(AN: No chapter on Monday. I will be attending a Renaissance Festival with family.)

---Asgard---

Arriving at Heimdall’s Observatory, or the Himinbjörg, as the Asgardians called it, Loki took me out onto the balcony to show me something. Upon exiting the building, we were greeted by the ethereal cityscape of Asgard. Mesmerized by the breathtaking scene before me, I pulled Loki in front of me and wrapped my arms around her waist.

“You have no idea how long I have dreamed of this moment.”, Loki softly spoke. “This place is a well-kept secret; only my family and Heimdall knows of it. They have private dates here with their romantic partners, something I have never had the chance to do.”

“Haha, quite a roundabout way of asking me on a private date.”, I teased her.

“Well, did it work?”, Loki giggled, resting her head on my forearm. “There is a long list of things I want to do with you, Victor. So many things I have never gotten to do because I did not have a- “

Sensing another presence approaching us, Loki stopped talking and slowly looked back to see who it was. When she saw it was Heimdall, she glowered at the All-Seer and told him to leave immediately.

“Your family wishes to speak with you immediately, Loki.”, Heimdall said, stopping dead in his tracks when he saw me. ‘By Odin’s beard, this mortal is huge!!’

“Father and everyone else can wait a few minutes longer.”, Loki snapped, irritated he was ruining our special moment. “I just want a few moments of privacy here with my husband.”

Apologizing for interrupting us, Heimdall began to leave when Loki’s words clicked in his mind. Gobsmacked by her declaration, he ran out onto the balcony to look us both in the eyes.

“Mortal, is this true?! Have you taken Loki as your wife!?”, Heimdall inquired, trying to process this information. “This is another one of Loki’s tricks, right?”

“While no ceremony has been held yet, I have already committed to be Loki’s husband.”, I confirmed, watching his face go pale. “Is something wrong?”

“Do you have any idea what you are getting yourself into? Loki is Asgard’s black sheep, the most despised bachelorette in all- “, Heimdall began.

Whipping her hand out, Loki delivered a powerful slap across the All-Seer’s face. Ordering him to shut his mouth, she refused to listen to his hateful words. While Heimdall’s disdain was well-deserved, this was our private moment right now, and he was ruining it.

“I am well aware of Loki’s problematic past. It does not change my affection for her.”, I said, sweeping her up in my arms. “Now, as Loki was saying… Could you please give us a few minutes? I want to enjoy this amazing scenery with my lovely wife.”

“As you wish…”, Heimdall agreed, rubbing his cheek. ‘Interesting… It seems that this man has significantly influenced Loki's behavior. Ordinarily, she would have used her magic to curse me or destroy this place.’

Departing from the observatory, Heimdall headed to the palace to share the news with the court. Certain they would be interested in meeting the insane human who took her as his wife, he hoped the mortal was ready to shoulder the burden that came with it. As Asgard’s most despised goddess, Loki had many enemies in the royal court who would come for him.

---Ten Minutes Later, Odin’s Palace---

Taking alleyways and back streets to reach our destination, Loki clung tightly to me as the palace gates came into view. As we approached the ornate gates, several guards stepped forward to welcome me to Asgard. Taken aback by my imposing presence, they snapped to attention and greeted me properly.

“It is an honor and pleasure to meet you, Lord Stark.”, Guard 1 spoke, giving me a nod. “The All-Father and All-Mother await you in the throne room. If you need a guide, one of us would be delighted to take you there.”

“I am more than capable of leading him to the throne room.”, Loki said in the politest tone she could muster. “We appreciate the offer, though.”

“Understood…”, Guard 1 replied, with a stone-faced expression.

Pulling me forward, Loki briskly walked toward the Great Hall, which served as the Aesir’s throne room. Once we were a good distance away, the guards dropped their facades and began cursing and slandering her.

“Bet you fifty gold coins the she-devil is paying him to be her pretend husband.”, Guard 2 snickered. “Not like anyone would willingly be with a dusty spinster like her.”

“Lord Stark is sure to catch the attention of everyone in the court.”, Guard 3 remarked, elbowing his colleagues. “One or more of the court’s eligible bachelorettes is certain to make a move on him. Guarantee Loki leaves here today alone and humiliated!”

“Should we call for backup? I am sure the other guards will want to watch this shitshow go down.”, Guard 5 suggested.

Stopping dead in my tracks, I looked down at my wife with concern. Watching the tears flow down her cheeks, Loki insisted it was fine. Politely rejecting her claim, I instructed her to wait here for me. As I went to turn around, she held me back, trying to stop me.

“It is fine, Victor. Getting into a scuffle here over me is not- “, Loki began.

“I will not hear another word about this from you.”, I replied, placing a finger over her mouth. “You are my wife, and come hell or high water, no one will ever disrespect you like this in my presence.”

Letting me go, Loki watched me intently as I walked back to the guards with Stormbreaker clenched in my hand. Quickly silencing their talk as I drew near, the first guard inquired if I needed something else.

“You had quite a lot of vile things to say about my wife just a moment ago.”, I stated as they became enveloped in a maelstrom of bloodlust. “Whether you choose to believe it or not, Loki is my legal wife and the mother of my future children. You will live to regret slandering her in my presence!”

Instinctively drawing their weapons, I brought the hammer end of Stormbreaker down upon them. Shattering their shields and swords, a devastating blast of lightning sent them flying in all directions. As the injured individuals skipped across the courtyard, they cried out in agony while their peers rushed to assist them. Descending upon me like angry bees, I reached into my inventory and retrieved my extensive collection of weapons.

“Why are you defending that she-devil?!”, Guard 1 howled and staggered back onto his feet. “Surely a mortal like you could do far better than that spinster.”

“No self-respecting husband would allow others to slander his wife. Loki has desperately tried to move beyond her colored past, but none of you will let her.”, I stated, using the Force to skillfully wield my Daedric weapons and lightsabers. “I will make an example out of all of you and ensure others think twice before insulting Loki!”

Charging straight at them, I sent most of my weapons out ahead of me while I held onto the Mystical Blade of Agamotto and Stormbreaker. Striking the guards down, every blow I landed was carefully measured to ensure no one was killed. As Loki watched me clean house, a group of people walked up behind her without her noticing.

“So, this is the man who has stolen your heart?”, Freyja inquired, draping an arm over her adoptive daughter’s shoulder. “He is quite a catch, Loki.”

“Yes, he is…”, Loki agreed, before snapping back to reality. “Wait… MOTHER!?”

Startled by her sudden appearance, Loki sheepishly looked back to see her father and his court standing behind her. Gulping loudly, she bowed her head respectfully and greeted her father warmly.

“What is going on here, Loki?”, Odin questioned.

“Father… I…”, Loki stammered, recoiling from the disdainful glares coming from Odin’s advisors.

Stepping in to support Loki, Luxion dropped his cloaking field and revealed himself.

The guards slandered your daughter when they believed we were not listening. Allow me to show you what they said. (Luxion)

As the video recording played, Odin’s face slowly contorted as his rage simmered. Striding forward, he intended to join the fight when Freyja stuck her arm out to stop him.

“Why do you stop me from reprimanding those buffoons?!”, Odin questioned.

“Clearly our son-in-law is more than capable of dispensing justice for Loki.”, Freyja said, glancing back at Odin’s advisors. “You would be wise to keep your vile remarks about Loki to yourselves from now on. While we must remain neutral to maintain the peace, our son-in-law has no such restrictions.”

Cracking a pleased smile, Odin began nodding his head in agreement. No longer would he have to stand by and watch as the people around him degraded his beloved daughter.

“So, what if the mortal can toss a few guards about? We are far stronger than any of them!”, a portly advisor spoke up, certain he could overpower me. “He is fooling himself if he thinks this is enough to scare powerful deities like us.”

Taking his statement as challenge, I whipped Stormbreaker around and threw it at him with my full strength. Shattering the sound barrier dozens of times enroute to him, he barely got a scream out before it slammed into his chest. Rocketing him into the sky, the pompous fool disappeared over the horizon a split second later.

“HAHA!!”, Heimdall laughed, watching him tumble through the air. “He crapped his pants!”

Boisterously laughing at his words, Freya and Odin knew their son-in-law would fit in nicely among them. Eager to meet the mortal who won their daughter’s heart, Aldrif and Thor walked up to their younger sister grinning like fools.

“Say, Loki. Do you think your husband would be up for a quick sparring session?”, Aldrif Odinsdottir questioned, rubbing her hands together.

“Yes, I would very much like to duel him as well!”, Thor added, cracking his neck. “We can have a cold ale afterward and talk about the Mortal Realm. I am interested to hear all about what has changed in our absence.”

“I cannot promise anything, but I will ask him.”, Loki said, enjoying the warmth of her family. “Victor, hurry up would you!”

Using Fus Ro Dah to launch the last remaining guards into the Sea of Marmora, I looked back at my wife with a smile. Stowing the Daedric weapons and lightsabers away, I began walking over to them as I recalled Stormbreaker to me.