Chapter 25
The Asgard Universe - The Twins of Fate Saga - Summary/Content Note
It's a beautiful day, and the park is filled with children and families. The twins immediately run toward the playground the minute Loki and Gwen release their hands from their grip.
Loki's gaze drifts over them before he glances at Gwen. He's been contemplative ever since the kids ran off, and it's clear he wants to speak with her privately.
She talks to Loki while keeping her eyes on the kids as they explore the jungle gym. "What are you thinking about?"
He lets out a deep sigh, arms folding across his chest as he follows her gaze.
"I'm thinking about Einarr," he answers in a low tone, "and how he'll affect the children. He doesn't strike me as an irresponsible person, so I don't doubt that he will do his job well. But he's still not who I would have wanted near our children."
His eyes narrow slightly as he frowns. "And I still don't like him near you."
"I understand. You were never really happy with my choice. Look, if it's still bothering you this much, we can...let him go."
Gwen doesn't want to do that. She likes him and the pay and perks they have given him kind of changed his life, and she doesn't want to be the one to take it all away from him, but she doesn't want Loki to be uncomfortable.
Loki watches the children for a moment longer before turning to face Gwen fully. His expression softens slightly, though his jaw remains tight with lingering tension.
"No," he says after a long pause. "I won’t ask that of you. If you trust him, then I will tolerate him." His lips quirk into the faintest smirk. "Besides, if he makes one wrong move, I'll simply stab him in front of everyone and claim it was an accident."
Gwen smiles again. She wouldn't admit it to anyone else, but she does love Loki's threatening and dangerous side. "And I would support that."
Loki's smirk deepens, his eyes glinting with dark amusement.
"I know you would," he murmurs, leaning in just enough to brush a kiss against her temple—an unspoken promise of solidarity. "And that’s why I love you."
The moment is broken by Liv suddenly shrieking as Varian pushes her down the slide headfirst. Loki sighs heavily. "...Our children are feral."
Gwen laughs and acts like she has no idea what he is talking about. "They are clearly your children. I wouldn't do anything like that."
Loki gives her a dubious look that clearly says: "Uh-huh, sure," though the corner of his mouth is trying not to twitch with amusement.
"You were probably worse than they are," he teases. He gestures pointedly toward where Liv is now standing at the top of the slide, hands on her hips like a tiny warlord surveying her territory while Varian has already climbed back up just to shove his sister down again with a delighted cackle. "I seem to remember you being exceptionally feral at times."
"Only in bed with you." She gives him a sideways look. "Now go get your unruly children."
Loki lets out an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes playfully, but he’s already moving toward the chaos with the resigned air of a man who knows when he’s been outmatched by both his wife and children.
"Fine, fine," he mutters, "but I'm blaming you when they start a rebellion later."
He strides toward the twins just as Liv shoves Varian back in retaliation; their tiny war escalating into outright sibling combat.
Gwen watches with amused adoration as Loki wrangles the two children. When they come back, she takes Liv's hand while Loki holds onto Varian to keep them separate.
"Well, we learned something today: you two are quite mean and territorial on playgrounds. But I will say that I'm glad you acted up here and not in the tower."
Varian and Liv are in the midst of complaining, with plenty of finger pointing and petulant expressions, but they both quiet the minute Gwen addresses them. Loki, meanwhile, still has his hand clasped around Varian's shoulder. He seems satisfied that things have returned to a temporary ceasefire.
"They are little hellions," he mutters under his breath, "and I blame your side of the family, for the record."
"Well, I have never stabbed my brother; can you say the same?" She keeps her voice low so the children won't hear that part. "Back to the tower, everyone. We'll order lunch."
Loki opens his mouth ready to argue further, then shuts it with a quiet click of his teeth. He shoots Gwen a look, equal parts annoyed and amused.
"You," he says flatly, "are insufferable." But the slight upward twitch of his lips betrays him.
Meanwhile, Liv tugs on Gwen's sleeve with wide, pleading eyes. "Mamaaaa… can we get pizza?"*
"I was thinking you should try another Midgardian food. I wanted to order really big cheeseburgers and french fries and milkshakes."
Liv's face immediately crumples in absolute betrayal, like Gwen just suggested they eat something utterly revolting.
"Ew," she declares, wrinkling her nose as only a five-year-old princess can. "That's gross."
Varian, always the adventurous one, tilts his head thoughtfully. "...What’s a milkshake?"*
"You don't even know what it is, Liv. And a milkshake is blended ice cream. We can each get a different flavor and try them all."
Liv doesn't seem convinced, but Varian lights up at the prospect as if it's the best idea he's ever heard in his life. Loki raises an eyebrow, giving Gwen an amused look.
"A blended ice cream beverage?" he questions skeptically. He still seems slightly wary, as if he's afraid of the answer, "…and you want us all to drink frozen desserts?"
"Absolutely. I can't believe you guys don't even have ice cream in Asgard. It's a travesty."
Loki rolls his eyes, looking almost scandalized. "We have better ways to satisfy a sweet tooth than drinking sugar-filled ice cream," he mutters, though the look on his face says he doesn't actually know what those better ways are. Liv continues to pout, but Varian is completely sold on the idea of getting to drink ice cream and is tugging on Gwen's sleeve excitedly.
On the way back, Gwen lists more treats like root beer floats, churros, Oreos... The kids, of course, want to try all of them. Liv is still pouting, but Gwen knows she is listening and intrigued.
Varian, meanwhile, is practically vibrating with excitement. He's more than happy to let Gwen describe these things to them. Liv, though she tries to continue pouting, keeps glancing up curiously as if she's doubting how "gross" they all sound.
"Well, at least she likes pizza and French toast..." Gwen says as she lets the kids press the buttons on the elevator, and they get back to their floor.
As they pass the common room, they see Einarr and Tony chatting away on the couch.
"How did everything go with you two?" Gwen asks.
Einarr glances up from his conversation with Tony, giving that easy, charming grin of his that always manages to look effortless. "Very well, my lady. Tony here was just showing me some of the technology you all have around here. It's quite impressive, I must admit."
Tony, for his part, is leaning back on the couch with his hands casually tucked behind his head. He gives the kids a wave and a wink. "You two behave?"
Varian immediately brightens at that and bounds over to where Tony is sprawled across the couch. Liv trails after her brother, still clinging to Gwen's hand.
"We're getting ice cream," Varian tells Tony, standing on his toes to lean on the back of the couch. "It's blended with stuff so you can drink it."
Tony raises an eyebrow, grinning. "Milkshakes? Nice choice, kid. You're gonna love 'em." He glances up at Loki with a teasing smirk. "You ever had one before, Reindeer Games?"
Loki scowls at the nickname, but before he can retort—
"NO," Varian cuts in dramatically, pointing an accusatory finger at his father. "He hasn’t, and Mama says that’s a ‘travesty.’" He pronounces the word carefully, clearly proud of this new addition to his vocabulary.
Liv finally pipes up from behind Gwen’s leg, voice small but stubborn, "...I still think it sounds gross."
Gwen bites her lip to keep from laughing, but it doesn't help. "Good job remembering that word choice, Varian."
Varian beams at the praise, his chest puffing up like he’s just won a grand battle, while Loki pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"You," he mutters at Gwen, "are encouraging them. This is treason."
Tony, meanwhile, is grinning like this is the best entertainment he's had all day.
"What? They are smart. Of course, I'm encouraging it." She shrugs in mock-innocence.
That gets a scoff out of Loki, even though he's fighting a half-smile in spite of himself.
"You're making them too smart," he points out dryly, "and teaching them words that make them sound far older than their years. They're supposed to spend their time running around like savage little monsters, not speaking like scholars."
"I think this means we need to add 'educational expectations' to our ever-growing list of conversations we should have."
Loki groans at that, scrubbing a hand over his face.
"You are determined to turn them into little walking encyclopedias," he mutters, shooting her a warning glare that says 'don't you even think about it.' "They're five, not ten... they're not supposed to be this eloquent or knowledgeable."
"They are way ahead of their Earth peers. Part of that is the tutoring on Asgard and part of that is just because the two of us are pretty smart ourselves and we don't talk to them like babies."
Loki purses his lips, unable to argue with that. He glances over at the kids with a mixture of grudging acknowledgment and a resigned sigh.
"You may be right," he admits with a quiet grumble, "But do you have to encourage their vocabulary? It makes them sound like tiny professors."
"Aww but what's cuter than tiny, precocious children with a good vocabulary?"
Loki rolls his eyes with a huff, still trying—and failing, because he's clearly fighting a smile—to look annoyed. He crosses his arms over his chest and glares at Gwen, though the expression loses its effect with the fondness in his eyes.
"The fact that they're supposed to be tiny, reckless, normal children," he retorts, though there's no heat behind the words. He's only half-serious, and he knows it.
"Our kids are not normal and they shouldn't be taught to be normal. How are they supposed to be ruling kingdoms or outwitting opponents or doing anything really, if we try to tamp down their curiosity and intellect?"
Once again, Gwen has a point. Loki lets out a frustrated sigh, partly because he knows it's true, but mostly because he's reluctantly amused by this entire conversation. He drops his arms, raking a hand through his hair as he mulls over her words.
"Damn you and your logic," he mutters at last, "You and I both know full well that they're already too smart for their own good. Do we really want them to be smarter than we are?"
"Sure. If they are smarter than we are, then that means we did a good job."
Loki lets out a small, reluctant laugh, finally giving up the fight. He shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as if he’s already foreseeing decades of mischief and sharp-tongued wit from two unnervingly intelligent children.
"You realize this means we're doomed when they become teenagers?" he says dryly. "They'll outmaneuver us at every turn."
Despite the words, there's a warmth in his expression because for all his grumbling, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"They are your kids; that was bound to happen anyway."
Loki exhales through his nose, shooting her a half-hearted glare that's more affectionate than annoyed.
"Not just my doing," he mutters, "You, darling, are just as responsible. They got your terrifying logic and stubbornness along with my penchant for chaos." He sighs dramatically, but the corner of his mouth twitches upward. "...We're doomed."
Gwen leans in and whispers just to throw fuel on the fire. "What if we had another one?"
Loki's eyes immediately snap over to her, his expression transforming from mild annoyance to a mixture of surprise and what appears to be... slight terror. His voice drops to a sharp whisper, an incredulous note coloring his words.
"You're not actually serious?" He asks in disbelief, "You want another little hellion running around? Haven't the two we have already driven us both insane enough?"
She smiles and shrugs. "I'm more than happy with the twins. I'm just letting you know that I will have as many children as you want...or not...either way, I love the, ahem, practice."
Loki's lips twitch again, this time curving into a smirk at Gwen's rather blunt choice of phrasing. He eyes her for a moment, as if he's trying to decide if she's seriously contemplating more children or just teasing him, until a sly smile starts to spread across his face.
"You really, really enjoy 'practicing', do you?" he asks, his voice dropping into a low, teasing rasp.
"I do and I think we should practice again very soon."
Loki's expression shifts immediately from smug amusement to something far darker, far more interested. His fingers twitch at his side as if he’s already imagining what exactly that ‘practice’ entails.
"Oh?" he murmurs, stepping just a fraction closer—close enough for the heat of him to brush against her skin. "You mean right now, or are you suggesting we wait until after this little milkshake ordeal?"
His smirk deepens, already knowing the answer. "Because I can be very persuasive about skipping dessert."
Gwen speaks up, "Hey, Tony and Einarr? Would you two keep an eye on the twins for a little while? Loki and I are going to go out to pick up lunch."
Tony immediately grins, waving them off without even bothering to look up from whatever conversation he’s still having with Einarr.
"Sure thing. Go ahead. We got the kids."
“Actually,” Einarr interjects, “I think I want to explore the city for a little while.”
“Absolutely. We’re Avengers, we can handle 5-year-olds,” Tony says with a smirk.
***
Gwen and Loki return a little while later with armfuls of burgers and milkshakes.
The moment they step into Avengers Tower, the scene that greets them is pandemonium.
Varian is perched precariously on the back of the couch, dressed in a makeshift cape gleefully tossing popcorn at an exasperated Natasha while Clint balances a giggling Liv on one shoulder. Steve somehow looks like he hasn’t slept in days; his hair sticking up in wild tufts as he holds up a toddler-sized Mjolnir replica—clearly having lost some sort of bet.
Tony's voice drifts from the kitchen. "Stark Industries does not fund war crimes, Varian! Put down my repulsor gauntlet!"
Bruce, sitting calmly amidst it all with a science book open between them and what looks like several dissected toasters around him. "...We may have underestimated your children."
Gwen is shocked for a moment before bursting into a fit of laughter. She picks Varian up from his perch on the couch and, with a hug, asks, "How the heck did you two manage all this?"
Varian grins victoriously, clearly very pleased with himself as he hugs Gwen tightly. Liv giggles and tries to cling to her mother the moment she’s in reach, nearly knocking them both off balance. Tony groans from the kitchen as he plucks his repulsor gauntlet from the floor.
"How the hell did you raise these two?" he grumbles before grinning, clearly more impressed than anything.
"I promise you that they are well behaved but if you show any sort of weakness, they will pounce and exploit it." She looks at Varian in her arms. "And what did you learn from the Avengers?"
Varian puffs out his chest proudly before declaring: "Science is very fun when Uncle Tony forgets to lock the lab!"
Tony groans dramatically while Steve rubs his temples.
Liv, piping up from where she's now clinging to Gwen's leg. "...Also that Captain America makes really funny noises when you hide all his shoes."
"That'll teach them to keep doors unlocked...and have shoes. You did give him his shoes back, right?"
Liv nods enthusiastically before whispering, "...Most of them."
Steve looks horrified. "WAIT, WHAT?!"
Tony cackles from the kitchen, utterly delighted.
"Look at you. Big, mighty Avengers who have fought countless bad guys and faced dangerous missions, bested by a pair of 5-year-olds. Let's hope the next invasion is not adorable kindergarteners, or you guys are toast,” Gwen teases.
Tony points an accusing spoon at her from the kitchen, while Clint wheezes with laughter in the background. "Excuse you—your kids are supervillain-level manipulators! Also, one of them reprogrammed JARVIS to call me 'Snack Lord!’"
Varian giggles into Gwen’s shoulder as Liv, completely unrepentant, grins up at her mother with Loki-level mischief in her eyes.
She sets Varian down. "You two put everything back and clean up."
She helps set everything right while the kids bring back all the little things they "borrowed"
Liv and Varian sigh dramatically but obey, shuffling around to collect scattered popcorn, stolen gadgets, and rogue shoes. Tony watches with exaggerated suspicion as Varian carefully places the repulsor gauntlet back on its stand.
"I know you’re scheming again. I can feel it," Tony narrows his eyes with playful suspicion at the twins.
Liv blinks up at him, utterly innocent, before slowly pulling a single missing sock out of her pocket and dropping it into Steve's hands.
"...They're terrifying," Steve whispers to Gwen.
"I swear they don't scheme like this at home. They are not afraid to use any tactic they can to get what they want. They found your weaknesses. Just be thankful they don't have any magic...yet."
Steve shudders, probably thinking about what that kind of power would mean in their tiny hands.
Tony, however, seems more impressed than appalled, leaning against the kitchen counter and crossing his arms. "So, are you raising two devious geniuses on purpose or just for fun?"
Varian grins, clearly taking it as praise. Liv, on the other hand, lifts her chin proudly with a knowing smirk. "...Both."
Gwen changes the subject to the food as she unpacks it on the counter. "I think you guys might like cheeseburgers and fries as much as you liked the pizza yesterday."
Liv eyes the cheeseburger skeptically for a second—until Varian takes an enthusiastic bite of his, immediately lighting up at the taste. That’s all it takes for her to follow suit, and soon both are happily filling their plates and demolishing their meals.
"It's better than pizza," Varian declares through a mouthful of fries, while Liv nods in agreement.
Tony smirks, nudging Steve with an elbow. "Damn. We might've just lost Asgardian nobility to fast food. Odin's gonna be pissed."
Gwen chooses a cookies and cream milkshake and offers a taste to the kids.
"Try this one."
Varian immediately reaches for it but Liv hesitates, narrowing her eyes slightly before taking a cautious sip. Then her expression changes, going from suspicious to wide-eyed delight.
"It's sweet," she says, blinking down at the milkshake like she’s just discovered something revolutionary. "But also... cold?"
Meanwhile, Varian has already stolen Gwen’s straw and is slurping up way more than his fair share. Loki barely intercepts him before he drains the whole thing dry.
The cheeseburgers vanished faster than Gwen could blink. Fries littered the floor and the table was covered in sticky milkshake fingerprints. Loki pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting the urge to sigh but failing entirely when Liv shrieked in delight at a flying French fry.
“Are you two always this messy?” He muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched. He was losing the battle, but it was impossible to care.
Gwen laughed, gathering up the stray napkins and wiping milkshake off the table. “I think it’s the combination of new foods and your lack of parental control,” she teased, though her tone was fond.
Tony, leaning on the edge of the counter, gave an approving nod. “Yeah, you’re doing great. These kids are… impressive,” he said, voice tinged with amusement. “Mostly chaos, but impressive.”
When the last bite was eaten and the crumbs swept up, Gwen leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms over her head. “Well. I think we’ve all earned a little quiet after that.” She glanced at Loki, who merely gave her a dry look that didn’t hide the warmth in his eyes. “Maybe we should head outside for a bit? A little fresh air before we leave tomorrow?”
She slid an arm through his, and together they moved toward the balcony, the city spread out before them. Below, the tower hummed quietly, the chaos temporarily contained, leaving a rare moment of peace for the two of them to breathe and to be just Gwen and Loki again.
"I think we should come back more often. We really should figure out a way to live here part-time."
Loki is quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the distant skyline as he considers her words. Although Asgard is their home now, Earth still holds something undeniable for both of them.
"We could," he says finally, glancing at her sidelong. "The Bifrost makes travel between realms trivial enough. And I doubt Odin would object if we divided our time, especially if it means ensuring Varian and Liv are well-rounded in both worlds."
His fingers brush against hers where they rest on the railing. "...But only if you're certain this is what you want."
"It is. Thank you for being open to it." She takes his hand. "We have to figure out what to do with Einarr on Asgard. It would be fair to expect him to come with us or to cut his pay and access when we are here. If he wants to come, that solves that problem easily."
Loki nods in agreement. Einarr has been nothing less than loyal and competent for the past few months, and he's formed a bond with Liv and Varian that's impossible to deny.
"He'll probably come with us," he says, then smirks faintly. "He's grown too attached to playing bodyguard for the family. He might put up a token protest, but I'm certain he'll cave in the end. He's a soft touch under all of his bluster, underneath the 'mighty warrior' facade."
"He is. And you're right. He seems to really like it here, and he's interested in the tech and food." Gwen laughs a little.
That makes Loki snort. Just the other day, he'd caught Einarr trying to discreetly ask JARVIS about something called 'donuts'. It took a fair amount of restraint not to mock him.
"He's fascinated by all things that go beep," he says, rolling his eyes fondly. "And he's already getting too used to having food delivered to him. I swear he may end up as spoiled as any of the children."
"Who doesn't like food delivery? Oh! And here I can cook for you more often. I can take care of you in more ways."
His smirk softens at the edges, because even now, after all this time, the way she says things like that still does something to him. He doesn’t need looking after, but he loves that she wants to.
"Is that so?" he murmurs, leaning in just enough for his breath to brush her ear. "And here I thought you'd grown tired of taking care of me."
A lie. They both know better.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'll take care of you forever." She loves him so much it hurts.
His breath catches, just for a second. It's moments like these where words threaten to lodge in his throat, where he remembers what it was like before, when he thought love was something sharp and conditional, something that could be taken away as quickly as it was given.
But Gwen doesn’t take things back. She doesn’t change her mind. She just loves him, without hesitation or caveats.
"...Good," he finally manages to say, voice rough but warm. "Because I'm not letting you go."
She won't do a thing to betray him. He's had too much of that in his lifetime. Her only goal is to love Loki and make him feel it and believe it. She snuggles against him.
"I would be upset—absolutely devastated—if you did."
His arms curl around her immediately, pulling her in tight against him. He buries his face into her hair, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of her and just letting himself be grateful. This is real. She was here, real and solid, and his. It was so easy to forget that sometimes. In his worst moments, he still wondered if this was all a dream, or some elaborate trick.
He presses his lips against her hair, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have no idea what I would do for you."
"I have some idea."
Loki needed someone who looked beyond the mischief and lashing out. He needed someone on his side, someone who was steady and calm, who loved him wholly. It hurts her to know he never got it before, but at the same time, that means she can be that person for him. And in return, he has loved her fiercely and made her feel safe.
His arms tighten around her almost reflexively, as if she'd just voiced his unspoken thoughts out loud. There's so much he wants to say, a thousand different reassurances that she's the most important person in the entire universe—that he would walk through fire for her, that he would tear down the stars, just to see her smile. He knows she's aware of his devotion to her, but it's hard to trust in it, to fully believe that someone like her could ever choose a broken, damaged thing like him, even after all this time.
The two of them stay on the balcony a little longer, quietly enjoying the view and each other's company.
The next morning, during goodbyes, she promises the team they'll be back soon. They won't wait five years between visits. The family, including Einarr and Thor, takes the Bifrost home to Asgard.