To Teach a Trickster

The next morning, Loki stood in front of the full-length mirror that hung on the inside of his closet door. He looked like a mess and felt pretty much the same. His hair was all askew and his pajamas wrinkled, looking like he had been through a wringer more than once. He walked closer, pulled his pajama pants down, and began examining the damage to his backside. There was a little bit of redness and swelling around some of the puncture marks, which didn’t surprise him considering how many times he had been stuck. What was surprising is that his whole rear wasn’t swelled, because it felt like it should be. Otherwise, his skin looked normal. But he was still sore. He sighed, gently rubbing his bottom. Mortals were so cruel, he thought. Such sadistic monsters. He couldn’t understand what Thor saw in them. He turned and looked at his bottom’s reflection again. And why did everything painful have to be applied to his rear? It wasn’t fair! Everyone he came in contact with was bound and determined that he would never sit down again.

He sniffed back a few tears and pulled his pants back up, kicking at his boot on the floor. This was all Odin’s fault. If he had just put him in prison back on Asgard none of this would have happened. Loki’s face scrunched up in an angry scowl. Odin was probably sitting on his throne at that very moment, laughing at everything Loki had been through.

After getting dressed, choosing some loose-fitting cargo pants instead of jeans, Loki finally stepped out of his bedroom and hobbled into the living room where Jane was hunched over her laptop, a mug of coffee in one hand. Music was softly playing from the stereo.

“Hey,” she said, glancing up. “I thought you would sleep later.”

“The bed was starting to become uncomfortable.” he softly replied. He looked at a nearby chair and grimaced at the thought of sitting in it. “Actually…everything is uncomfortable right now.”

A slight smile creased Jane’s lips. “Want some breakfast?”

Loki nodded. “As long as it isn’t hospital food,”

“I hear you there,” Jane laughed, getting up and walking to the kitchen. “Don’t worry; I’ll fix you whatever you want.”

“Bacon and eggs and toast?” he said, hopefully.

“Sure thing,”

Loki walked into the kitchen and stood next to the table. His hands were still tucked behind him, rubbing at his soreness. Jane looked around at him, noting his hesitancy to sit.

“You want to help me fix it?”

She thought she detected a hint of shyness as Loki quickly shook his head.

“I know it’s probably beneath you, but I can teach you if you want me to.”

Again, Loki shook his head.

“All right, but it would help you feel more independent on days when I have to be away.”

“You’d actually leave me here alone?”

Jane thought a moment and then nodded. “Maybe, if you prove to me that you can behave yourself.”

Loki walked closer and leaned against the sink. “And if I don’t?”

“You’ll have to put up with having Darcy as a babysitter.”

Loki visibly cringed at that, although Jane wasn’t sure if it was the part about Darcy or because she used the word ‘babysitter’. She was assuming it was the latter.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” he mumbled.

Rather than argue the point, Jane decided to change the subject. “So, how are you feeling?”

“Sore,” he said, bitterly, giving his rear another rub. He peered at Jane out of the corners of his eyes. “I’m done with vaccinations.”

“Yeah, well, not quite. You still have two more series of them to go next Friday.” Jane talked while she dished out bacon and scrambled eggs and put everything on the table.

Loki glared dangerously at her. “I’ve had enough. Besides, there’s no point in it seeing as how I never go out of this apartment anyway. As long as I stay here, I will be fine.”

“That’s just the point. You won’t stay here.” Jane turned to face him. “Do you know how you got the measles? It was the day you tricked Darcy and ran off somewhere. At least, that’s what Darcy and I have been able to figure.” Loki actually looked shocked, his mouth dropping open. “Yes, you got the measles because you disobeyed. Consider that and your vaccinations punishment brought on by your own actions. Personally, I think that’s worse than any spanking.”

Loki said nothing as he thought over everything. He got the measles and the shots because he disobeyed? Couldn’t he do anything without getting some kind of painful consequence in return? He scowled angrily.

Jane put a pillow in Loki’s chair and gestured to it. “Here, sit and eat.”

Loki eased over to the chair and gingerly sat, only to immediately jolt back up, hitting his knees on the bottom part of the table. He hissed in pain and roughly rubbed out the sting in his butt. Huffing, he decided to stand instead. Jane put a hand over her mouth to hide an amused smile.

“It’s not funny.” he snapped. “You go through the same ordeal and see how you like it.”

“I’m sorry,” said Jane. The air grew silent after that as they began to eat.

When the task of breakfast was done, Loki went to his room and read until lunch. He came into the kitchen and saw that Jane had sent out for pizza. During the few times he had been on Midgard in the past, he had discovered early on that he liked this particular mortal delicacy, so he eagerly accepted the plate Jane handed to him and put several slices on it.

After lunch, Loki lumbered into the living room to watch TV and tinker with some gadgets while Jane worked at the kitchen table. He had asked for some extra parts and wires, and Jane told him he could use any he wanted. She was curious as to why he wanted them but didn’t feel a need to pry. She figured that he would reveal his project to her when he was finished.

When Jane wasn’t looking, Loki stole quick glances toward the front door occasionally, envisioning himself making a fast get-a-way. All he had to do was wait until night when he was sure Jane was fast asleep, then he could sneak out. He didn’t know where he would go or what he’d even do, but he knew he had to get out of there. There was no way he was going to go through two more series of painful shots, especially if they gave them to him in his rear. He wasn’t sure how much more his poor backside could take.

But there was that funny tickling in the back of his mind again, and thoughts of getting spanked if he got caught started surfacing. He quickly pushed them away. He wasn’t planning on getting caught. And even if he did get caught, Jane wouldn’t be that cruel. His bottom might have suffered greatly, but it being sore gave him the perfect opportunity to get out. If something went wrong and Jane found out, he had a perfectly good excuse for her not to spank him. At the most, she’d probably yell at him and then send him to his room.

A satisfied smile played across his lips.

Loki lay awake in bed, staring through the darkness at the window. Since he was going to make a break for it, he hadn’t bothered putting on his pajamas. He lay there fully dressed in cargo pants, a light and dark green striped polo shirt, and sneakers. He laid waiting and listening. Jane was still in the bathroom across the hall, brushing her teeth and getting ready for bed. He heard her come out and walk to her bedroom and shut the door. Perfect, he thought. Now all he had to do was wait a little while until he felt sure she was asleep.

Two hours passed and Loki slowly got out of bed and moved to the door. Cracking it open, he peered down the hall to see if there was light under Jane’s bedroom door. There wasn’t. He opened the door wider and looked into the living room. Everything was dark and quiet, except for someone playing—or attempting to play—a trombone in one of the apartments down the hall outside. He cringed when they hit a wrong note. This was a part of living in Jane’s apartment that Loki could never get used to. As many nights as he spent there, he still had an undying urge to wrap the blasted thing around the neck of the person playing it.

Quickly, Loki darted out of his room and noiselessly walked to the front door, stopping once to listen and check over his shoulder to make sure he was still alone. When he saw that he was, he stretched out his hands and began slowly turning the lock.

Suddenly, one of the lamps came on, causing Loki to fumble and almost jump out of his clothing.

Busted.

“Loki, what are you doing?” Jane’s voice met his ears. He stopped cold, his fingers still on the deadbolt, his face turning quite pale. Slowly, he turned around and saw Jane sitting on the couch. He swallowed, not really knowing what to say.

“J-Jane!” he gulped. “Wha-what are you doing in here? I thought you were in bed.”

“I couldn’t sleep in bed so I thought I’d come out here and try sleeping on the sofa,” she answered. “But it looks like I won’t be doing any sleeping out here either.” She gestured in the direction of the trombone player, rolling her eyes. Loki still couldn’t understand how she got out of her room without him hearing her. “Now, would you like to tell me what you’re doing?”

“I...uh...that is…I was checking to make sure the door was locked. I…thought I heard something.”

“Uh-huh…You were planning on sneaking out of here, weren’t you?”

Loki didn’t answer right away, his fingers fiddling with the lock. He then sucked in his breath and straightened up, turning his gaze directly at her.

“Yes, I was,” he said smugly with a nod, although Jane could tell he was very nervous. “I don’t want any more shots! In fact, I’m tired of all of this…this nonsense! I’m a prince of Asgard and you have no right to treat me like this!” Jane continued to stare at him, her stoic facial expression never changing. “I’m tired of everything. I’m tired of hospitals, I’m tired of shots, I’m tired of spankings, I’m tired of my posterior constantly being in pain, and I’m tired of being in this apartment!

“Loki,” said Jane, calmly.

“What?” he growled.

“Are you done venting?”

Loki huffed and puffed and finally relaxed with a sigh.

“Come here,” Jane simply said.

“You are not going to spank me!” he shouted, backing up against the door. “You can’t! My rear is already sore! You said yourself that you aren’t a cruel person.”

“Is that why you chose right now to try and make your escape?”

“Y-yes…” he replied, weakly.

“Loki, here,” Jane pointed to the floor beside the couch. Loki hesitated, emitting a slight whimper. His eyes became watery as he looked around on the coffee table, trying to locate the dreaded ruler. Not seeing it there, he became apprehensive. Of course, it could just be hidden under some of the papers, but something in the back of his mind still screamed at him that Jane had it.

“Noo…”

Jane pointed at the place beside her again before beginning to count off on her fingers. “One…two…”

Loki quickly ran over and stood beside her, not wanting to see what happened when she reached three.

“Don’t spank me, please.” he sniffed. “I beg of you. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”

“I’m keeping my word, Loki.” Jane calmly said, taking Loki by the arm and putting him across her lap.

“N-no! Please, stop! I’m still SORE!”

“I have no intentions of spanking you where you’re sore. But you’re going to get a spanking nonetheless. You disobeyed; you’re going to get punished regardless.” Despite his kicking legs, she pulled his cargo pants down to his knees, leaving his underwear in place. She took out the ruler from under her blanket and began slapping the backs of his thighs. Loki emitted a high pitched squeal and continued kicking, hoping to hinder the situation.

“Ouch! Please, no more!”

“Believe me, it pains me to have to do this to you so soon after everything else you’ve been through,” she said, slapping his thighs several more times. “I really wish you hadn’t made me do it.”

“Ahhhhh!”

“You said that you’re tired of your rear constantly being in pain. Maybe you should start making better choices so your rear doesn’t have to suffer. From what I can see, everything that’s happened to you has been the result of your bad choices.”

Loki began crying fully now, not only because of the building pain in his thighs but also because of Jane’s words. He kicked again, but Jane grabbed hold of his legs and pinned them under her own causing Loki to cry out more.

“I’m sorrrryyyy…” he blubbered and choked.

“How many times do I have to do this before it finally sinks in?” Jane asked, not slowing up. “Every time you disobey, you’re going to get a spanking.”

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before. Haven’t seen it happen yet.” She applied ten more swats and stopped. “You need to start telling the truth for once.” She threw the ruler on the coffee table and pulled Loki’s pants up. “Now, I want you to go to your room and go to sleep. Like it or not, you’re getting those shots next week.”

Loki choked out more sobs, getting up off her lap and stumbling back toward the door. He rubbed the backs of his legs as he made his way to his bedroom.

A few minutes later Jane walked up to the side of Loki’s bed. The trickster curled up under the covers. She sat down beside him, reaching out and lifting Loki under his arms like one would do to a child and pulled him toward her. Normally such a task would be nearly impossible, but with Odin’s strength Loki was as light as a kitten.

“Wh-what are you doing?” he said nervously, fearing she was going to spank him again. Jane said nothing as she pulled him into a hug, patting his back. He relaxed and melted into the embrace, wrapping his arms around her and placing his head on her shoulder. He let out a sniff and wiped a few tears away. He was secretly glad Jane had been there on the couch to stop him from leaving. He hated the spanking, of course, but he was glad that he was back in his bedroom.

“Where would you have gone?” said Jane, breaking the long silence.

“Huh?”

“If you had been able to get away from here, where would you have gone? Or did you forget about that part?”

Loki shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“You’re mortal, Loki.” Jane stroked his soft hair. “You need to keep reminding yourself that. You have no power or magic to help you. If you had gone out that door tonight, you would quickly discover just how much harder it is to be mortal. You would have had no money and no way to buy food or other necessities. You would have had no shelter, no nothing. Do you want to end up sleeping on a bench or the sidewalk somewhere? If you think washing clothes is beneath you, sleeping out on the streets is definitely far worse, wouldn’t you agree?”

Loki kept silent. He knew she was right but he didn’t want to admit it. Finally, he nodded.

“You think you can survive on your own,” Jane continued. “Truth is you can’t. Not in this state. You have no idea what it means to be mortal—to get a job, earn a living, buy a car, get yourself a place to live. Now that I’ve had time to think it over, Thor did the right thing by dropping you off here.”

Loki buried his nose in Jane’s shoulder and sighed. He hated being mortal. He hated admitting that Jane was right. He was completely helpless as well as somewhat clueless, and he hated that even more.

“Thank you,” he softly said.

“For what?” Jane replied, rather puzzled.

“For putting up with me,”

Jane smiled and held him closer.

“I’m sorry that I have to spank you, but I don’t know how else to get through to you. I just wish you would start showing me that you can be trusted.”

Loki frowned at the mentioning of the distasteful 'S' word.

Finally, Jane pulled the two of them apart, smiling and brushing the trickster’s hair out of his face. She kissed him on the cheek and helped him to settle himself under the covers again.

Notes