Birthright

Safety

"So, tomorrow we go to see Fury and Banner. After that? Depends on what he says, really......"

He'd waited in the Shield safehouse, organised by Tony, all afternoon.  Asa and Thor had left to speak to Tony, telling him they wouldn't be long. That had been five hours ago. He'd paced the apartment; moped about; conjured some fireworks; read a book or three, and now? Finally, they were back.

He stood on the far side of the main living area, arms folded across his chest, scowl on his face. Asa looked across, and as he looked back, she saw the scared little boy. A defence mechanism honed over many lonely years, now automatically kicking in so as not to appear weak. She wanted nothing more than to hold him and tell him she would never leave him to face this alone.

She caught his eye, smiled a little, and began, silent to all but him.

"I don't know if you can hear my thoughts Loki, but I suspect you can. Just know that I love you, and no matter WHAT happens, I will never leave you to face it alone. You are stronger and more loved than you believe.  I see you, Loki Laufeyson, I see you for who you really are. And THAT is the person I've fallen in love with." She looked at him, and as she watched, his only reaction was a single tear, rolling silently down his cheek. He took a deep breath and smiled.

Without  moving his lips, she heard him.

"Thank you, my love, my Queen."

Laura - whose home this actually was - greeted them more conventionally with a smile. "Thank goodness you're back.  He's been like a caged lion all afternoon." She rolled her eyes. The Avengers - and all that came with them - were nothing new to her.

She'd been married to one of them for years. Clint 'Hawkeye' Barton had made it a condition of him joining that he could keep his wife and family close but safe. 

What even HE didn't know - but Fury did - was that his wife was an ex-agent for Shield.  Laura liked it that way. She knew Clint would only worry she'd be coerced into coming back.  He didn't need that extra pressure.

And anyway, she wouldn't be doing that any time soon. Not with a little 'Hawk' on the way in a couple of months.

As it was, she was happy to look after whoever they needed her to. Loki was no different from any of the rest.

"Come on, let's sit. I've made coffee for those that drink it - that's you, Tony - and there's beer for those that dont. Anyone else will just have to make their own arrangements!" She laughed, and they all looked at Loki.

"What?" He asked, palms up, shrugging. "I'm not a vending machine, you know!"

Thor slapped him on the back. "No? Then why do you act like one? Using magic to give yourself extra treats?"

"That was ONE time. And I was hungry. I just fancied some extra supper!" Loki laughed too now, seemingly more relaxed.  He looked at Asa. "Would my favourite Valkyrie like anything?" He winked, and she blushed.

"Oh dear God, these two are sweet enough to give you diabetes!" Tony groaned and rolled his eyes. Asa stuck out her tongue at him childishly and grabbed Loki's hand.

"Come on, my favourite Jotun, let's sit down before Tony gets jealous." She grinned, and they plopped down on the nearest sofa.

With a flick of the wrist, they were suddenly both in sweats and sneakers, comfy and relaxed.  Asa snuggled in, legs draped across his lap. As she got comfy, she suddenly realised just how pleased Loki was that she'd come back. 

She let out a little cough and looked at him, his eyes twinkling. "God of Mischief, alright!" She muttered.

Tony and Thor sat on the easy chairs next to them, and Laura excused herself, saying that she needed to call Clint.  In reality, she was just giving them room to talk.  The less she knew, the better.

Tony waited until she'd left, and then, lifting his mug of coffee, took a long swallow.  Fortified by the warmth and the caffeine, he spoke.

"Ok, so, tomorrow we all go to see Fury and Banner. After that? Depends on what he says, really." Asa looked up at Loki as they sat.  His eyes, now that he was looking at Tony, went back to their haunted fear.  If only she could take that away for him.  She squeezed his hand, and he glanced down at her and smiled. He squeezed his thanks back but didn't comment.

"And YOU, Rock of Ages, you don't speak unless you're spoken to, got it?" Tony looked at him and pointed." The last thing we need is your ego getting out of its cage and spoiling the Powerpoint. Ok?"

Loki shrugged. "Given I have no idea what a 'powerpoint' is, then I agree not to spoil it. For once, I realise I have more to lose than gain by being my usual forthright self."

"That's one word for it." Tony muttered, and Loki glared at him. Tony put his hands up in defence. "Well, you must admit, you're not the best at the subtle takeover now, are you? Look at Stuttgart..." he grimaced, and Loki bit his lip. Literally. There was only so much he would take from Stark.

Asa jumped in to pour oil on troubled waters. "Yes, well, I think that's all for tonight? We can meet here tomorrow at say 930am? Tony, you make the arrangements to see Fury, and we'll take it from there."

Thor stood, as did Tony. They were going to their respective Midgard homes. Tony to the now fully rebuilt Stark Tower and Thor to see Jane Foster, albeit briefly.  She had an apartment in New York, and it was a long overdue reunion.

The house was quiet when they'd gone.  Laura was now asleep upstairs, just Loki and Asa remained in the living room.  From nowhere, the gentle sound of music played, and Loki patted the sofa next to him.

"Sit with me a while, my Queen?" He asked softly, holding out his hand.

She smiled and melted into his arms. "That's the second time you've called me that since we got back." She whispered, her face upturned to his, her eyes like dark pools of desire.

"What else WOULD I call you? You are my love. You are everything to me, Asa." 

He bent down and kissed her deeply.  His lips were soft and warm, his tongue gentle and searching. This was not lust. This was not just a quick roll in the sheets. This, this was love.

Asa broke the kiss. "Take me to bed, my Prince. Make love to me? Show me how you love your Queen?"

He smiled, and as he kissed her again, for a few seconds, she felt discombobulated, only to realise they had transported to his room.  Now they lay on the bed and she also realised they were naked.

Looking down at her, his hair fell in a dark curtain to one side.  She reached up and tucked it behind his ear, her fingers trailing down the side of his neck and along his jawline to his mouth. Gently, she pulled his bottom lip with her thumb, and he grasped it in his mouth, sucking gently.

Her breath hitched, and something deep within burst into flames. She bit her lip, their eyes locked.  She felt his tongue playing with her thumb, and it made her ache to think of what else he could do with it. 

He let her thumb go, moving his mouth to a hair's breadth from hers. His breath danced over her lips, sensually erotic beyond anything that simple should have been.

This was not just passion, this was not just mindless sex.  This was indeed making love as he took her, their bodies joining and moving together slowly, sensually. The depth of passion, the aching need, brought him to the brink of tears. 

As he moved and filled her with his body, over and over, there was no urgency. They looked into each other's eyes. They whispered affirmations of love. They called out each other's name in soft moans.

When they finally came, they came together, holding onto each other as if their lives depended on it. 

"Oh Gods Loki I love you." She moaned at the moment of her climax.

"Valahalla...I'm...coming..Asa...I love...you..." he groaned as he filled her.

As he let himself release inside her, the warm surge made her gasp, so deeply did she feel it.

Spent at last, they lay in each other's arms. She kissed the top of his head as he snuggled into her, head on her chest, just wanting to be held. "Sleep now my love." She whispered. "Sleep and tomorrow we will face this together."

"Togetherrrrrr." He rumbled as they dozed off.  "Forever....."

They could only hope that the new day would bring an opportunity to make that possible.