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There was only a few seconds before the round would begin, that’s what they were told. With not much time to prepare all Loki could do was create a clone of himself aligned with the door with the purpose of helping him cast a larger burst of healing. Illusory magic hardly required any focus from him. It came as easy as breathing and so it wasn’t his fault when he overheard a nearby conversation.
“A creature of both land and sea. Misunderstood by all. And accepted—truly accepted—by none.” Said Namor, supposed king of Midgard’s sea’s. He hadn’t said much of anything to Loki and therefore had not left much of an impression upon him. Those words, however, caught his interest. He turned his head and widened his eyes upon seeing that the one receiving them was…some sort of Midgardian creature? Namor continued on to say “You are one of a kind. But that does not mean you have to be alone…not anymore.”
Loki furrowed his brow and looked back at his clone. He didn’t know why he suddenly felt so curious about this creature and its origin. Not of land or sea, stuck between two worlds that didn’t want him. Before he could get another look at the odd creature, a voice compelled them to combat.
Being obedient for now, Loki did as he was instructed and joined his team in escorting the spider vehicle to its destination. His mischief would come later, once he’s had time to form a plan.
The symbiote and its partner swung far forward into the enemy's back lines, occasionally returning to him for healing. Stephen Strange, someone he actually recognized, stayed close by, defending him and others with his shield and in return being dutifully kept alive by Loki’s healing magic. This is when Loki learned that the creature Namor spoke to could also heal and was to assist him in keeping their teammates alive. All went well for the most part and they powered through their enemies…until they didn’t.
With several battlecries, abilities casted and powerful tech being activated, they were all in immediate danger. The enemies moved in together like a pack of wolves growing nearer and unfortunately Loki’s immortality runes would need time to recast. Stephen's shield was on the verge of collapse and with Namor, the symbiote and the self-proclaimed Lord of Stars already slain, the three of them were in danger.
“Loki, how much longer until you can cast your immortality spell?” Strange asked him, his usually dry voice rough from the effort of keeping up his shield.
Loki, despite the crisis, remained his charming self and teasingly replied “Shouldn’t you know, Sorcerer Supreme?” When a loud cracking sound was heard and the edges of Stephen’s shields began to shatter, Loki grimaced before adding “Not soon.”
Just then, when it seemed like they were about to join the rest of their team in defeat, the creature made an excited little noise. Both Loki and Stephen turned their heads to see its wagging tail and little tapping feet. This was before, to the pair's shock, the creature rushed ahead and quite literally swallowed the entire enemy team. Loki’s jaw dropped and he could see a similarly baffled expression on the wizard's face as they watched the entire source of their worries simply being eaten and then promptly spat out into an endless fall to their deaths. The beast then trotted back to them, big wet eyes searching for praise. Stephen gave it a small huff of acknowledgement and Loki forced a smile before pretending the objective was suddenly so interesting and turning away. The rest of their teammates quickly rejoined them from Respawn, a magic Loki was yet to understand, and they were able to continue onwards to battle.
When the group finally reached the last checkpoint the situation became just as intense once again. To no fault of his companions. The Lord of Stars had given merit to his name, flying up into the air and rapidly firing so many shots that they truly did resemble shooting stars. Namor had commanded his little midgardian creatures well and the Symbiote and Strange proved to be a reliable defense. It was just that in this final, desperate moment the enemy team was being rapidly replenished by some sort of musical incantation. And right as the Lord of Stars had finished off the enemies defense, he was shot out of the air by a swift arrow, piercing his skull and sending his limp body to the ground. Loki recognized the owner of said arrow but decided now would not be the right time to think about that. No, instead he needed to quickly come up with a solution and guarantee that they get this spider vehicle to its final destination.
Fortunately, for Loki that was, the curious creature from before cried out as an arrow got stuck in its tail fin. The sound captured the god’s attention. It was running away but right before it fully turned the corner Loki was able to concentrate enough to cast a more difficult spell.
In less then a second Loki felt himself grow stocky and small. His teeth sharp as blades, his eyes wide apart and vision blurred. Smells became sharper, the scent of blood particularly so and his center of gravity shifted, his new tail particularly important in keeping it.
Loki was extremely adept at adapting to new forms and was grateful for this talent as he went on to employ a make or break strategy in order to save the mission. With just his recent memory to guide him, Loki swallowed his pride and then quite literally swallowed the enemy team. This was absolutely not an image he wanted to give his teammates, especially the Sorcerer Supreme, but oh well.
They’ll thank him later.
Spitting the enemies off into the same limitless void from before, Loki rejoined his team at the now completed objective. Thankfully, everyone seemed more preoccupied with themselves and their fatigue to comment on Loki’s new form or his choices in it. But, just as he was about to rid himself of the transformation magic, he felt something touch his tail.
Without a neck, all Loki could do was hop back, whipping his whole body around like a startled cat to see who it had been. To his surprise it was the creature whose form he’d stolen, staring back at him, wide mouth shut and eyes squinted curiously. With the creature so close-up and the distraction of battle gone, Loki was now able to see the name on its pink collar and discovered that his teammate's name was Jeff.
Seeing that it was only him, Loki was going to ignore this interaction and return to his original form. When suddenly, the smallest whimper was heard. One that made Loki’s heart sink despite himself. Loki responded with a curious hum, prompting the creature, like one would a pet, to show him what was wrong. Instead the hum sounded a bit more monstrous than intended, having forgotten he no longer had Asgardian vocal cords, or even lips for speech.
Jeff’s tail started to wag, he trotted back and forth and his tiny paws made wet tapping sounds as his body moved with more excitement than he knew what to do with. Then without warning Jeff lunged forward, bumping his snout against Loki’s, nuzzling their noses for a moment before bounding away to run excited circles around him. It was then that Loki remembered Namor’s words from before “You are one of a kind” and somehow, he felt his heart sink a little more.
This poor creature, no, Jeff. He must have never met his own kind before. If more of them even existed.
Now, most would call Loki heartless, Loki himself might, and very few saw past their first impression of him. Those who did however found that Loki was someone who felt his emotions incredibly strongly, be it hate, jealousy, sorrow or love, and It was absolutely killing him to see Jeff so excited over this illusion and know that soon he’d have to break it.
In this stubby form, Loki stretched out his little legs. His belly touching the ground as he brought himself to lay down. Jeff mimicked this, his front paws just a hair away from Loki’s and wide eyes staring into his own. To Loki’s disgust, Jeff had spat up a fish for them to share. It was quickly declined with a snort and disgustingly swallowed back up.
They stayed like this for a short while, Jeff seeming so content to bask in the presence of a similarly featured friend. Thankfully, it seemed their teammates had left without noticing Loki’s little dilemma.
Now, Loki was a god, he could keep this form up for the rest of time if he truly wanted. The thing was he absolutely did not. No matter how much it hurt him, he knew that enough time had passed and he needed to reveal the truth. Norns, did he hate being honest.
Just as Jeff’s eyes started to close, sleepy from the long mission, Loki figured now was the best time to break it to him. Loki was not like him but in fact different, just like everybody else.
Slowly, as to not startle Jeff, Loki returned to his original form. His body shifted but he was still posed as he was when he finished. His stomach flat on the floor,legs outstretched behind him and his arms against the ground, propping up his head as he looked across at the creature who had so easily captured his heart.
Tragically, Jeff blinked awake, tilting his large head in confusion. Then, as if only to make Loki’s life more traumatic than it already was, he began to whimper once more. Jeff’s eyes were clearly searching for his new friend and Loki in that moment wished that he could share the enemy team's fate of falling into that bottomless abyss.
Namor had been talking to Jeff before and so it seemed as if perhaps Jeff could understand spoken words. Loki desperately hoped that was the case as he said “I’m sorry.” His voice sounded rougher than he expected it too. He blamed the transformation before continuing on to say “I’m not like you, I’m—” he hesitated “Asgardian.”
Jeff answered with a troubled “Mrrr?”
Loki continued. “I was…impressed with your abilities Jeff and I desired to mimic them in combat.” Jeff let out a little sigh, as if he understood why Loki did it but was still disappointed in this loss. Loki bit the inside of his cheek. What the Hel was he doing? he thought before saying
“I don’t know the life you’ve led Jeff, I don’t know what you are or if others of your kind even exist. I recall that Namor said that you were ‘caught between two worlds’, the land and the sea. I’m sure that it is…painful, never being good enough by either’s standards.” his voice trailed off into a whisper.
Loki looked down now. He couldn’t believe he was here, laying on the floor, an inch away from some strange Midgardian creature and so ready to pour his heart out to it.
He’s always had a soft spot for animals he supposed.
“I am not truly Asgardian. I am a Frost Giant and when I was a child I did not know this. My whole life I felt different. When it snowed, everyone got cold except me. When my father looked at me, it was never with the pride he reserved for my brother. Then, when I was older I learned the reason behind my abandonment. I was too small for my kind, seen as weak and not worthy by them.” He wet his lips and swallowed hard before continuing on to say “I never felt like I belonged, I hated the Frost Giants, I didn’t want to be one of them, I hated them as much as any other Asgardian! But…Asgardians hated me as much as they would any other Frost Giant."
Just as those final, pathetic words escaped his lips Jeff shuffled forward on the floor and once again, pressed his snout to Loki’s own Asgardian nose. Jeff made a small cooing sound, one of reassurance when Jeff was supposed to be the one reassured and despite his natural inclination to reject the gesture Loki instead closed his eyes, lips thin and throat tight until Jeff finally pulled his snout away.
Opening his eyes once more, he found his lashes surprisingly wet. He swiped his hand across them and cleared his throat before saying “The king of Midgard's sea’s was right. You may be the only one of your kind but you are not the only one…” Then, finally shifting up off the floor and into a sitting position, Loki reached out and pet Jeff’s head. “and perhaps… if there is time and I am feeling generous, I would be amenable to taking on your form again, little friend.”
It seemed that the prospect of swimming or playing together energized Jeff as he hopped up off the ground and ran little circles around the god, bumping his head against Loki’s leg affectionately before scurrying off.
Loki figured it was about time he got off the floor, a bit humiliated to have been sitting on it for so long in the first place. He stretched his long limbs out and brushed off his clothes, lips thinning at the visible dust coming off of them. With his head full of thoughts, both good and bad, he began the walk back to their base. Only to once again be alarmed by a sudden touch, this time to his shoulder. With the neck that he now had, Loki quickly turned to find Stephen Strange, leaning against a pillar and looking at him with an alarmingly amused expression. Before Strange could even say anything Loki felt his face go red.
“Not. A. Word.” Loki pleaded through grit teeth, unable to even look Stephen in the eyes.
Stephen smirked. “About what?” Of course he’d given the most obnoxious response possible, Loki thought.
Not wanting to entertain this any longer, Loki hissed a reply “Nothing.” Mentally deciding to spare Stephen from a knife to the stomach before storming off.
He was just about to leave the room when Stephen said “You don’t have to be alone either, Trickster.”
A warmth pooled in Loki’s stomach and he suddenly stopped without turning back. A beat, and then another, a long moment that was really only a few seconds passed before Loki hummed “I don’t suppose you’ll keep me company, Wizard?”
“I don’t suppose you’ve thought to ask.”
Loki's fingers tightened around his scepter, his lips parted to say something but no clever response came to mind. He’s had enough feelings for today and when he turned to find Stephen smiling so warmly at him, he was especially sure of that.
So he left without a word, but in Loki’s heart he knew that images of prospective playdates with Jeff or visits from the wizard brought him more joy then he’d like to admit.
He’d let them think they were the lucky ones when he said yes.