LOKI'S POINT OF VIEW
"Chin up darling," I said, putting a finger under Hela's jaw to better adjust her posture.
Her brows were furrowed as she concentrated hard on an illusion before her. She was simply trying to cast an image of a running rabbit, a task easier said than done.
"And please breathe, dear," I said with a laugh noticing how red in the face she had gotten.
She sighed and crossed her arms, "I can't do it, it's too hard."
I raised a brow at her. It was quite unlike Hela to give up so easily. Oftentimes, she would try and try until she physically couldn't anymore. She was too stubborn to just quit.
"What's the matter?"
She swiftly turned to the garden entrance and pointed an accusatory finger towards two figures who swiftly ducked behind the topiaries. By the two trails of blonde hair, I could easily tell who it was.
"They're watching me," Hela whined, "I can't practice with them watching."
Hearing a scoff, Sigyn peaked her head out from behind the bushes. She had a bright grin on her face and her mouth hung open in shock.
"You won't let your own mother watch you practice?" she said comically, putting her hands on her hips.
Hela shook her head and stuck her nose up in the air.
"Sorry, my love," I said with a chuckle, "I suppose the princess refuses and audience."
Sigyn rolled her eyes and walked towards us with Thor trailing behind her. Thor's face looked confused, his furrowed brows and harsh expression told me he was in deep thought. By the way Sigyn acted so unphased, it was obvious he was mulling over something she had told him.
"Since when has Hela been one for humbleness?" she said, coming to my side and laying her head on my shoulder.
I wrapped an arm around her waist and watched as Hela begrudgingly continued to practice her spells. Thor was attempting to chat with my daughter, really trying to emulate being a good uncle. My brother was generally good with children but Hela was not necessarily an extroverted child and seemed unsure about him.
"Did Thor give you any trouble in my absence?" I asked Sigyn, pulling her around to face me.
Sigyn put her arms around my neck and laid her head on my chest.
"Not really," she said softly, "Just talked about you is all."
"All good things I hope," I said with a chuckle.
She laughed, "Oh yes, definitely," she said with a sarcastic twang in her voice, "He's a lot more like you than I realized."
I pulled away and gave Sigyn a sideways glance. Thor and I were nothing alike. She had to be kidding but from the look on her face, I could tell she was genuine.
"How so?"
"You both want the same things deep down, attention, recognition, and trust," she explained, "You just go about getting those things, very differently."
"I suppose, but doesn't everyone want those things?"
She shrugged, "Not necessarily. I could care less if I have all eyes on me, I don't mind either way. And I certainly don't care about recognition. As long I believe I'm doing good, I'm fine," Sigyn explained simply.
I nodded and thought for a moment. Perhaps she was right. Blood brothers or not, Thor and I were raised under the same standards, the same ideals. It would make sense to be so similar but at the same time, I couldn't bring myself to believe it. We have quarreled nearly our whole lives over our differences, I simply could not spot the similarities my wife spoke of.
"You don't believe me, do you?" She asked with a soft chuckle.
"I can't say that I do, sweetheart," I said, kissing her softly.
"Maybe since you'll be spending so much time with him, you'll see what I mean," Sigyn suggested.
I nodded and looked down at her. She seem troubled in some way and I couldn't quite put my finger on the root of it.
"Is everything alright?" I asked gently, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"I'm alright," she said with a sigh, "I'm just hoping your trip to Midgard is short and uneventful."
"Uneventful? When Thor and I are together, things can hard be uneventful," I said with a chuckle, "Besides, that'd be no fun."
"You know what I mean," Sigyn said with a light giggle, "You've been to mMidgard before, tell me what it's like."
"It's absolutely disgusting," I said immediately, "There are far too many people and so many of them are so stupid, it's sad really. Asgardians, though gullible, are of a much finer breed. And they just put their trash out on the streets."
Sigyn began to laugh as I talked, and said, "I doubt it's as bad as you describe, I've heard it's just very...chaotic but not too different than here."
I shook my head, "No, you would hate it, I can assure you that."
"Loki, don't be so dramatic," she said, rolling her eyes, "I'm sure I'd like it. Won't you take me there someday?"
"Sigyn, I-"
"Please," she begged, holding on to me and giving me the biggest pouty eyes. I couldn't help but realize that Hela and her made the same exact look when they wanted something. Their eyes would grow so large and their eyebrows would annoy together as they pleaded for something. I was quite the sucker for this expression.
"Fine, maybe one day we can go," I agreed begrudgingly.
Sigyn kisses me tensely and smiled, obviously happy to get what she wanted. I couldn't help but grin as I looked at her. Six years later and I found that I loved her with every day that passed. Never had I felt so understood by someone, so loved, and cared for in the way Sigyn did so. She wss the finishing touch on my life, forcing me to realize the desires of someone outside of myself. She made me want to be good, to do good. And most importantly, Sigyn made me want to love.