Raven Messages (LokixReader)

Chapter One

(Your Pov)

No one ever said you could feed the birds.

But then again, nobody ever said not to. Not that many would interrupt a witch's schedule- besides Sybil, that is. They tended to come and go from your life as they pleased, a wild grandparent of sorts. Though to mention their age would be submitting yourself for a curse.

So, as your regime allowed, you sat on your park bench feeding the birds. Primarily pigeons, though the occasional small bird stopped by as well to pick up the crumbs. None of the usuals here spared you an odd glance, that being a dog-walker or lone runner, other than a small smile from those who happened to recognise you. To the world, someone different sat on the bench each day. 

You had to practice your illusions somehow.

But while everything seemed normal that morning, you didn't fail to notice a new bird visiting your flock. A raven, of all things.

A raven... in New York?

It picked crumbs off the floor, glancing up at you every so often. Waiting until you threw a larger piece, jumping up to grab it before the others.

Smart bird.

You didn't fail to notice either, a small note attached to its leg. Secured perfectly with a dark green ribbon, which you quickly teleport to your hand. As much as it disgruntled the bird, who squawked in protest.

"Do relax, I will return it when I'm done." The bird eyed you hesitantly, turning back to breakfast before long. As a carrier-raven, odds are she was trained to understand your words just as much as you've been trained to understand her.

The note was a fair parchment, rolled like one of the old scrolls in the witch libraries. You unravel it, finding an elegant script on the inside.

'Did it work?'

Did what work? What was this mysterious bird-keeper talking about? With a huff you raise your hand to return the letter to the bird's leg, thinking of something better just before you do. You quickly summon a piece of paper and pen, scribbling down a message for the author, and assumedly the bird's owner.

'It worked, I suppose, although I doubt I am who you planned to send this to. Who are you, and why are you attaching notes to a raven?' You include a small signature- not your name- but rather, your witch crest. Before vanishing your reply from your hands, letting it curl around the bird's leg with the other paper.

Odd someone would try to send messages with a raven. You watched the bird carefully as she adjusted to the new weight, before returning to her meal. The other pigeons made way for the large bird, spare for an odd glare or coo her way.

"Ah, Y/N! I almost didn't recognise you." A voice laughs, startling your supposed elderly form. It held a feminine nature, belonging to just as much a feminine Sybil. "You are getting quite good at your illusions, witchling."

You laughed at Sybil's praise. She sat next to you on the bench, the birds instantly accepting her as part of the flock. Her influence tended to have that effect on people- at least when docile. But if someone got on her bad side... Well, let's just say you were glad you've rarely seen it.

"What's wrong?" Her sudden question shakes you from your thoughts, as you look up. "A frog steal your voice?"

"No, no." You chuckle, "It's this bird." You gesture to the raven, who had shuffled to the back of the fowl crowd after your obtrusive eavesdropping. Could it still be considered eavesdropping if you were reading someone else's messages? "It's a carrier. I didn't know they flew this far into the city."

"They shouldn't." Sybil looked at the bird you mentioned, studying it closely. Somehow offending her, as the raven fluttered its wings to launch. Flying away from your magical presences. "I do hope you read it?"

A small laugh broke out of your normally calm expression. "I did. Someone asked if it worked."

"If what worked?"

"That's what I'd like to find out." You shrugged, watching as the bird disappeared in the sky. "Hopefully whoever it is will write back to me."

Sybil laughed, glancing in your direction with a mischievous look in her eye. One too suggestive for your taste.

"What?"

She smirked. "You are of age-"

"No! It's not like that." You elbow your friend, huffing from the pestering.

"It's about time you found someone to tame your spirits." Sybil continued despite of your protests, as you nudged her playfully. She had never found a love- and you didn't need to either. Not yet, at least.

Not after your parents' love fell apart so horribly.

*

(Loki's Pov)

'It worked, I suppose, although I doubt I am who you planned to send this to. Who are you, and why are you attaching notes to a raven?'

What? How... Loki had spelled the note to be unseen by anyone but a magic user. Not to be taken by the first civilian that came across it.

He tapped his desk with the end of his quill, quite frustrated on the matter. That message was supposed to reach his mother, asking if the raven would be a successful means of communication. Apparently not.

But the signature- no doubt it was a magic wielder who found his note in the first place. Both for how they saw through his illusion, and how the note simply radiated with magic. Let alone the mark in the corner of the page. Some form of a witch's signature, no doubt. Although he didn't recognise the pattern.

'Do not interfere with my messages.' Loki scribbled down the words, hesitating before crumpling up the paper once again. He's gone through practically a thousand of these responses, frustrated to find the right words. Too rude, and the magician may find pleasure in casting a curse upon the note- or worse, Odin's raven. That would be a step backwards from easing this banishment, surely.

Banished. Loki hated how Odin would do such a thing, sending off the boy he raised as if Loki had been no more than a pawn. Like the magician didn't ever matter to the Asgardian courts, the kingdom, or the realm. Even to his family.

But even though Odin made no move to contact the dark prince in his banishment, Frigga reached out when she could. Queenly duties were many, and kept her busy most of the time. Not to say she didn't make an effort to talk in the brief pauses of life- like this raven attempt. Loki had to admit, stealing one of the palace raven's for her own uses was quite mischievous.

And it would have worked. If not for this meddler.

"Brother?" Thor's voice called from the door of his room. Damn Avengers and their rule about villains without locked doors. Loki managed with a spell of his own; a ward to keep unexpected intruders out.

"Yes, Thor?" Loki snapped, pulling out another piece of parchment. Thinking about what he could possibly write. He and his mother could find other means of communication until this matter was resolved. The best solution for all the magicians involved.

"The Avengers have called a meeting." he said, pausing for a moment. Loki almost thought he had left, before a voice over his shoulder breaks his string of writing. "What's that?"

"Thor!" Loki shouts, crowding papers over the note. He should know better than to pry about the trickster's actions. At least when he wasn't being troublesome.

His brother laughed. "You should write a kinder letter to your lady."

"They are not my-" Loki scoffed, "It is a troublesome magician meddling in my affairs with mother."

"Of course." Loki glared at Thor's smirk, how he thought there was more now than just a first letter being written. "You should still be kinder."

Loki rolled his eyes, watching as Thor started to leave. Before calling out, "Why do you think a woman wrote this?"

"Who else would take the time to respond?" With a final laugh Thor left, leaving Loki to his own thoughts.

Perhaps it would be wise to be kind to the little witch.