Chapter Text
“My poor Jane. She is very frustrated by the way she is treated,” Thor lamented one evening as the family was eating dinner.
Loki tuned him out as usual. Thor was a bore at the best of times, but when he would start to wax poetic about his mortal lady love, he could become insufferable.
Normally their family dinners were lively. They would speak, argue, debate. Sometimes things got out of hand and they would end up yelling at each other. Only when Thor brought up his Midgardian, would the table fall silent. Their parents’ faces would morph from interest to polite detachment. Thor never seemed to notice though that their mother was the only one who would engage Thor when he spoke of Jane.
“What is ailing her?” their mother asked mildly.
“She is burdened by her omega status. Her alpha colleagues, while they have finally come to respect her work, are always trying to coddle her. My lady Jane is certainly capable of taking care of herself and she resents their interference.”
His interest piqued, he asked, “What do you mean, brother?”
Thor looked delighted that Loki had joined the conversation. “Midgard is not as advanced as Asgard when it comes to designations. While they no longer follow the barbaric practices of the past, they still see omegas as fragile creatures who need to be cosseted.”
“Truly?” he asked intrigued.
“Aye,” Thor nodded. “I have noticed they tend to treat omegas with kid gloves.” He laughed. “I can just imagine them trying to act that way with you.”
Odin frowned. “Why do omegas require the use of gloves made from young goats?”
Loki and Frigga both tried to suppress their smiles.
“It’s a Midgardian saying,” Thor explained. “It means to be careful with something.”
“Ah,” Odin responded. No longer interested, he returned to eating.
Their mother guided them to other topics and the subject was soon forgotten.
Except that Loki could not get the conversation out of his head. Later that evening, when he was trying to read, the words Thor had said kept returning to him.
Loki was well acquainted with Asgard’s history regarding designations. In fact, it was required learning when they were children so that the realm would never slip back into the old ways.
Before Odin was king, Asgard treated omegas very differently. They were not seen as people but as breeding stock. They had few rights and if any alpha got one alone and claimed them, there was no recourse.
That all changed when Odin, an alpha, ascended to the throne and married Frigga, an omega.
They worked together to change perceptions and laws about omegas. It took many years, but by the time Thor, and then Loki were born, there was full equality between all designations.
An alpha could not make a claim without the omega’s express permission. Violating that law was punishable by death. Additionally, omegas were expected to work as hard as alphas and betas. They were not granted lighter duties or treated any differently from all others.
Loki, as an omega, was especially interested in the subject. While he was glad that the brutal practices of the past were gone, there was one aspect that stirred longing within him. Omegas had been valued and wanted.
He desperately wondered what that would feel like.
As a prince of Asgard, he was afforded the bare minimum of respect. Most of the Æsir did not like him. He was different from them in so many ways from his lean build to his use of magic. He did not fit in them and they never let him forget. Thor’s band of misfits were no different; they openly sneered at him. He had once thought there might be some solidarity between him, Volstagg, and Sif, as they were all omegas but he had been proven wrong.
Loki dreamed of how it would feel to be cherished.
He understood that he would eventually need to be mated with an alpha and produce pups. He dreaded that day since he knew all of the suitable alphas from the various realms and none inspired anything within him except indifference. He had long ago accepted that any union would be loveless.
He had remained uncaring to Thor’s trips to Midgard. The idea of mingling with mortals had never held an interest to him. They were mayflies. There one day, dead the next. But perhaps…
If his brother was correct and they held more antiquated views, maybe it was time to meet Thor’s Midgardian shield brothers. A part of him hated that he felt the need to stoop to that level, but, oh, the thought of being held in high esteem, for once, was hard to resist.
He rationalized that his brother was probably wrong, and that Thor had once again misinterpreted his mortal’s words. But he knew he would not rest until he knew that for himself. The thought of being appreciated was a siren song he could not ignore.
His mind made up, Loki decided he would approach his brother. It would be wildly out of character for him to propose a joint trip to Midgard, but he knew he could manipulate his brother into suggesting it.
The next day, he found his brother and began to enact his plan.
“Brother,” he began. “I could not help but think on what you said at dinner last eve. About your Jane’s treatment.”
Thor’s countenance brightened immediately. “Aye, it was most surprising given all the advances Midgard has made.”
“What about the omegas who are part of your band? Are they also subject to the same treatment?” Loki asked him.
Thor’s brows furrowed as he considered the question. “Now that you speak of it, I believe there are no omegas on the team. Only alphas and betas.”
Loki inwardly sighed. He had already deduced that information by the tales that Thor had told. Leave it to his brother not to notice something like that.
“Really?” Loki asked feigning surprise.
“How odd that I had not realized that before. There are omegas within the organization SHIELD and Friend Stark has placed his company’s well being in the hands of his loyal employee who is an omega, but certainly none who are a part of the Avengers.”
“Do they not think an omega capable of being a warrior?” Loki asked. He wrinkled his nose. “It does not seem that they are as advanced as you say.”
As expected, Thor leapt to the defense of his shield brothers. “Nay, it cannot be that. I have told them tales of our battles. Some of their views are outdated, but they do not discriminate in that manner.”
“If you say so, brother,” Loki said condescendingly.
He decided to leave the conversation there and let his brother stew on the idea for a while. Loki was not disappointed. It was merely two days later when his brother approached him, a troubled look on his face.
“I have been thinking on what you said, and I am grieved to say that you might be right. For what other reason would the Avengers not include an omega on their team?”
Loki suppressed his grin. Very gravely, he said, “As a member of a more enlightened race, it falls to you to show the Midgardians what true equality means. On your next visit, you should bring one of your shield brothers.”
Thor nodded. “I could, but…” His brother’s face lit up with excitement. “It would be better if I brought you. As a prince of Asgard and a warrior, you would be a better example.”
Loki frowned. “Visit with your Midgardians? I am rather busy. I am not sure if I could spare the time.”
Thor continued as if he had not heard him. “Yes, you would be the perfect emissary! While Volstagg and Sif are certainly skilled warriors, they are not royalty.”
Loki pretended to ponder Thor’s proposal and then audibly sighed. “I suppose you are correct. If you want to educate your allies, it would be best to bring the highest ranked omega outside of mother. Do advise me of your next visit and I will clear my schedule.”
Thor beamed at him and placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. “You will not regret this, brother.”
Loki smiled at him. “I am certain I will not.”
**********
Once the idea had taken hold in Thor’s mind, he had insisted they travel to Midgard immediately. Loki insisted they wait until the next day so that they could inform their parents of their departure.
The following day saw both Loki and Thor traveling to Midgard via the bifrost.
Loki looked around them. He had been to Midgard before, and even to New York City, but he did not recognize the building where they’d landed. It towered over the surrounding edifices. He liked it instantly.
Thor guided them from the landing deck through glass doors that led to an open room. There were four people sitting around a table apparently eating a meal.
“Hello, friends!” Thor boomed.
A blond man looked up in surprise. “Thor, hello. We didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“True, it was not my intent, but my brother expressed an interest in meeting the Avengers.”
A brown haired man looked up curiously. “Brother? Didn’t realize there were two of you.”
Thor laughed. “Aye, friend Barton. Allow me to introduce my brother, Loki.”
Loki stepped forward and gave them a slight bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you. My brother has spoken at length about his adventures on Midgard.”
He waited expectantly for the moment they would realize he was an omega. If they showed no reaction then he would quickly return home.
He did not have to wait long. The blond one who had first greeted Thor had stood and started to approach them. He stopped, his eyes widening. The others soon wore similar expressions.
“Prince Loki,” the blond said. A bit of color appeared high on his cheeks. “Welcome. I mean, please, come in.” He gestured to one of the chairs at the table. “Would you like to sit? I just made breakfast. I would be happy to make some for you.”
The others nodded in agreement. “Yes, make yourself comfortable,” a blond woman said.
“Do not bother yourself, friend Rogers,” Thor announced. “We have eaten already.”
The man named Rogers looked crestfallen.
“Actually,” Loki interjected. “Bifrost travel does often leave me famished. I would be happy to sample your cuisine.”
The man’s face lit up as he pulled out a chair for Loki. “Please sit. Pancakes okay?”
“That would be delightful,” Loki said graciously.
The other brunet in the room gave Loki a tentative smile. “Can I get you something to drink? Tea or coffee? Or perhaps orange juice? Tony always makes sure to order freshly squeezed juices.”
Loki looked over the group assembled before him. He had the feeling he was going to enjoy his sojourn on Midgard.