was as limber as they came, but that he didn’t wish to be ridiculed by the Warrior’s Three back in the day.
“Ahh, there are the lovebirds!” Tony said. “Good! Time for food and dancing! Oh, and off with the helmets, they’re an eyesore. Come on.”
Loki rolled his eyes, but removed his helmet and set it aside on the same small table that Mjolnir was now sitting on again. Thor did the same and they were led to the biggest table, sitting at the head for once, rather than on the sides as Odin took that place. Bruce handed him his son, and Loki took him gratefully. Balder was awake again and seeming far more lively than that morning. He set the boy on his knee and Thor apparently couldn’t resist leaning over and letting Balder grip his finger.
“Time for the speeches!” the genius announced from his seat at the main table.
“If we are to have speeches, then we require ale!” Thor said.
“Let’s stick with the champagne,” Natasha suggested and she had actually worn a dress for the occasion. It was a deep blue color, tight and went down to her knees, but she looked nice regardless. A man that Loki assumed to be a SHIELD agent came over with a tray. He was handed a glass, which he took and smiled as he kept the stem away from his curious son’s seeking hands.
Once everyone had a glass, it was Sif who stood. “I request the first speech.”
Loki raised his eyebrow and glanced at Thor, who seemed equally surprised, but nodded. She wore her ceremonial armor, complete with her own cloak, because no amount of suggestions by Tony would get her to wear a dress on Midgard. Loki doubted she would have worn one even in Asgard.
“I speak for myself and your friends, Thor, when I say that we are pleased that you are so happy. Regardless of the…past and what has occurred, we have never seen you as content as you are with your son and your husband.” There was a moment’s pause as her eyes met Loki’s and he wondered just what she would say about him. “You have chosen a fine warrior to be your mate and when you choose to take the throne, there will be no shrewder adviser.”
As she sat down, there was a smattering of clapping, and wisely no one asked them if they trusted Loki. That was fine, he didn’t know if he could fully trust them either and the bad blood between them that stemmed from childhood would likely not fade. As long as he knew that he wouldn’t wake up with a sword at his throat, he didn’t care if they liked him or not.
Almost as if he’d been waiting for the opportunity, Tony had grabbed his glass next. “Well I don’t know if I speak for the rest of us, but I for one am going to be the first when I say: finally! Ever since you two arrived over a year ago, man it’s almost going to be two years soon, you’ve been dancing around each other for awhile. At first I was concerned about this because I don’t about the rest of you, but I didn’t have the greatest first impressions of Loki.” His face was serious and no one laughed because they knew very well what he was referring to. He turned to it head on rather than Sif’s movement around it.
“I didn’t see what Thor did when he always said that hate and bitterness wasn’t all that Loki was. It didn’t help that he seemed determined to make us hate him, but despite that, Loki grew on me. Kind of like a rash.” There was a smattering of chuckles at that and Loki half-glared at him. “He’s really not all that bad once you get to know him and honestly, I don’t think there’s a man or woman alive that makes Thor as happy as he does. I can only hope that one day, I’ll be in their seat.” He winked at Pepper, who blushed and waved her hand at him that they’d talk about it later.
“So, to their future happiness, fights, and make-ups, and probably a lot more babies!” He lifted his glass before bringing it to his lips and everyone else did the same.
There were more speeches after that and honestly, Loki hadn’t thought everyone could find such nice things to say about him. At least from the Avengers it seemed genuine. The food was gone fairly quickly, which left the final task before the event was over: the dance.
Frigga was the one that called attention to it by saying loudly, “It is time for the dance.”
Thor stood up and held out his hand to Loki, who frowned but once again reluctantly passed his son to the person next to him. Odin smiled at his grandson, resting him on his knee and leaning back in his chair as if it were a throne and he wondered how often Odin had done that after Thor had been born. He had heard that shortly after he’d been brought to Asgard, he had allowed the older Thor to sit in his lap and hold Loki, but he wasn’t sure how true the stories were.
“I am quite amazed you know the steps,” Loki muttered as they settled on the dance floor. He was uncomfortable being the center of attention as he was right then. So very often most of the attention he received was not a good one.
“I do pay attention.”
“On rare occasions, yes,” he replied, enjoying the banter as they danced. Loki never quite forgot about their audience, but it ceased to bother him after a few minutes. For a day he realized he had almost dreaded, it had turned out…exceptional. Before long other dancers joined them as their parents watched on and Loki acknowledged just to himself that maybe, just maybe, Odin might actually view him as a son and not a tool.
It was evening by the time the ceremony completed and SHIELD and the Asgardians departed. Balder had fallen asleep again and so Loki merely teleported back to Stark tower, leaving the rest to make their way home themselves. He gently eased his son into his cradle, watching the soft breathing as he waited. Thor didn’t make him wait long. His husband had dropped Mjolnir the moment he walked into their bedroom and all but attached himself to Loki’s back.
“We have to be quiet,” he whispered with a smile as Thor turned him around to kiss him. “Can you do that or must I gag you?”
There was a darkening of lust in Thor’s eyes as they stumbled to the bed. “Loki, not tonight. I cannot tonight.”
“Gag it is,” he whispered seductively and proceeded to flip his new husband onto his back and straddle him.
Thor’s hands rested on his hips softly. “Loki, are you happy?”
“Why do you ask?” he answered quietly.
“You know why.”
Loki knew he wanted the truth and he sighed. If he wanted Thor to get lost in their actions later, he had best answer the question now. “Yes, though I remain…concerned.”
“About what?”
“Jane.”
Thor frowned. “How long must you harbor such fears? Did I not tell you before Balder was born, even conceived, that what I felt for her pales in comparison to you? Why do you not believe me?”
“It is not in my nature to believe easily.”
“Then let me prove it to you tonight, once and for all.”
“You will rut it into me?” he asked with a slow smirk.
“If that is what it takes,” Thor told him.
“Then go on. I shall endeavor not to get with child from your vigorous attention.”
Thor’s eyes flashed in lust and his hands gripped more tightly to his hips. “Oh, Loki, you will be with child by the time we fall asleep.”
Loki threw back his head and laughed, albeit quietly, and threw off the heavier leather coat, letting it fall on the floor. “What a bold claim, husband,” he murmured seductively, slowly releasing one button at a time on his vest. With a single move, he’d pulled off both the lighter inner coat and vest, also letting that fall to the floor.
“It is one I intend to keep,” Thor replied.
“So confident.” Loki reached over to the bedside table and reached into a drawer, pulling out a leather glove that he’d rarely used. “We must not forget to gag you, brother.”
Slowly his lover opened his mouth and bit down on the glove as Loki went back to work on divesting himself of his clothing. He heard the occasional whimper of delight from Thor. By the time he had worked off his pants, he could see the man straining in his trousers. In an almost tormenting fashion, Loki eased back up over his brother, letting his bare skin rub along the soft material of his brother’s wedding clothes. “I wonder,” he commented quietly, “whether I have the patience to undress you.”
Idly, as if he was contemplating it, he reached under the pillow near Thor’s head and pulled the tube of lubricant they kept there. Thor’s eyes were glued to him as he eased some out onto his fingers and reached back behind himself. He gasped softly, arching into his fingers, and looked down in time to see Thor ripping at his clothes.
“Now be careful, Thor. Mother had those made for us.”
His words probably saved the poor garment from being rent in two. The man beneath him squirmed enough to get out of the heavier jacket and then went to his pants, yanking up his shirt. Loki abruptly reached out and stopped him then. Thor froze, eyes going back up to him, and rather than pull off the clothes, he just loosened those pants and eased his hand in to pull him out. “This will do, I think,” he whispered and pulled his hand free from both Thor and himself.
Thor’s hands gripped his hips, squeezing in desperation. Loki tried to tell himself that it was because he took pity on his brother, but really he quickly coated the man with lubricant because seeing that beautiful, golden man beneath him made his own arousal throb in need. When he eased down, Thor threw his head back with a deep moan that was muffled by the glove he still clenched down on.
“Shhh,” he whispered as he settled, feeling Thor’s trembling and his fierce stubbornness of holding back thrusting up with abandon. “This is our first night as husbands. Let me lead for once. Trust me.”
Those blue eyes looked at him a bit hazily and Loki rewarded the man for his patience by sitting up and back down. A sharp clench created a burst of whimpers and he felt those fingers abruptly digging into his rear. He allowed Thor to thrust up, meeting his pace and Loki moaned softly as soon he had found the perfect angle.
Loki leaned down, bracing himself on his arms on the bed, leaving feather-light, butterfly kisses along that occupied mouth. It was his soft pants amid their gentle movements that were driving Thor to madness, if the look in his eye was anything to go by. He deliberately ran his wedding ring over Thor’s neck and the dam seemed to break then. Suddenly the pace increased and he bit his lip to keep his sounds quiet.
He allowed Thor to roll them over and hooked one of his legs over his husband’s hip. Loki smirked when Thor pulled the glove from his mouth and instead used Loki’s tongue to keep himself quiet. His fingers clenched into the back of Thor’s clothes as he was inexorably pushed to his orgasm. Thor’s movements were getting jerkier, less coordinated, and he arched as he came, dragging his brother along with him. He hissed a little as suddenly Thor bit into his shoulder to keep his scream quiet, knowing it would leave a mark and yet failing to care.
Slowly the passion died down to a simmering, low flame. It gave Thor time to ease up to his knees and actually pull off the rest of his clothes. Loki watched idly before he was all but attacked again, Thor unable to keep his hands to himself. He laughed silently in between kissing him; Thor truly was besotted with him and he should reward that, shouldn’t he?
He in soreness the next morning, having passed out somewhere nearing dawn, and blinked when he realized neither Thor nor Balder were there. Worriedly he pulled on a robe and pants and hurried out of their room, not relaxing until he spotted both his family sitting at the table with the other Avengers. They were peering at something on the table, discussing it.
Thor was the first to notice him and he smiled widely before gesturing him over. “Loki! Did you sleep well?”
“Did you sleep at all?” Tony interjected with a lecherous smirk.
“What are you looking at?” he asked, ignoring both questions and coming closer, stealing a bit of bacon from Thor’s plate.
“One photographer got through the crush of agents,” Clint commented, picking up a paper and handing it over to him. On the front page, taking almost all of the space, was an image of Thor and Loki. He recognized the moment they’d been outside the church after they’d been bound. It was not when they’d been kissing, but there was no disguising how close they physically were. The wind had tangled their cloaks together in that moment in time and they looked downright alien compared to the mundane Midgardian surroundings.
“You’re a photogenic couple. That’s on the front page of every newspaper and on the news.”
He shrugged at the SHIELD agent, who didn’t seem at all concerned and neither was he. Rather than appear worried, Thor was surprisingly happy. “What are you smiling about?” Loki asked him suspiciously.
Thor shook his head. “You know why.”
“…Yes, you always were one to show off your new toys.”
His lover didn’t take offense, as he suspected he wouldn’t. As he settled at the breakfast table, watching the Avengers fight over the bacon and pass the paper around, it felt normal. It was the oddest thing for him to think, but Loki thought if normalcy ever applied to him, this would be it and it was surprisingly good. His eyes flickered to the ring on his finger, something that was so far from subtle that it would be impossible to miss, and decided he didn’t mind it.
There were worse places to call home, after all.