Chapter 15
Thor couldn't help smirk when he saw that Loki's cheeks had turned purple. Though he was so relieved that Loki's eye had turned green again. He was on the right track to solving this curse. Thor wanted nothing more than for his brother to be happy again. And he seemed so much happier with Morgan than he'd seen him in years. Especially over the last year of being cursed. "I'm glad for you, brother," Thor replied warmly. He saw Loki's relief that his brother was being supportive. All Loki ever wanted was love and acceptance from his family. However, they were brothers, and Thor had to smirk and add: "However, Stark is going to kill you," he teased.
Loki chuckled. "I can handle Stark. Let him try to kill me. It will just end up with him thrown out of a window,"
Thor boomed his laughter. "You would say that," he replied jovially. Loki had a habit of chucking Stark through the defenestration window whenever the mood suited him. There was even a tallyboard at the Tower to prove it.
Loki shrugged. "The man grates on my nerves. I wonder how many times he has had to have the defenestration windows glass replaced..." he mused. Tony tended to go flying through it frequently.
"Well, last time he did not replace it with the special bullet-proof glass used in the rest of the tower; and hydra broke in through there and nearly abducted his daughter. I am sure he has done a better job with the window this time," Thor told him. Stark was pissed at himself when he realized that's how Hydra had broken into the tower. He'd left one window less defended and they'd found that tiny weakness and had exploited it.
"I am quite sure," Loki agreed, then gave his brother a look. "You did warn Stark that I was bringing Ana here, did you not?" He didn't trust the oaf to follow simple directions.
Thor rolled his eyes. "Of course, I did. He was not pleased until I reminded him that Hydra could not harm her here and that she would be under our guard and perfectly safe,"
Loki nodded. "Good. Then Stark has little reason to try and kill me for that," he wanted to limit the number of reasons Stark wanted to kill him.
"No, he will only kill us for his daughter becoming Asgardian and for you kissing her. Or is it courting her?" he asked with a teasing smirk. It was rare for his brother to be interested in anyone enough to kiss them, much less court them.
So of course he took the opportunity to tease his brother when it came around. The gods only knew that Loki would have done the same.
To Thor's surprise, he actually got an honest answer instead of a snippet remark. "I'm not sure yet, to be honest," Loki said with a sigh. "And her becoming Asgardian is her decision. Neither of us even made her the offer. Stark has no say in it,"
"He will still blame us," Thor said mournfully.
"Of course he will. Me especially," Loki growled at how unfair it was.
"Especially when he catches you kissing his daughter," Thor teased.
Loki shrugged. "Yet again, that is her choice to make,"
"You try telling her father that. I will burn incense in your memory,"
Loki glared. "How considerate of you," he said dryly and stomped off to where his lady and his mother were chatting near the head table. His mood lightened immediately upon approaching them and he kissed his mother's cheek.
Frigga gave him a warm smile and her expression brightened even more when she saw his green eye, but she could tell by his mood that now wasn't the time to ask about it. He was annoyed with Thor and it was lucky that Frigga was in the room or Thor would've gotten stabbed. "Hello, darling," she greeted him as warmly as ever as she kissed his cheek in return.
"Hello Mother, Ana," he greeted them in return and kissed Morgan's cheek as well. She smiled in delight, though Loki could see in her expression that she was surprised he would kiss her in front of his mother, in front of the court, even on the cheek. Silly little darling. "What have you two ladies been talking about?" he asked them curiously. They were way more interesting than his idiot brother.
"Magic and the transition to Asgardian," Frigga replied warmly. "Lady Morgana expressed interest in learning the healing arts," she added with a touch of pride in her voice. She always wanted and needed more qualified healers in the realm. They were always in demand and in short supply. Morgan smiled shyly at the optimism in Frigga' voice.
Loki smiled warmly as well. "I am not surprised. She expressed the interest to me as well,"
"Your mother thinks I have aptitude for it," Morgan told him and he could hear the hope in her voice and knew it was something she truly wanted. He never wanted anything to squash her hope or eternal optimism.
"Then I am quite sure that you do. Mother is never wrong about anything," he said with a smirk in Frigga's direction, which made her laugh. "But especially not about such matters. Your magic is quite strong, after all,"
Frigga smiled warmly at the pair, they seemed so happy together and Frigga thought they were adorable. "Darling, we should take our seats so dinner can begin," Frigga told Loki and subsequently his lady.
"Of course, Mother," Loki replied and settled Morgan's hand on the crook of his elbow to escort her to her seat. Frigga watched them while she took her own seat, impressed with the care that Loki took with the blind girl and how trusting Morgan was of him. Loki pulled out Morgan's chair and sat her at the table. She kissed his cheek when he seated her at the table. "Thank you, Liam," she told him warmly, grateful for his help.
He gave her a light peck on the lips before he took his own seat next to her. "My pleasure, Ana," he replied. She was surprised that he would kiss her in front of his family and the court, but she was pleased by the development.
Knowing that Asgardian place settings were different than what she was used to, he took her hand and guided it to where each of the utensils were. He made sure her glass was within reach and she knew where it was, also that it was filled with a fruit juice instead of alcohol. Midgardians couldn't handle Asgardian alcohol. Morgan looked so grateful and relieved by his consideration, it warmed his heart.
Odin made a brief announcement to the court that Morgan is the daughter of Brunhilde, to the amazement of the court, but they quickly accepted her presence at the head table and at Loki's side after that. Morgan drew on her facade of the heiress to Stark Industries that she had been perfecting since she was 14. There were whispers of course, at her obvious handicap, but none that could be heard by Loki, who would've smited whoever spoke ill of his lady.
With that business taken care of, dinner was served.
They dug into their meal, chatting companionably while they ate. Both of them were starving and neither had eaten enough after recent events. Morgan was surprised that she'd eaten as much as an Asgardian, but she had unknowingly used a lot of magic in that vision.
She sat back after dinner with a contented purr, full and happy. Until the desserts came out. Loki lit up in delight when he saw the sweets making their way to the table. Morgan noticed his posture shift, noted him sitting up in anticipation. Her mouth started watering when she smelled the desserts making their way to their table. It was a delicious chocolaty creation that Loki devoured with glee. Morgan purred in pleasure over the delicious treat, savoring it.
Loki smirked at the sinful noises she made. "Like it, darling?"
"I think this is the best thing I've ever eaten," she replied.
He chuckled. "The palace chefs are quite skillful," he agreed.
"I see that," she replied and returned to her dessert. She made such delicious noises over something as simple as a good dessert, which sent shivers down Loki's spine as he thought of how to make her make those noises in much more... intimate... situations.
"What do you think of Asgard so far?" Loki asked as the dishes were being cleared.
Morgan pondered that. She hadn't experienced much of the realm yet and her disability was definitely a hindrance. "The food is delicious and the company pleasant. I will take your word that it's beautiful as I've only seen a small portion of the throne room." Frigga had helped her remember her vision properly.
Loki nodded and sighed. "I know. I wish I could show you more," he said softly. "but I will take what I can get,"
She nodded and looked up with interest when music began to play, her head turning toward the dance floor, though she couldn't see the dancers as they took the opening positions to begin the dancing.
Loki stood from his chair and offered her his hand, placing her hand in his. "Would you allow me the honor of a dance, Ana?" he asked with all the grace of a prince.
She squeezed his offered hand and stood. "The honor is mine," she agreed.
Loki led her out onto the dance floor. When they stopped, she slid her hand up his arm to place it on his shoulder, taking his hand in her other one. She was clearly used to dancing. Loki was cautious though, his arm around her waist, but he started by just swaying them to the music, unsure if she could dance and not wanting to push her when she couldn't see.
She gave him a look. She was perfectly capable of dancing. So she jabbed at him. "Do you not know how to waltz, prince?" she teased, knowing full well that he knew how to dance.
He chuckled, chastised for thinking less of her for her disability. He wouldn't do it again. "I will show you just how good of a dancer I am," he purred seductively and swept her into a fluid waltz, with all the grace of a professional dancer. He was surprised that Morgan kept up easily. She danced extraordinarily well, only relying on him to make sure they didn't run into other couples, but that was part of what a lead did anyway. She knew the steps and could read his body language to know where he'd step next. The mark of a perfect waltz was in its fluidity, its smoothness, its delicacy, in the couple's ability to make it look like they were floating effortlessly.
And that required the perfect partner.
Loki had found his.
They spent the entire night dancing and as the last notes filled the great hall, Loki kissed Morgan deeply in the middle of the dance floor for the entire court to see. She was perfect for him and he was realizing that he loved this little Midgardian.
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