Aftermath

Loki pulls the shower curtain back and reaches out for a towel. Oops! She forgot to grab one before getting in. Aroha gurgles in her arms. They both just had a nice relaxing shower together. “Thor! Can you bring me a towel? I forgot to grab one.” She shouts. She hears shuffling and then Thor walks in. Thor looks upon his wife (husband?) and slowly stretches out his arm to hand her the towel, never taking his eyes off of her. The water is cascading down her long locks forming little streams of water that are dripping off her body. Her brilliant green eyes practically glow and she has a mischievous smile on her face. Uh-oh.
“Your cock is going to be rubbed raw if you keep masturbating you know. I know what you do in here when the water is turned on and you’re alone. Everyone does. It thunders loudly outside every time.” Loki says cruelly. He is loving the effect he is having on Thor. Everyday Loki finds new ways to torture his husband. Thor turns bright red and then walks away. Loki dries herself and the baby off and then walks into the bedroom naked again and dresses the baby and then herself. Being naked in front of Thor is just too much fun.
Thor strips down to his boxers and grabs another towel before going into the bathroom to shower himself. Loki is pretty sure Thor had a shower last night before going to bed. Loki smiles at the sound of a thunderclap.
When Thor emerges from the bathroom he has his towel wrapped around his waist, hiding his modesty. Loki is sitting on the bed breastfeeding when he comes out. The steam coming from the bathroom seems to collect on his skin. His dark blonde wet locks cling to his neck as little water droplets drip off his massive muscular chest. Thor reaches down to pick something up and his large biceps flex from the movement. Loki feels throbbing between her legs. Thor avoids looking in Loki’s direction as he dresses, and fails to notice the desire burning in her eyes.
Having finished preparing for the day ahead of them, they both walk out of the bedroom and greet the others in the kitchen. Tony is brewing up a pot of coffee when the couple walks in.
“Hey there was packaged delivered on my balcony for you two this morning.” Tony says as he sips down a steaming cup. Thor and Loki looked concerned and confused by this.
“What kind of package?” Thor inquires.
“A box. I hope you don’t get mad at me for peaking. It looks kind of like a spice rack or something. Are one of you taking up cooking lessons?” Tony asks wriggling his eyebrows at Loki. Spice rack? Mother!
“It’s for me!” Loki exclaims with a broad smile on his face. “They are ingredients for potion making. Trust mother to find a way to assist us even when we don’t ask for help.” Loki beams as he pulls the box in front of him and opens the lid. Everything he needs to make healing potion is inside, along with a few other rare ingredients for “other things”.
“There’s enough here for me to make another 10 vials of potion. Thor, take Aroha, I can whip out a batch in just an hour, and then we can visit one of the hospitals after we take the baby to the park.”
“Well, looks like your day is spoken for.” Tony quips. The other Avengers poke their heads in and out of the kitchen peering over Loki’s shoulder as he cooks up his brew. The sight of Loki standing at the stove in a dress cooking something looks so damn normal. It’s weird. With a wave of her hand 10 empty bottles appear on the kitchen counter along with a small funnel. When Loki is done corking the last one she waves her hand and stashes them all away. Beats the hell out of carrying around a purse, or a diaper bag.
“Let’s go.” Loki says lightly as she plucks her child out of her father’s arms. Loki pulls out a body wrap and secures her child against her chest. Now she is hands free and her baby can listen to her heart beat as she sleeps.
Thor and Loki head over to Grand Central Park for a walk. Loki was getting cabin fever after being cooped up in the tower for several days. They walk next to each other and Thor feels a burning desire to reach out and hold Loki’s hand. He decides to take the risk. Loki immediately pulls his hand away.
“Really Thor? What did you expect?” Loki says as he rolls his eyes.
“I wish I knew how to please you.” Thor says quietly. Loki stops and looks at him then. Loki thinks to say something cruel but the words die on her tongue.
“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I agreed to fuck you that second time around. I never thought of you in that way before. I don’t know why I acted the way I did. Fear to be sure but, I think you would have stopped that time if I had said no. I will give you that much credit.”
“Is there nothing I can do to earn your forgiveness?” Thor asks.
“It is as you said, I’ve tried killing you more than once and maimed you on several occasions. I think we are even.” Loki says quietly. She takes in her surroundings as they follow the path through the park. Loki is stuck by the realization that she hasn’t done something this ordinary is a very long time. Enjoying the beauty of a warm spring day feels like an alien activity.
“Loki, you know my feelings about you now. I wish to know yours about me. Are you capable of seeing me as anything other than your big older brother? Will you ever see me as your husband?”
Loki stops again and looks up at Thor. “I don’t know Thor. I just don’t know.” Loki stares into Thor’s eyes and a quiet moment passes that feels fearful, awkward, and full of trepidation.
“May I court you then?” Thor asks. Loki bites her bottom lip in pensive thought. She presses her lips firmly together and nods before taking Thor’s hand. Thor lets go of a breath he was holding and leans in to kiss Loki’s hair as they proceed down the path, heading towards the hospital.
Tony puts a call in to his favorite flower company. It’s the one he likes to use whenever he wants to put the moves on Pepper, or kiss her ass for screwing up. He calls them a lot. They are on speed dial. This time, however, he is calling on Thor’s behalf. Thor has screwed up royally and needs to put the moves on Loki. It’s for the good of humanity, Tony tells himself. If Loki is happy then he won’t do anything to harm the human race. A sexless marriage all but guarantees that the God of Mischief will eventually lose his shit and set the Earth on fire. Yeah, helping Thor get laid is definitely in humanity’s best interests. Plus Tony will win $50. Clint’s $50. Bwhahahahaha!
It is late evening before the couple returns to the tower. When they get off the elevator and walk into the living room they see everyone gathered there watching the television.
“Hey you guys are on the news!” Clint yells.
“What?” Loki and Thor ask.
“Yeah some paparazzi spotted you two in the park and followed you all day. He got footage of damn near everything. Everyone wants to know who the lady with the baby is.” Natasha says.
“My PR guy has been swamped the last three hours with phone calls about you two. How do you guys want to handle this?” Tony asks. “I might recommend leaving out the part where your wife is actually your brother.”
“Oh do shut up!” Loki snarls. Tony starts imitating the melody of dueling banjos with his lips. Loki is sure it is some sort of insult, but the reference is not lost on the others. Clint chuckles.
“We will discuss this in the morning. Loki and I are tired and have had a long day. We shall retire.”
“Wait! Don’t go to sleep just yet. I got you two something.” Tony runs over to the bar and pulls out a box hidden behind it. It is gift wrapped. Loki looks at it with distrust but takes it none the less and opens the present. When the box opens, Loki pulls out the strangest contraption he has ever seen.
“What…Is this?” She says.
“It’s a breast pump. You’ll feel like a dairy cow while you use it but it is actually rather handy. You can pump out the milk in advance and store it in these bottles, so that when feeding time comes someone else can feed the baby if you are not around, or sleeping, or doing other…things.” Tony wiggles his eyebrows at Loki for the second time that day. Loki looks at Tony like he’s fucking nuts.
“Pepper and I are volunteering to watch the baby tonight. We just need you to filler’ up.”
“Are you insane?” Loki asks.
“No just self-serving and narcissistic. But I’m also a philanthropist, and you two kids need some time alone.”
“Thank you Anthony, this is a most wonderful gift. We will take you up on your offer.” Thor beams.
“No Thor…” Loki whispers his argument. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving Aroha with him. He’s a…”
“It will be fine Loki, and it will afford me the opportunity to lavish attention on you without interruption.” Thor says in a begging tone. “Please…”
“Uh, fine. Give me the damn thing. Can’t believe I’m doing this.” Loki mutters under her breath. She hands the baby over to Thor and pulls the wrap from off her body. Loki goes into the kitchen and spends the next 30 minutes filling up two bottles and placing them in the refrigerator.
“Okay. Now that I’m done with that ridiculous task, what is the plan?” Loki looks over at Pepper who is now holding the baby. She’s got that I-want-babies look in her eyes.
“I bought the two of you reservations at the most exclusive restaurant in town and a suite at The Plaza. It’ll fuel the fire and you might have more run-ins with the paparazzi tonight, but if you limit your exposure outside the restaurant and hotel you shouldn’t get mauled too badly. You two should hurry. Your reservation is in an hour.” Tony says.
Thor and Loki head to their room. Usually women take longer to get ready, but this is Loki and with a snap of her fingers she’s in an evening gown and her hair and makeup is done. Thor is still stripping to get into the shower. Loki has opted for a green sparkly ensemble and dangly gold earrings. Loki sits on the bed and waits. After about 15 minutes Thor emerges from the bathroom in full Asgardian regalia.
“Really Thor? We are on Midgard and I would like to NOT attract every photographer from here to London. You’ve been here just as long as I. Don’t you have any other formal attire?”
“No. And how is it that you have a dress ready to go in YOUR wardrobe?” Thor asks accusingly.
“I spent months wearing other people’s faces Thor. I have the most extensive wardrobe you’ll ever see. I might have something that fits you, let me check.” Loki waves her hands and for a moment her head and shoulders disappear into an invisible pocket in space like she is picking through an old box of clothes. “Ah! Here we go. These should look nice on you. Put them on.” Loki hands Thor the suit.
When he is done changing he looks spectacular, except for that damn hair. Loki gets the brush and a hair band and pulls it all back into a neat pony tail.
“There. Much better. Let’s go.”

Notes