God with Whiskers

Towards the future

"So." Thor was beaming as he stood in the center of New Asgard, his people gathered around and looking curiously at him. "It's been three days ago now, since we battled against Thanos once more. We emerged victorious, and we undid the snap doubling our numbers!" he beamed. "This of course means we have lacked houses and beds for all the newcomers. But once again, Asgard has pulled together and shown its true worth! We didn't have much, but what we had we have shared and we will manage."

People smiled, some putting arms around an old friend or loved one who had been returned to them.

"Anyway, word has already spread that Loki was present at the battle; many of you saw him!" Thor grinned. "As you were all informed, he was grievously wounded and has needed time to recover. Now, though..." he stepped aside.

There was silence, stunned silence, then. The door behind Thor slowly opened and out stepped a young god. Pale skin, black hair, green eyes. And something that was quite unlike him, he actually looked nervous.

"Erhm." Loki hesitated then raised a hand. "Hello."

For a moment there was silence, then great cheers rang out, making Loki blink and Thor shake his head.

"Okay." Thor spoke and people silenced. "Loki, under Asgardian law, has been wanted for... Well, a list of crimes."

Loki sighed deeply.

"Breaking the peace treaty between Asgard and Jotunnheim, attacking Midgard , impersonating King Odin and sitting illegitimately on the throne." Thor counted. "And... other things."

Loki closed his eyes, his cheeks flushing. What Thor was saying was all true... It didn't feel good to hear it, though. Thor was even kind enough to leave out the things which weren't public knowledge such as... trying to murder Thor... Several times...

"However, there's a reason why you reacted the way you did at the sight of him." Thor grinned. "Loki has proved his true loyalty! In our hour of need, Loki returned to Asgard at his own peril with a means of escape! It is because of him that we were able to save as many people as we did. He himself dived into the flames of Surtur to help defeat Hela! And he came back willingly to carry his duty for our people! His knowledge and intuition were of great value in helping reverse the Snap, and when Thanos arrived Loki acted to defend us, all of us! And then he did it again upon the battlefield! Without him, we truly would have had a much harder-won victory, at a much greater price. Through his actions, Loki has proven his loyalty! And that is why I, as king, hereby absolve him of all those crimes of which he was accused."

And people grinned and cheered until Thor made them quiet.

"Our numbers have doubled, but we are still not many." Thor breathed. "A few hundred people, that's all that remains to carry on a hundred thousand year old legacy. That means each and every one of us are important beyond measure! Millions of people, their history and legacy live in us! In our hearts and our minds. That's why the knowledge of the old must be delivered to the young! And I have the perfect candidate for the job!"

Loki blinked. "Erh Thor, we didn't agree to this." he pointed out.

Thor grinned as he looked at Loki. "I am King. My word is law." he pointed out.

Loki sent Thor a sullen glare.

"Don't look like that." Thor asked. "It's an important job and you know it, perhaps the most important one right now. And you're the only one with the mind and knowledge to do it! Loki, you're irreplaceable! We need you!"

"Norns, Thor, don't say it like that." Loki sighed deeply.

"I hand the responsibility to you Loki." Thor smiled. "Delivering this knowledge is of utmost importance and now has grand priority! Whatever you need. Come to me, it will be high priority."

"Couldn't make it easy for me could you?" Loki asked then stepped back. "I accept, my king." he bowed for Thor then stood up. "It is indeed high time that the children around here were taught of our history! This will be obligatory!"

You would be expecting the children to complain over the prospect of school, but that didn't happen. They were cheering! And the adults to were grinning, hope in their eyes that had been missing for too long. Loki's name was hailed, making Loki blink back tears as Thor grinned putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Loki! They love you!" Thor grinned.

Loki was honestly stunned, he had always desired this. But to have it, was oddly different than he thought it would be. These people were not grovelling in fear, they were standing, cheering, smiling at him! And seemed so happy to see him. So this is what it felt like to be adored, huh? People cheering, not because they had to, because they wanted to. He felt slightly off balance at the strangeness of it.

"I erh... I've got something to inform you all of, though." Loki said and people quieted, listening. "At Asgard, I was well known as one of the greatest sorcerers In the Nine. While my knowledge remains the same, my power not so much." he admitted. "I erhm..." he halted, too accustomed to being a target to not be nervous to admit such a weakness. "When I faced Thanos, while we were still on the Statesman I.." he paused again, taking a deep breath. "My body was destroyed, for good." he informed them. "What you see before you is the result of my shape shifting. However when I sleep... When I am knocked unconscious. I return to my now true form. A rather weak form, which is only able to hold onto so much magic. So I am not entirely the same as I was."

People were quiet, though they didn't look angry at this revelation of weakness. He'd expected anger, revulsion, even. But there was none. He'd never lived up Aesir ideals, but to state it so bluntly... There was some confusion in the peoples' faces, but for the most part they looked... understanding. Accepting. It was unexpected, which honestly stunned Loki.

"Well erhm, my true form." Loki swallowed, then he seemed to vanish, except he hadn't. He was a cat by Thor's feet and people blinked, then Loki turned back, his cheeks red. "So yeah... I'm a cat now. That's my true form, and that probably won't change any time soon." he looked away, unable to watch their faces change as they adjusted to this new information. "First one who laughs is going to get it." he murmured in a low voice only Thor could hear.

No one was laughing though, as Loki dared to look back. There were some low murmurs of conversation, but people still just looked ...happy. Relieved, even.

"Loki." Thor shook his head and smirked. "You were born a Jotunn, raised an Aesir and now you're a cat. That doesn't change anything, though. You've always had the heart of an Asgardian. That never changed, and I don't believe it ever will."

Loki shook his head, amused.

"Whatever the future may bring, that is going to stay the same." Thor stated. "And that's why you belong here! With us! Loki of Asgard!"

"Well Thor, future is a mystery." Loki smirked. "But for now... Aye." he sighed, finally daring to start to believe that this was real. "I'm home."

They turned to face the Asgardians, all of whom were grinning and cheering. Thor put a hand on Loki's shoulder and then they walked down to join their people. Laughing, cheering and talking.

Of course, they still had many hurdles to overcome. As Loki pointed out, the future was a mystery.

But they would figure it out, like they always had.

The king and his cat brother.

The end.