brandingproblem | au shenanigans for icasm

"You're interesting. You can shoot arrows, yes, and that is also interesting but. The why of you being interesting is different."

Loki stays in one spot and watches Clint, hands at his sides. "You must be alone. You haven't said anything about parents or going home. Are you a runaway?"

"Hold still."

Once again, not super interested in answering questions, apparently. Whether Loki holds still or not is not important, because either way, Clint's going to nock an arrow, whirl it on Loki, and fire, in a very short amount of time. A lock of Loki's raven hair is pinned to the tree.

"Are you a runaway? Don't you want to go back northwest and to your Asgard?"

Loki does, in fact, hold still, though one eyebrow is immediately up.

He's rewarded with his momentary patience with the soft swoosh of an arrow going through his hair near his ear. Loki whips his head around to see the hair pinned down to the tree bark.

"I've... sort of run away. I got bored with the politics, I don't think anyone should blame me for that, and I will go home. Eventually. So not really a runaway, like you are."

"That was exciting." Hope you're prepared to keep that lock of hair for the rest of your life Clint, natural or otherwise.

He does seem to be willing to keep the hair, from the way Clint takes some string, wraps it around his prize, shoves the little rabbits foot of Loki hair in his pocket. "I haven't technically run away from my newest foster home yet, but it's only a matter of time."

But, lest Loki get the wrong idea: "They're okay. The family. There's nothing wrong with them, really. Nothing wrong with any of them, it's just kinda not for me, I guess." Clearly just some bum kid slinking his way through the system without getting arrested for his troubles. That's all. Nothing exciting. Nothing interesting. He'll probably end up just like his mom, eventually.

"You should probably go. Back to your politics and whatever."

Loki is clearly pleased by the fact that Clint keeps the lock of his hair. Maybe it means Clint feels it too, the sensation as though the Norns themselves were pounding a gong where his heartbeat should be.

He could ask why they're not for him, the foster families, but instead Loki is trying to figure out how to convince Clint to come back to Asgard with him. Because he knows, with an intensity he couldn't begin to explain, that if he loses track of the other boy due to him running away from this place, due to them living in different realms, due to the passage of time, that it's going to drive Loki a particular sort of mad. The kind where you become obsessed and mean and a bit unhinged.

Maybe that would be best avoided.

Loki has never liked anyone on sight before, or even after a few moments of conversation; he doesn't know if what he's feeling is normal, if it will pass. He'd rather not find out, honestly.

"What if I could promise you adventure? For the rest of your life? In a place very different from this one. Would you want to come with me?"

If asked, he wouldn't say it's anything so dramatic. He wouldn't be able to say what specifically drove him to such a move in the first place. Might have to make something up, but he's just going with the flow. Not making plans.

It does feel like this is one of those Moments, when you make a big decision, when something enormous is about to happen. Just meeting this strange otherworldly kid. Strange otherworldly kid who says something like that, like right out of some kind of fantastic adventure movie or something.

"I'd say it's an empty promise, but I did just see you do your little poofy disappearing reappearing acts, so what do I know?"

He wants to bite something back hat he can go on his own life of adventures, far from here. The money is burning in his pocket. But. He knows, honestly, that he'll probably just spend it on food, a new hoodie, some more shit at the sporting good store if he can afford it. Not a bus ticket. He'll just run off again until he's picked up and faced with worried/disappointed faces, again.

"I don't know anything about you or your life."

"I'm sure you know some things. Midgardian-type things. Archery things." Loki grins, and summons a copy of one of Clint's arrows, though it's green and made of flames. "Magic, though, that's my purview."

Twirling the arrow between his fingers once more Loki considers the things it best for Clint to know before approaching Asgard, even under his protection. "I'm a prince, but the second born, so I will probably never rule. Which I'm okay with because it'll mean I get to do other more fun things instead, in the name of diplomacy. My older brother's name is Thor; he's a little thick sometimes but I'm told 'his heart is in the right place' which I'm supposing means somewhere other than in his chest, where it belongs. Right now he's the worst to spend time with, because he has to go to a million council meetings this season with the Allfather but Mother has forbidden me from helping him to remember his schedule or what each one is for."

By magic, of course.

"I like books. I like magic. I'm best at illusions. I'm smarter than people expect and usually I'm bored with things in general. I can fight, though people often forget because I'm not going to turn out to a berserker like Thor probably will, but I like daggers the way you like your arrows.

What else do you want to know?

It's a life. Sometimes there's nothing to do but there's usually a feast, or a foreign delegation, or someone else's feast. There are festivals like this one here only more wonderful that cover an entire city for days.

Or there are hunts. Tournaments. Quests. That sort of thing."

"So you're a prince of a fairytale land." Is what he's taking away from that. Which still sounds like bullshit, except there's that flaming green arrow being spun around, and Clint is tempted to try and snatch that, too. Would it hurt? Would his hand go right through?

"Daggers mean you fight up close." An observation. "I'm better at a distance. Could be a deadly combo. If you get into actual fights, I guess." He's never been in any kind of life or death fight, not really. Risk getting picked up by the cops for assault with a fucking arrow? No thanks. Picked some fights before punching-wise, though. He's what the state would generously call troubled. "Most of what you said sounds like stick around your home and go to some parties and sometimes hunt. But you promised adventure. What kind of adventures do you go on?"

It's an illusion arrow; it would feel weird but wouldn't burn Clint at all.

"I've gotten into actual fights before." Slightly defensive. Fights he started, most likely, and usually with people who didn't know who his parents were. "Nothing to the death though. Quests are adventures. So are hunts if it's an uncommon prey. Sometimes there are puzzles or riddles to be solved in order to be awarded something." Thor adventures for trinkets; Loki usually is more taken up with the promise of magical artifacts or books on the topic, though he kind of doubts Clint would be as interested.

"Being here is kind of an adventure." It sounds a little pathetic to say so, even to him. He shrugs. "No one will force you to learn quadratic equations or whatever passes for mathematics here, at least."

Edited 2022-12-07 15:11 (UTC)

Clint makes a face at the math part. "I don't have a head for numbers like that. I just know that I'm the best shot there's ever been, and at the rate I'm going, I'll probably end up in the army being a sharpshooter, pick off bad guys in another country overseas or something."

At least he is, at times, realistic.

He flashes his hand out to snatch the illusion arrow, but Loki's seen him move before, can see it coming, and he misses. Not by much, though. "You go on quests a lot, Prince? You and your brother and your king dad?" And then he squints, pulls back. "Are you like...trying to adopt me or something? Cuz that hasn't worked out so far."

Loki grins when Clint attempts for the arrow and misses. The fact that he got that close a second time means he's good. "The Allfather doesn't really quest anymore. He makes appearances in the courts of others, or disguises himself to know the people of a realm better."

The arrow vanishesintoa whiff of green smoke. Loki narrows his eyes at Clint a little. "Not exactly. I don't want another brother. I want us to be friends but I can't stay here and you're obviously miserable and bored here so why not travel somewhere new? Somewhere no Midgardian has been in at least an age."

"Aw man, I wouldn't even be the first?" But he says it with a mischievous little smirk. "I guess that would be okay. I don't have anywhere else I was planning on going." Since 'home' doesn't exist but 'the house' doesn't seem to be an option at the moment. He hefts his quiver, his bow, and his bag.

"Do I click my heels three times, or do you do some kinda magic incantation or what?"

"No." Loki's grin gets a little wider. "I'll ask Heimdall to summon the Bifrost. It might make you a little dizzy though, using it the first time."

He offers a hand out to Clint, and once the other boy takes it, draws a breath. For courage. For... something.

"Heimdall." He knows the Watcher has been fulfilling both title and role. Other than leaving his brother and father behind Loki has been more or less on his best behavior this trip so certainly that shouldn't weigh against him for bringing a mortal home, right?

Right?

Hopefully.

"We want to go back to Asgard. I know Mother will wish to speak with us."

There's a moment in which Loki thinks 'oh no, I'm going to have to properly beg aren't I?' before the ground beneath their feet lights up in runes and he gives Clint's hand a squeeze just as the Bifrost comes crashing down on them in all its technicolor glory.

"Ask whowa to summon the whatnow?" Does not stop from eventually taking Loki's hand, because he's half being a shit (but only half), and if nothing happens, then he's had a memorable encounter, and if something does happen, holy shit his life is about to get wildly interesting.

Loki talks to the air, and at first, nothing, but between breaths, light, nothing but dazzling light. He means to say something, or curse a lot, but he's pretty sure he just screams as he clutches Loki's hand tight and his feet leave the ground like the trippiest alien abduction he could've conjured. It feels like everything is moving around them, and the rainbow of lights swirls around them, and when his feet finally touch something solid again, he's pretty sure his ears are popping and also just, like, everything is still moving in dizzying circles? But he's stopped screaming before that point, so he's mostly just still clinging to the other boy's hand, other hand clinging to the strap of his bag and quiver and bow, eyes darting around.

"What," he says quietly, intently, "the fuuuuoh god, hi-"

That is a very large man in very shiny armor with the biggest fucking sword he's ever seen.

"Heimdall."

The Watcher simply stares at them in silence, which Loki expected, though he does not let go of Clint's hand at any point.

"I've done what you asked of me; I've made a friend." Loki lifts his chin and squares his shoulders as one gets the impression that if Heimdall had pupils he'd be rolling his eyes at these words.

"And in my infinite wisdom I neglected to give you the caveat of not kidnapping mortals to the end of endeavoring towards friendship?"

"... it's not kidnapping if they want to leave," Loki replies sullenly. "And he's important. A worthy champion."

Heimdall's gaze settles on Clint for a moment before he inclines his head in their direction. "You are correct: your Mother wishes to speak with you both.

Welcome to Asgard, Clint Barton, and well met."

"...Hi, um. Hello, Hhhheimdall? How do you know my name?"

"I know many things," he says cryptically, with just enough wryness that it sounds like it could be a joke, or having a private laugh to himself at least. Though if it's supposed to be funny, it goes over Clint's head.

Outside is a long crystalline bridge, and blue skies and white clouds that seem normal save that they are the backdrop to a glimmering kingdom. There's a long drop below, but heights have never scared him.

"You really are a prince, huh? II thought...you might've been pulling my leg." Clint shakes his head a little, but everything is still in front of him just as clear as ever. "You think I'm important?"

Loki grins at Clint. "You're the first person I've never lied to." Yet, anyway, though he doesn't think that hesitating to tell the entire truth as he knows it is quite the same as lying. "You're very important. To me, especially."

He raises his chin and his grin dies down to a shy sort of smile. "I hope you like it here. Come on; Mother will want to talk to both of us. Want to race?"

"The day's young, I think." Is this still part of Earth? Or is this...a whole other world entirely? There's a lot that he's going to need to learn, and he isn't convinced that he won't be going back, to the foster family that will decide he's too much of a handful, to the system that's just waiting for him to age out.

"Aw, c'mon, I've got this stuff I'm carrying; you'll beat me in a straight race." And he's not letting go of his stuff if he doesn't know where it's going. "You've got those long legs going on." Long everything and probably still growing.

"A shame," Loki intones, but he is actually quite proud of Clint for realizing Loki would win a race at this rate.

Their hands are connected and Loki takes his time pointing out parts of the capitol city as they walk. Here is the marketplace, here is the training years just beyond that gate, here are the stables, etcetera, etcetera. "Do you know how to ride? I could teach you."

There's a woman at the gate connecting the path from where they arrived to the castle, surrounded by a handful of ladies-in-waiting who bow toward Loki as he approaches with Clint. Frigga opens her arms in greeting and, reluctantly, Loki let's go fo Clint's hand in order to be hugged by his mother. "Please don't send him away," he whispers into her hair, more pleading than he'd like to admit; Frigga merely shushes him and then, with one arm around Loki's shoulders, opens another arm out toward Clint. "Welcome to Asgard, Clint Barton, son of Edith. Are you hungry?"

It's all so medieval high fantasy, and it still doesn't feel real, but he's trying to take it all in. "Never been on a horse before." Seen them, never rode. Why would Loki insist on bringing some kid he just met to his home? To show off? It can't be something mean-spirited like that. He's important to Loki. They held hands. Clint's keeping a lock of his hair.

When they get to the beautiful woman who looks old enough to be either one of their mothers (and Loki doesn't look a thing like her), Clint straightens. Tenses with a frown at the way he's greeted. Maybe Heimdall's whole magical thing is to know everything, but now this is hitting him close to home.

But he'll be polite. "Yes, ma'am." Because Edith may have raised a thieving sharpshooter, but also a midwestern boy who knows his manners. And also because he's a teenager, and the only time he isn't hungry is when he's asleep. "You don't have to go out of your way on my account, though."

Frigga drops her arm and lets go of Loki while giving Clint a serene yet apologetic smile, a gentle incline of her head. "Forgive me. I did not mean to cause any discomfort by my greeting. I'm afraid Loki has taken us all by surprise with the turn of events today." She gives her son a pointed look.

Loki has, for his part, moved back to stand at Clint's side but hasn't reached for the other boy's hand again just yet. Now feels like possibly the wrong time to make that gesture of declaration.

"It is no imposition; we will eat in the herb garden." She looks at one of the ladies-in-waiting, who nods in acquiescence, and the women split off -- one half of them toward the kitchen, the other half following behind Frigga as she leads Loki and Clint through the gardens toward the one she has in mind for this particular conversation.

Loki gives Clint a smile. He is fairly certain that his mother won't allow for Clint to be sent away, but that she also wants to understand why he's done... this in particular. He hadn't even wanted to go to Midgard, originally, and for him to come home early with a mortal in tow is doing a lot, even for the God of Mischief.

The herb garden is small, as Asgardian palace gardens go, with fragrant pockets of various blooms along a winding path with a pond in the very center. Still and yet, it's quite bigger than the parking lot the fair was being held in. There are benches at the pond and Frigga gestures for them to sit, each one in their own small bench in a sort of semi-circle around a larger table set with various foodstuffs; none of which, Clint might notice, that's processed. This is all food that's been cooked by hand or magic but none by a factory.

Loki sits on the center bench of the three, after his mother chooses the one closest to the pond's edge, because he'd rather be close to both of them and forcing Clint to be in the middle seems a little unfair. In the moment, anyway.

He expects to be questioned. What was he thinking, how does he imagine this will go? Instead, Frigga startles him by addressing her first question to Clint: "If my son hadn't convinced you to accompany him back home, tell me: what would the next month or so have looked like, for you? Please," she holds up a hand, "eat some, first, but do not lie to me. Either--" and this is with a pointed look at Loki, "of you."

It's no small amount of food, too. Reminds him of his first foster family, the way they tried to make a big traditional Thanksgiving meal, and he hadn't seen so much food just out in the open for him. He ate until he was sick.

He's a little more wary about it all this time, because he's still thinking somewhere in the back of his mind about fairies and how you shouldn't eat their food unless you want to be stuck with them. But he's stuck now, isn't he? Until he gets put back where he was from. Or maybe he's not stuck at all. Maybe he's somewhere he's going to have cool adventures and feel like he's worth something.

So he piles on his plate and digs in. Considers Frigga's question while he does so. Not lying is fine; he isn't about to try and pull any bullshit on--the queen, he guesses. Never dined with a queen before. Never met royalty before today. This is all a little much.

"I don't know." It's an honest answer, really. "Probably keep doing a lot of bow practice. Spend as much time away from the house as I can." He lowers his head closer to the plate, shoulders hunching up. "Get picked up by the cops and get taken back to the house. Have a social worker come by looking disappointed. Go to school, I guess, sometimes."

"I am told you are very skilled with a bow already." Frigga sounds appropriately impressed. "Perhaps you could give Loki here some pointers; he is usually much more interested in throwing his knives than bothering to notch a bow." The look she gives her son is pointed and full of some other subtext; Loki makes a slightly started face and decides that eating a pastry is better than addressing that aloud.

"Is there anything you would prefer to learn that the Midgardian educational system is lacking? If you're to stay here —" Another pointed look at Loki, "it would be in everyone's best interest, I believe, if it is an improvement over where you came from."

"Um. Practical skills, I think? I like working with my hands. I don't think I'm smart enough to ever be a chemist or a biologist or write essays about novels for a living. I could be military, with an aim like mine. Maybe I could build things. Or work on a farm? I don't know how practical a bow is for any kind of job, back there. Except teaching other people archery, I guess."

The kindly queen seems like she's talking like he really might stay. And that's just wild to think about. He looks up at her at last. "Can I ask, how did you know my name, and my mom's name?"

"I know your name from Heimdall, who was watching over Loki as soon as he slipped away from his father and brother; I know your mother's name because i asked the Norns about the safety of your being here, and that is the name they addressed you by.

Farmwork is easily found; there is someone in the guard, I believe, who might be a suitable fit for you. Aerik's family has a farm not far from here."

Loki opens his mouth to protest but Frigga cuts him off. "I know, darling, you would likely prefer if your new friend were to stay in the castle, and perhaps that can happen someday but in the meantime... this will have to be suitable, yes?"

Loki draws a breath. He understands what's not being said, here. Neither of them are considered adults just yet, and Loki will have to wait it seems, for just one more thing that is briefly out of his reach. He looks at Clint and then at his hands. "Yes, mother."

au shenanigans for icasm

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