Work Text:
Loki knew that he needed to find a way to get out of here, falling off of the Bifrost was set to kill him. Even if he was no mere mortal, being torn into all directions as you traveled space and time wouldn’t do him good. But part of him didn’t want to do that either. He was done with leading his life like this, being forced to adhere to a standard he would never match. He wasn’t Asgardian after all, had never been Asgardian. So why should he do what Thor and the others had done.
These last couple of weeks had been a roller-coaster of things happening. Finding out he wasn’t the son of Odin All-Father or Frigga. That he was some orphan Odin had picked up after the war with Jothenheim. To be kept like a pet, if Mother hadn’t put her foot down. His whole life felt like a lie and he wanted that to end. He wanted it all to just stop and make sense all of the sudden.
The only way for that to happen was to let go, which brought about a whole different set of troubles. After all, the chances of surviving that fall were close to none. The emptiness of Space was a danger in and of itself.
Additionally, he wouldn’t know where he would end up at, it could be on Midgard, but at the same time it could be Knowhere or who knew what other dark place in the Universe. There were enough beings and planets out there he didn’t want to end up at. Who is to say that he would be spared from those horrors?
He didn’t know how to go about it, he wanted recognition for what he had done, to not have to live in Thor’s shadow all the time. But it seemed that the All-Father didn’t care for him in the way he did his biological son. If anything, he had taken Loki as a spoil of war, never to be his son. He was held to a standard he would never live up to, forced to live in the shadow of his golden brother (who wasn’t even his brother) as Thor could do no wrong. For the most part, at least, as he had been wrong when leaving for Jothenheim.
Even then, what was supposed to be a punishment had brought Thor more insight and wisdom. He had rekindled his connection with Mjolnir, to the point that the All-Father wouldn’t be able to just take it away anymore. Loki had seen the mortals Thor had ended up with, they were supporting him even more than the Warriors Three or Lady Sif ever did.
He didn’t know what hurt more, thinking he had a family and wasn’t even his parents biological child. Or knowing that he was the reason his biological parent had died, he had killed the man, for no other reason that being told that Jothun folk were warmongers and monsters. Was he a monster too, he was after all Jothun even if he never felt like that.
“Brother, take my hand!”
Thor was back, looking shocked and reaching out for Loki in an effort to pull him back. But he didn’t want to reach for that hand held out for him, how many times had Thor done the same thing when they were younger and never meant it. Why would he mean it now, when it was clear that he knew Loki was not his blood-brother. They weren’t kin, so why would he make an effort to change his behavior from before.
It dawned on him that no matter what he did, or what he tried to do, he would never be able to get out of Thor’s shadow. He would never be liked, or loved, the way their future King would. He was an outcast and that’s all he would be.
His fingers were slipping, and still he didn’t reach out. Shaking his head when Thor leaned over more, being held back by the Warriors Three in an effort to not fall into Nothing with Loki. There was nothing here anymore, not for Loki, so what use was it to stay.
“Farewell…”
With that, Loki let go. Closing his eyes as Space rushed past him, a single thought entering his mind about the stories he was told.
You are not to meet your soul mate until it is time. You’ll meet them when you have no other choice and you can open a portal to get to theirs. Soul mates share a wormhole, in a way, so your portal will always connect to theirs and give you a way out. However, you are not to use it unless there is no other way.
Loki didn’t even have to act, his magic did so on the thought in his head, a portal opening up under him, catching him as he fell and giving him a whole different view. One that he had held onto until he passed out from everything that happened to him.
Waking up was done sluggishly, as if his magic was almost completely depleted and he needed time to claw his way to consciousness. There was someone else in the room with him, the bed he was sleeping on was soft and a joy to lay on. But all of that didn’t account for the fact he had no idea where he was. He didn’t know what was going on or even who it was that was in the room with him.
A soft voice hushed him, “You’re on Midgard, Prince Loki, with those of Hecate's blood, in the country known as England. You showed up in my house after using your soul mate portal and I do know what that meant. You’ve been out of it, depleted of your magic, for almost three days now. The only one currently here is myself, and my adopted son, Teddy.”
Opening an eye, Loki was surprised to find himself looking into eyes almost the same color as his own. Wild, dark hair, framed a tanned face with a mark on the forehead in the form or lightning. The man, for his soul mate was indeed a man, smiled softly.
“How are you feeling?”
Trying to speak, Loki found his throat to be very dry. Which was fixed as his soul mate conjured up a glass of water and handed it to him. Helping him to sip the liquid before grinning somewhat sheepishly, “My apologies, where are my manners. I’m Lord Harry Potter-Black, one of Hecate's blood and apparently your soul mate. Additionally, because of something I never thought possible, Lord Thanatos also chose me as his heir, making me the Master of Death, and apparently a half-God, if you will.”
Blinking once, Loki tilted his head, “I did not know Thanatos favored mortals anymore.”
Grinning, Harry shook his head, “He doesn’t normally, but I’m special or so I am told. I live a rather recluse live as I don’t age like normal mortals anymore and don’t want to get too many questions. Teddy is the only one I see on a day to day basis which is mostly as he’s still a child.”
At this, said child came running into the room. Looking between Harry and Loki before his features changed to match theirs. A beaming smile on his face as he babbled about looking like papa and papa’s mate. Moving up to Loki to look into his eyes in a way that none of the children on Asgard had ever done, so much innocence and curiosity in his eyes that it was adorable.
“You’re pretty, like papa.”
At that Loki didn’t know what to say, except grin, “Why thank you, Teddy, I think you look very handsome yourself.”
Teddy beamed even harder at that, looking at Harry to have his papa add that they were both handsome. Grinning at Loki as if this is all that it took, he didn’t know how to handle this, didn’t know how to even think about this. All he did know was that he had found his own, a soul mate and an adoptive son that could be everything his heart desired. As much as he wanted to come into his own, it was clear that never would happen on Asgard or on Jothenheim, so better to do it on Midgard with a man he was already regarding fondly.
Later that night, after dinner, and putting Teddy to bed, Harry shared what had happened to him to make him Thanatos chosen. Which in turn had Loki share what he had been through and how everything he had known didn’t even match. He had no idea how to go about this and felt more at home with Harry than he had ever done on Asgard.
“Then stay here, never leave and build a life with me? I never used my portal in fear of finding a mortal companion who I would outlive. But you’re like me, with an extended lifespan, and if I’m not mistaken only just older than I am at twenty-one.”
Flushing, Loki was shocked to hear someone so readily accepting him. Which was what did make him decide to at least try. He told Harry as much, mentioning he needed time to deal with it all, but that he wasn’t leaving. Harry grinned, telling him they had all the time of the world and he would wait, even if it took another decade.
-0-0-0-
It didn’t take another decade, in the next two years, Harry and Loki continued to grow closer until they completed the soul bound. Even asking Hecate and Thanatos to solidify it and marry them in the Olde Ways. Teddy was five by that time and called Loki father, where Harry was papa.
His past only caught up to him when it was announced that an alien by the name of Thanos was set to arrive on Earth to take the Infinity Stones Earth held, in an effort to court Death. Hearing that, Harry snorted and got ready to fight. Loki joined him, even if it would bring him closer to Thor who had been seen visiting Earth now and again.
“Let’s show that idiot that there is no Death to be courted, and if there was, that’s me and I’m more than happy where I am right now.”
Loki laughed, pressing a kiss to Harry’s lips before he let his husband take him towards Wakanda and Thanos. This was their fight too, and not one they planned on losing.