Horrible Terrible Things

Chapter Thirteen

Captain America, the Winter Soldier, Spiderman, Hawkeye and Ant-Man stood assembled in a line blocking the doorway as they saw Loki and I approach. Thor stood before them, his back to us so I could not see what he was saying but when he glanced back toward us his face was set in a grimace.

His effort to find me was thoughtful but from the looks on some of the Avenger's faces, they were less than pleased to have found Thor's daughter with him. More so confused to see Loki stop in front of them with a smug grin on his face, he folded his hands over his chest.

'What, not one of you missed me?' he asked.

There was a deep grumbling from the assembly of men, Hawkeye and Bucky turned to walk back into the compound the latter hesitating to lean toward Sam to utter something in his ear. Sam's response was a sharp nod and a broad stance, his muscled arms crossing tightly across his chest.

'Hi, I'm Peter.' Spiderman - Peter - offered his hand toward Loki who only blinked at the teenager's hand cast out toward him, Peter didn't drop his hand but instead offered it to me, 'Hi.'

'Hi,' I said and shook his hand and was met with a broad, youthful grin, 'Eva.'

'Hi, I'm Peter.' he repeated, his cheeks flushed red at his double introduction and I looked at his hand grasping onto mine still, he noticed and dropped it, that same hand reaching back to scratch the back of his neck.

'You need to bow.' Loki's voice was low and Peter's gaze widened as he looked at Loki looking down at him. Loki cocked his chin toward me and a glance at Thor told me he wasn't obliging to Loki's request.

'No, you don't need to.' I told Peter whose dark eyes widened as they moved between the three of us Asgardians, sizing us up, probably wondering what would happen if he didn't bow. Whose wrath would be worse, my fathers - Thor, God of Thunder - or my uncles - Loki, God of Mischief and former enemy to the Avengers.

'She's a Princess.' Loki added, helping Peter in his decision though from his sharp tone it was clear Loki wasn't giving him a decision. He wanted the kid to bow to me. Why hadn't he asked the same for himself?

'It is customary when you first greet royalty to bow.' Thor offered with a flick of his hand, 'And gods.' His shoulders widened at the statement.

Loki stepped forward to Peter, Sam and Ant-Man - whose name I couldn't recall stood to attention as Loki moved toward the kid.

'If you're to prove yourself a gentleman to my Princess, then bow.' The rasp of Loki's voice made my belly curl. It was dark and sinister and predatory and I half-believed his request had meaning. Like maybe he truly felt I should have been acknowledged and not left in the shadow of my father.

'Oh!' Peter near bent himself in half and I gasped, reaching out to stop him.

'You don't need to do that!' my voice came out in a rasp.

Loki turned to look at me, his anger now aimed toward me, like he had done me a favour I had rejected. His eyes darkened toward that insidious crimson shade, his chin lifted so I could glance the sharpness of his jaw. He said nothing though, a look was shared between himself and Thor beside me which only had Loki shrugging in reply.

'I'm so sorry, your Majesty.' Peter straightened and bowed again, there was a snicker of laughter from the men and it was Ant-Man who slapped a hand on Peter's back.

'Sorry about the kid, he's not used to being around royalty.' Ant-Man said, offering his own bow which seemed more of a curtsey. Sam cleared his throat and Peter cast me a short friendly wave and Ant-Man's widened gaze meant he more than likely would be asking questions later.