A Tale of Mischief and Mutants

Fred

—-Sam—-

I chuckle a bit to myself as we walk though they are causing me anxiety the reporters are also hilariously ridiculous. I swear I heard one asking Loki who he was wearing. Is that seriously what matters right now? For the record most of what he wears is a Loki Odinson original. One reporter grabs his attention with their question.

"You've proven yourself trustworthy what's next for you?"

Loki answers them genuinely.

"I continue wiping away the red."

Oh Lo', I'm a little saddened by this answer though it's sweet that he's making it clear that he will continue Avenging, I can tell by this answer he still feels he hasn't earned his place here. That he still feels he can never be forgiven for what happened. I take his hand as we get into the car to commute to S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters.

"You know you did good right? Don't let some of their questions fool you, today you've proven your intentions to help."

Loki nods but still looks unconvinced he's not used to the positivity people have displayed towards him. I feel he's waiting for the rug to be pulled out from underneath him. Ingfred looks confused at my statement.

"Lo' had to get a second chance too Fred."

Ingfred lifts his eyebrows at the nickname.

"Is it ok if I call you Fred? It's a Midgardian name."

He smiles a little as he nods.

"Yes, I'd be proud to adopt a Midgardian name after seeing how your people actually are."

I return his smile.

——————————————————

When we arrive at the headquarters we head straight for Fury's office. We have to wait a while because he is of course pretty busy with everything that just happened. Finally we're allowed to talk with him.

"Sam I was told you were coming to speak with me."

"Oh?"

I find myself suddenly nervous. Speaking with him over the phone and during meetings was one thing but now it's just me and two other people. I'm also here to ask him to do me a favor he might not be too keen on granting me.

"Yes I heard you put up quite a fuss about one of the Marauders. Standing in front of a loaded gun."

"Please director his name is Ingfred, he helped us I just don't want him to end up thrown in the Raft with the rest of them. He risked his life."

Fury eyes Ingfred in a way that makes me convinced he can see into his soul. Fury can be one scary son of a bitch when he wants to be.

"Where are you from Ingfred?"

Ingfred looks terrified.

"Van- Vanaheim."

"Do you intend to return? Or are you going to stick around here?"

"I um I don't know director I don't know if I can even get home you... your people don't have any means of transporting me there."

I butt in.

"Thor can help."

Ingfred seemes to realize something suddenly.

"Wait Thor?!"

He looks to my hand holding Mjölnir.

"Is... is that Mjölnir too?"

I'm confused by his questions I didn't know people from Vanaheim knew about Asgard I'm probably just ill informed but it's weird he hadn't noticed till now.

"...yes?"

"I should have put this together sooner are you of Asgard?"

"I'm of Midgard."

Loki chimes in

"I am of Asgard."

Fury looks annoyed at us getting off track and breaks apart our conversation.

"If Ingfred is staying he will be restricted to the Avengers compound until I can look further into this."

Fury looks to Ingfred for an answer,

"I... I don't know I didn't leave Vanaheim on the best of terms."

Fury looks at him with suspicion. Ingfred quickly clarifies.

"It wasn't for anything unlawful I just... I got into an argument with someone... my parents."

Fury looks surprised.

"How old are you?"

Ingfred sounds a little embarrassed as he answers timidly.

"Eight hundred fifty five."

Loki looks at him in horror.

"Child we must get you home at once!"

"I don't want to go back. They... they lied to me."

Ingfred looks like he's on the verge of tears. The three of us look at him inquisitively so he continues.

"They never told me I wasn't their real son..."

Loki looks at him in brief surprise that quickly turns to understanding and he hesitates momentarily before asking Ingfred something not even I had expected him to, at least not right in front of Fury.

"Do you need to talk about it?"

Ingfred nods and Loki excuses himself and Ingfred from the room. Fury looks at me with curiosity he's probably never seen this side of Loki in this capacity. I smile slightly Loki plays it off like he couldn't give a single fuck about anything but what he did just now is who he really is underneath all that crap.

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Change him."

"Director I didn't change him I just convinced him to let people have a peek behind the illusion he casts of himself."

Fury nods looking deep in thought. I know he's probably had some hunch that how Loki presents himself is very different from how he actually feels in order to maintain his intimidating reputation but for Fury seeing Loki openly show he cares like this was completely bizarre.

———————————————————-

Loki somehow convinces Ingfred to go home he'll be getting some rest here then taking the bifrost home first thing tomorrow. I'm coming back tomorrow to say goodbye but for now I'm going home. I'm happy that I'll finally get back to sleeping in my own bed in my own house instead of the hard floor in a strange cell. My only three desires in the world at this moment are a hot shower, a warm bed, and Loki's arms.