Loki's arms wrapped tighter around you when he heard you wheezing. He glared at the morons over your head. "You imbeciles need to watch what you do. My kitten is quick to temper and she has not adjusted to this yet. She is still working on recovering," he reminded them. Again. Pissing you off while you were recovering wasn't helping anyone. Especially you. Or them if they got you sent back to the healing wing.

Loki pressed a kiss to your forehead and helped you sit down on one of the couches. He sat next to you and kept his arm around you, offering you support and making sure you didn't stress out your body anymore than you already had. Overprotective danger noodle.

"Adjusted to what exactly? All your wonderful brother has said is that she is here for healing," Fandral asked while Thor shrugged. He didn't want to go advertising anything about you and Bucky had distracted them from asking questions. He had been telling the morons stories of fights on Midgard. It was the type of story they would appreciate and understand. And had kept them from pestering Thor about you.

/Would you me to tell them or would you prefer to do the honors, dearheart?/ Loki asked you gently. He would do whatever you wished, whatever would make you more comfortable.

/They'd probably understand better coming from you/ you managed to tell him, placing your hand on his to strengthen the connection. Your telepathic voice was extremely weak, which told him exactly how weak your powers were. Loki cut the connection almost immediately. He didn't want to drain you more than you already were.

"My love used to be a creature known on Midgard as a vampire. The healing my mother put her through was one that broke her of that affliction and made her Asgardian. That is why her heart did not beat before now," Loki hugged you tighter to him. You could feel his relief that you were no longer a vampire. You couldn't help being glad too.

"I have heard of those!" Volstagg boomed. "Vicious parasitic things," his voice was disapproving. The others had just accepted the story, especially after what Odin had said about the vampires the last time they knew you were here. You couldn't help whimpering at his words and tone, cringing into Loki's arms.

"You were all there when Father lost his temper," Thor told them sourly. His friends were supposed to be smarter than this in his opinion. "His words were cruel and untrue. Loki's lady was a kind gentle being then, and that remains true now that she is a full Asgardian lady," that part hadn't registered to them yet and they were shocked that you were fully Asgardian now. "Her mother is Brynhilde, daughter of Astrid, mother's best friend," he reminded them as if they forgot who your mother was. "As such, Loki's lady is a duchess in her own right," you didn't usually hear Thor speak so much and you were proud he was defending you.

Loki glared and summoned a dagger, floating at Volstagg's throat. "Say one more negative thing and you will like the outcome," he growled, keeping the dagger floating in place.

"Would you like me to remove your lady so you can beat some sense into your brother's idiot friends?" Bucky offered. He was still standing nearby and had a too-innocent, lopsided grin on his face. You looked over at him and smirked, your grin growing wider and wider at his outfit.

"I would appreciate it," Loki told Bucky, smirking at your grin.

"This is totally worth it," you murmured and summoned your phone so you could take pictures. It was totally worth it, even if you were out of breath and drained from the effort to summon the phone.

Loki side-eyed you and gave you a disapproving look. "Darling, you need to stop using your magic. You're not healed enough," he reminded you gently.

"I know, I know," you reassured him quickly "but I had to take pictures of him in that outfit," you protested innocently, having stolen a ton of pictures while Loki was scolding you.

Bucky came over and pulled you to your feet, wrapping his arm around you to make sure you stayed that way. "You're as bad as he is," Bucky informed you, grumbling about how you were taking pictures of him in Asgardian clothes. He started to herd you from the room before you could complain too much.

"Why doesn't he get hit with a staff for touching her?" Fandral whined as you were leaving.

Loki smirked. "Because, unlike you, I actually like him,"

"Because, unlike you I actually like him," you grumbled before Bucky managed to get you out of the room. He led you down the hall to his guest room. It was near the warrior's rooms. He fussed until he had you settled in a chair by the window, under a blanket with a book to entertain you until Loki came to find you. It took a long time before he came to Bucky's room, and was greeted by Bucky jumping to his feet and holding a knife to his throat when Loki opened the door.

"Sorry, didn't know it was you," Bucky said as he resheathed the blade. Loki was pleased that he was going too far to protect you. He somehow was never jealous of your friendship with Bucky. Bucky had become his best friend and Loki didn't mind at all that Bucky was protective of you and made sure you were defended. That was part of why he invited Bucky to Asgard, after all.

"Did you scare the morons?" you asked Loki from your chair. You didn't want to antagonize him by getting up too quickly. Plus you were comfortable.

He smirked at you. "I believe so. They know not to say anything that might hurt your feelings," Loki told you warmly.

"That's good," you said in relief and got up slowly to hug your Loki.

Loki's arms wrapped around you and he looked at Bucky over your head. "Thank you for taking care of her while I took care of them," he told his friend, though the thanks didn't need said. Of course Bucky would do it.

"Of course, witch. Now is there any chance you can get her to delete those pictures?" Bucky groaned at Loki. He was only mock-angry. Annoyed, maybe, but not truly angry.

Loki smirked. "Not a chance," he laughed.

Bucky sighed heavily. "Why am I friends with you again?" he grumbled good naturedly.

Loki chuckled. "You love me, don't deny it," he teased

"I will admit no such thing. Your ego is big enough already," Bucky teased right back. "How long until dinner?" he asked, changing the subject as he was concerned over how worn-out you were when you were supposed to be resting.

"A couple hours. Enough time for this one to take a small nap," Loki replied, squeezing you a little tighter.

Bucky nodded "I'll leave her to your care and entertain the morons. They enjoy tales of... Midgard," Bucky tried out the word. It was best to try to talk at least similar to the Asgardians while he was visiting.

Loki nodded and scooped you up in his arms. You eeped in surprise and protested that you were perfectly capable of walking on your own. Bucky chuckled at your predicament and went back to the lair of the morons while Loki carried you to bed.

*

Loki woke you shortly before dinner from where you'd been curled around him, your head on his lap as a pillow while you slept. You woke fairly easily, considering your recent ordeal. "You're going to think I'm a weak pathetic mortal if I keep falling asleep on you," you pouted up at him as you sat up properly.

"I would never think you're pathetic. And you aren't mortal. You're Asgardian. You will live longer than any Midgardian," Loki reminded you gently, tucking a loose lock of hair behind your ear.

"Oh... Right," you hand't quite put together that realization. It hadn't really changed much from being a vampire. Except that you would actually age at some point, though very slowly.

Something came to you that you were supposed to tell him. "Oh, I meant to tell you earlier, though your mother doesn't want it to be common knowledge. She said you were trustworthy enough," you teased, sticking your tongue out at him. He stuck his tongue back out at you in reply. "Apparently she's had one of the golden apples set aside for me and Bree since mom told her we were born. She was going to give them to us when we came of age..." you explained to him.

"That's amazing, darling. Are you relieved to no longer be a vampire?" he asked gently.

"So relieved," you replied with a grin. "Though I'm not entirely sure it's really sank in yet..." there was a lot that hadn't sunk in.

"It will when you realize you no longer need to drink blood,"

You nodded. "That may very well be the best part. Though your mother did say there may still be some leftover traits, that won't be among them. My eyes might still glow though..." you admitted softly, hoping he could accept it.

Loki smiled warmly. "Your glowing eyes are beautiful darling. But then everything about you is," he purred.

You looked up at him shyly, not quite believing him. "You're a notorious liar, Trickster," you informed him.

"It is no lie. I would never lie to you,"

You leaned up and kissed him. "I love you,"

"I love you too. Now, let's head to dinner,"

"Alright, noodle," you teased and climbed out of the bed, straightening your skirts when you had.

You headed to dinner with Loki. Thor, the morons, and Bucky were already there. Bucky was sitting at a table with the morons. He would eat with them and they'd seemed to accept him as one of their own. You were nervous about appearing before the court again. The last time had gone terribly wrong. Loki pulled out your chair for you and pressed a kiss to your cheek as he tucked you in to the table. You couldn't help being uncomfortable at the eyes on you. Odin had been cruel and the nobles remembered his cruel words.

Frigga noticed that you and Loki were both nervous. /Don't fret/ she told Loki /I have a plan/ Loki raised an eyebrow in question, but didn't say anything. He knew better than to question his mother.

Frigga stood to address the crowd. "As you may have noticed," she began with a bright, warm, teasing smile. "My sons have returned for a brief visit from their responsibilities on Midgard. You may also have noticed that Prince Loki's lady has also returned. Some new facts have come to light in regards to my son's lady and I wish to take this opportunity to put your minds at ease. Yes, lady Y/N was raised on Midgard, however she is a duchess of Asgard, the daughter of Brynhilde. She also was cursed with a medical affliction on Midgard, through our vast healing capabilities and the skills of the Asgardian healers, we were able to free her of this curse," there were roars of applause from the crowd. The nobles loved praising Asgard and the skills of their healers, especially of Frigga. Frigga knew exactly what she was up to and you were impressed with her for it. "It is my wish that you all make your prince's lady feel welcome on Asgard and join in my gratitude that our healers were able to cure her curse,"

You knew then where Loki got his silver tongue from.