A Whole Bunch of Loki's

He's Not Mine - Part Two

She steps in behind him and gets to her old routine, sorting out books but being sure not to lose the page they're open on, straightening out the bed linens she once would have helped mess up and picking up things strewn across the floor.

Loki wasn't a particularly untidy man, but everyone had their small messes.

As she was tucking away some clothes she had folded, a high pitched giggle from across the room caught her attention and raised her suspicions.

"Saem, what are you up to?"

She turned around in time to see the boy run up to her, a gap toothed smile on his face and a too big golden helmet atop his head.

"Look what I found!" He cried with the glee only a child could have.

Her eyes widened and a gasped escaped her, dread filling her heart.

"Sweetie, no, you mustn't touch other people's things, please put it back."

"No, I wanna play pretend."

"You can't with other people-"

"I'm being Prince Loki and you, mummy, are my servant!"

She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, mentally counting to ten.

By the time she reopened her eyes, the boy had already run out the door and into the hallway.

"No!" She yelled, running after him with a stumbled first step.

Despite his unstable run and short stature, Saemneir had made it halfway down the long corridor that headed towards the main hall.

The helmet atop his head wobbled and threatened to fall off with every step, at times he'd reach up to hold it on as steady as his small hands would let him.

At one point, the helmet slipped over his eyes and he found himself staggering.

With no warning, he collided with a firm set of legs and dropped onto the floor, still giggling.

"Sorry!" He laughed, though the word was a little garbled as he struggled to get his young mouth to move accordingly around the two 'r's.

"It's a good thing you didn't impale me with those horns you have there."

Saemneir once again grinned and quickly jumped back to his feet.

"I's being Prince Loki!"

"Is that so?"

He pulled the helmet back and stared up at the tall man.

Loki stared down at him in return, his heart rate increasing as he took in the boy's features up-close for the first time.

The blue eyes that matched his own, the black hair that peeked out from under the helmet that was an identical colour to his own and the pale skin that the dark hair framed.

It was almost look staring into the past.

He was broken from his reverie as the sound of footsteps clattered down the corridor behind the young boy.

"Saemneir!"

Loki lifted his eyes away from the boy and looked up towards the boy's mother, who was out of breath and seemed nervous.

"What have I told you about touching other people's things?" She scolded lightly, being sure to avoid making eye contact with Loki, whose eyes kept flickering between her and Saemneir.

"I just wanted to play," the boy replied, pushing his bottom lip out a little.

"And you can, but you can't take-"

"It's alright," Loki interrupted, clearing his throat a little.

Her eyes finally turned towards him, a cold glare inside of them which made him shift a little on his feet whilst turning his head towards the floor.

He was a proud man and at times found it hard to admit when he was wrong, but this was something he knew he couldn't ignore until the guilt damped down.

Loki stepped forward and hoisted the boy up, resting him against his hip.

Saemneir's eyes widened at the sudden height difference, but then rejoiced at being held by one of the Princes of Asgard.

"If you'll allow me," Loki began cautiously, hoping not to step over the line. "I would like to keep him company, he can continue playing in my room."

"And why would I allow such a thing after almost four years?" She replied quietly, finding the sight of a father finally holding his child almost too much to accept after so long.

"Because I believe I made a grave error and I have a lot to make up for."