IDUNA (Loki x Reader)

Chapter 2 - Orchard at Night

Frigga spent every moment with Odin since he regained his health. She wouldn't stop telling you how thankful she was, but you knew already, and you told her you'd do it again a million times. The day after you'd given him the apple, he was able to get up from his bed. He could hug his wife, he could rule Asgard just as before in a couple of weeks.

You sat at the illustrious gold dining room table for another feast to celebrate. Thor had come back to visit when word was sent of Odin's recovery.

"You know, Iduna, on my last visit to Midgard we might've used your help in battle. I remember when we'd go to fight those fire giants on Muspelheim as kids." Thor said, using his massive hands as he spoke.

"I don't do that anymore. Plus I'm more of a secret goddess on Earth."

"Certainly you still have some fight in you! Tell you what, next time I go out on a mission you should join me. Loki you can even come!"

Loki looked at him with unease.

"Really, I'm okay. I haven't thrown so much as a punch in years. Any training I once had is gone. My days are better spent cutting up carrots on Earth."

Thor's presence was unlike anyone you'd ever met, even Odin. You'd met plenty of the nine realm's gods, but the combination of his kind nature and the fact that he could destroy you with a swing of a hammer made him unique. As children, he was always being trained for the throne of Asgard. He'd show you several moves that he'd been taught and eventually, you'd put them to use in battle with him, but that was hundreds of years ago.

"You'll always be more of a warrior in my eyes. Don't forget I watched you slice the throat of a giant snake."

You laughed at him.

-

As you began to leave the dining room for the night, Loki followed, speed walking to catch up behind you.

"Where are you off to at this hour?"

"The orchard. I'll probably be going back to Earth in a few days and this is one thing I always miss. Plus, there's nobody there to bother me."

"I see. Would I be bothering you if I came?"

You were surprised that he wanted to spend more time with you after you'd been celebrating Odin together all week. It would've been nice to have some time alone on Asgard after all this time. But your guilt about saying no got the better of you, and you allowed him to come along. Not that he'd take no for an answer.

After a quiet walk to the gate, the guards opened them and the sight was stunning again. This time, fireflies replaced the chirping birds from the daytime, and soft light lit up the grounds and the gold apples reflected them like a dollar store disco ball. Dollar stores were a great Midgardian invention, maybe one day Odin would copy it somehow.

"They used to tell me I wasn't allowed in here. That only you were. And the groundskeepers and gardeners of course. I eventually explained to them that I am, in fact, a god, and might require some respite just like anyone else." Loki began chatting with you.

"They probably thought you'd try and cut down a tree."

"Fair enough." You watched him walk over by one of the trees and sit down, leaning his back against its trunk.

"What did you do when you snuck in?" You asked as you sat nearby.

"I didn't have to sneak in after a while. They figured I can't cut down every tree. But since you're so inclined to know, I'd read. Sometimes rest. Mostly enjoy the sound of anything except my parents sharing their adoring words of my brother."