whose_son_am_i | Labyrinthum IC Inbox

Loki is, thankfully, not all that hard to locate. He's at the cottage, either within or in the garden. Mostly keeping to himself while he wrestles with some things. His oracle has been left up in his room for now, possibly laying where it had fallen after being thrown at a wall.

This time, this time he's in the main-room of the cottage. Far from the window, but in a corner. Just kind of tucked to himself and solemn. He'll watch Kaiba warily, a bit stand-offishly, when he notices the other. But there's no hostility. It's more a sense of 'waiting' to see how Kaiba's going to react.

Seto can see that the vibe's a bit...different. He gives Loki a little smile and walks in, settling nearby. His expression's serious, warm with a fire of righteous indignation on his friend's behalf.

"I'm not leaving just because our overlord plays dirty. None of that nonsense matters to me. And...there are a lot of others it doesn't matter to either. "

"It should." Loki bit out. "It's all true, even if it's not the whole story." Retorted almost in a challenging way. Clear enough in some ways that Kaiba had thrown Loki both on and off-guard. Off-guard in that the other was clearly expecting scorn and to be hurt, and that was not happening. On-guard in that Loki was still wary, and while he was not lashing out to hurt first, he was still challenging the other. Pushing that boundary, testing it.

"You told me some of it before. I was prepared...mostly. But I don't think it knows you as well as it wants to claim it does...not the you that exists now, anyway."

He took a deep breath and stepped a little closer. "I've spent most of my life holed up in a tower, trained to not let people in because the stakes of betrayal were so high. Make no mistake, if you did betray me or my brother I would do everything in my mere human power to fight back. But I don't think you will."

He smiled a little. "Look, I'm a businessman with some dirty dealings in my closet. I know about using people, about forging a shield. I've done it before too. But I've looked at our relationship from that possible angle and I just...don't see it. I care for you, and believe it or not I'm sure you really care too."

Loki watched him, blue-green eyes studying Kaiba closely. Looking at all angles and layers, trying to read what was there. Also a bit confused, and certainly a bit paranoid. Could he believe, and trust this? That was part of why Loki was withdrawn. He was trying to protect himself.

If he were falling into older bad habits, he'd be lashing out before others could hurt him as well. But...he was trying hard not to. He had grown, and changed. Was still changing in many ways.

"From our first meeting, I've seen pieces of myself in you. And they weren't good pieces, and I didn't want you to make the mistakes I have. Not if I could help prevent them now. It's why I reached out." Loki sighed a bit, sounding tired more than anything. "I did invade Midgard with intent to conquer. I've tried to kill Thor repeatedly, although I'm over that. I did enchant Odin, modifying his memories and putting him in a home in New York, to rule in his place for a couple of years until found out. I have killed before, including innocents though not directly by my own hands and blade. I have never had people who were truly 'my' friends, and have always been regarded with suspicion because I am different. I am a trickster, I use cunning and cleverness where others use strength to overpower. I have manipulated people, and likely will again."

A snort, and a bit of a wry smile, though he wasn't looking at Kaiba. "I can't say I won't be an antagonist if it's needed, but I've been the villain and found it severely lacking. I hate being predictable as well, so I'm not likely to try that here."

"Right. The darkness of the past exists, it can't be changed...but in a way it was also from another lifetime. And here we all have the same goal: to be free of the manipulations on us by an even more powerful god, right?"

He looks at Loki, still trusting. Still here.

"Our paths in life are both changing...and if you're going to keep supporting me in that, I'm supporting you too. It's only fair."

"Oh I very much doubt that Vaeros is, himself, a god." Loki did let himself lash out with that statement. But it wasn't at Kaiba, the desire to hurt not aimed at him. It was the most Loki-like thing he had done in this whole conversation, in terms of 'normal' for Loki.

But that outburst aside, he was studying Kaiba again. And Seto would see when the mask dropped. When Loki let himself come back from being so withdrawn. To see the relief, and worry, and all the conflicting emotions this whole situation had inspired in him. The scars he'd dealt with growing up that still pained him.

There was a tired sigh, and then a more natural (if tired) smile. "How is settling in to the new place going?"

Seto will file that away for later. Oh, they'll bring Vaeros down someday. He's sure of it.

But he soon lets out a sigh of relief and smiles. "It's nice. I thought Mokuba might find it weird to adjust to such a small space, but he likes it. Atem too. It's...been different living with others. Not bad. But a few odd things have been happening there."

Now that he thinks about it...

"The water and electricity turned on, but none of us went to the crystal about it. And a laptop appeared in my room recently. Does that sort of thing happen in this house?"

"I can't speak about a laptop being part of the welcoming package. Nor can I really say about the power and water--Alice offered, pending Gamora's approval--to let me live with them shortly after I arrived so I didn't have to worry about the utilities. My contribution, and my testing of the 'wish' system, involved us having a proper hearth and fireplace."

Seto nods, content to leave the mystery alone for now. Someone cares about him...or someone's out to trick him. Hm. Weird.

But he just smiles. "I'm making some progress on getting interest for a game room. I think we might start with a chess tournament to get attention. Maybe I can even go back to making video games someday..."

But back on topic. He's here to look out for Loki. "Your family's standing by you, right? No awkwardness here?"

Loki blinked and looked surprised; his family wasn't he... Wait. His mind remembered a conversation he'd had with Laserhawk recently, about how one defined a family. Seto could see that Loki was having some realizations hit him now, he wasn't as withdrawn and the mask was down a bit.

He did have family here, of his own making. Alice certainly, with her official adoption--and he was very proud of his little princess and honored that she let him be her papa. But Gamora, and Puck, and Seto, and Eilonwy, Webby, and others who were in the strangeness of friends and 'family' of a sort. It just hadn't quite fully hit him until now.

Always so perceptive, except about himself, his Mother had scolded him once.

Finally Loki gave a little soft snort, and a resigned-but-not-unhappy smile. "They are. And thank you for reminding me of it, and being part of it too, Seto."

Seto watched him with a warm sort of satisfaction. He was still a little worried, but Loki would be all right. He'd be back to his magnificent scheming self soon.

But then he listened to those next words. No one ever his birth name to address him, save for Mokuba. It was a remnant of his life before...everything. And maybe it was a part of his true self, beyond the Kaiba way of life.

But the other word floored him more. When he'd said 'family' he'd envisioned Alice and Gamora, and probably Puck...but that he was part of it was astounding. The surprise was clear on his face, eyes widening. He froze, blinking, and then...

Seto decided it was worth risking. He hesitantly stepped forward to offer a hug, the awkwardness making it clear just how unusual this was for him. He'd take it slow and not force it, just in case Loki wasn't receptive, but...

"Yeah. I'm staying," he whispered in either case, head bowed as he made that promise.

Loki could tell Seto was awkward about it, but he definitely wanted and appreciated the hug. So he moved to do so, embracing the other fully and warmly. Acknowledging and recognizing, and smiling when he heard the whispered words. Holding it for a good moment, before letting it fade. Letting the other pull back if he wanted.

"...You're a bit too old to be offered adoption like I did with Alice, but I would count you as part of my family here. Your brother too. No strings on either of you."

Seto relaxed into the hug just a moment later. He did it right, it was fine. And he felt the warm sort of peace that could only come from finding a place to belong.

When he pulled back, he was still smiling. "I'm actually at the right age for what my country calls adoption, though those work more like apprenticeships than anything. And I guess I'm already in one."

He laughed a little. "But names and labels don't matter much...yeah, you're family to me. And I doubt Mokuba will have a problem with it, but we'll ask."

"It's also more that you're...hmm." Loki pondered his words. "You're too grown up in so many ways, to need the same kind of 'adoption' as one would have usually for a family member, were you to be my son so to speak." Hopefully that made sense.

"But the family tie is there for you all the same." Then more quietly. "Your clarity on the matter, and reminding me to see that, really does mean quite a lot to me. Thank you."

There was a brief pondering of what could've been, but it didn't last long. He smiled again and reached out to squeeze his arm.

"Family's the only word needed. I haven't had one other than Mokuba in ten years, and...some childish part of me always wondered what it would be like. I don't have to wonder anymore."

Loki shifted that squeeze of the arm, so that it was a formal handsclasp for them both. "Family it is." With all the solemnity of an oath. "And I was just conversing with one of our other residents the other day about family, and various definitions thereof. Blind of me to have not seen the parallels myself sooner.

"Agreed," Seto answered, squeezing Loki's hand firmly with a smile. He held the oath for a good moment before letting go. His heart felt a little lighter today...and he was relieved he could return the favor for once, after everything Loki had done for him.

"Hey, I didn't see it either," Seto admitted. "Like I said before...where I'm from, family is a rigid concept defined by bloodlines and strict roles. The concept of adding an outsider to the family is inconceivable for most people. But I think I like this better."

"I am certainly happy to have you be part of mine." Loki affirmed, before letting Kaiba pull back if he wanted. "Thank you, also. Those two words are inadequate, but I can't think of how to put the feelings out in any other way."

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