Chapter Text
It had been a rather cold week in the halls. Much colder than normal. Baldr, and much of the other Aesir, were aware of why. Unlike the other Aesir though, Baldr was happy about the cause of the chill.
They weren't friends, him and Loki. The other had made that clear many years ago. Still though, Baldr liked to imagine they were close. He prided himself on knowing things about the man that the other Aesir didn't care to. Like, Loki had specific tastes. The man actually preferred spicy things typically in soup form since it was easier to eat. Other foods were typically too harsh in texture. So he didn't enjoy what they cooked at feasts because of that.
Today this fact would become important.
Very important.
You see Baldr was determined to make soup today.
He had gathered the ingredients, sweet talked the cooks into giving their recipes to him, and even stalked the other Aesir for their schedules to make sure the kitchens would be empty. Okay. Sure. He may be going a little extreme but he really, really wanted to make this perfect. It wasn't often the (part) frost giant actually got anything nice.
..Okay. There was another reason though.
You see, recently Baldr had been hearing rumors. The rumors spoke of seeing a little boy with light blonde hair accompanying their local (part) frost giant. It didn't take a genius to guess that the man had another child. It also didn't take a genius to guess that the chances of someone helping them during and after it were incredibly low. Baldr adored his family but they tended to.. steer clear of Loki.
That's why he desperately wanted to do something nice for Loki. Baldr needed to show him that he wasn't alone.
Quickly, he shook himself out of his thoughts. They were of no use to anyone. For now Baldr had a soup to make.
He stirred the soup a few times and found it was.. soup. Probably anyway. Baldr had never cooked before so it was hard to tell if he had gotten it right. Surely he couldn't fuck up a soup.
A rather abrupt bitter chill blew through the room. It bit at his cheeks and caused the fire under the pot to die a bit.
He didn't need to turn to tell who had materialized in it but he still did.
Baldr happily waved at his friend, “Loki! Hello my friend- oh! Who is this?”
He motioned to the rather tiny boy attached to the other man's leg as if he hadn't heard the countless rumors about him already. The little one had a multitude of little furs surrounding him and soft looking platinum hair that curled everywhere.
Loki easily shrugged off his question and pointed at the soup.
“I wasn't aware your mother let you anywhere near the kitchens, gleaming one.” There was almost a look of humor in those piercing eyes.
“She doesn't. I thought you were smart enough to gather that, my cunning one.” Baldr could play the title game if Loki wanted that. Truthfully he would play any game the man wanted as long as it didn't involve murder.
For a split second, a tinge of blue colored the tips of Loki's ears. A grin slid onto his face as he picked up the small child. “This is Jörmungandr. Jorm, meet Baldr, our resident blond.”
Water blue eyes flicked over towards Baldr. Jorm made a gentle humming noise before wiggling further into his parent’s cloak. Baldr didn't take any offense to the child not speaking, nor Loki demoting him down to “the blond one”. Truthfully he just smiled softly though he couldn't shake that he'd seen those eyes somewhere before.
If he couldn't remember off the top of his head then it probably wasn't important.
“Hello Jörmungandr. It's a pleasure to meet you.” While he didn't get a response, Loki easily assured him that Jorm liked meeting him too. Apparently Jorm simply disliked talking. A strange occurrence but who was Baldr to force him to speak when he didn't want to. After all, Baldr hated having to talk too but that was a secret.
“Well, bright one, what have you made today against your mother's wishes?” The other man seemed rather delighted by the fact Baldr was going against his mother.
“Soup.. well it's supposed to be soup anyway. It's for you.”
Loki blinked a few times, almost caught off guard. He couldn't remember the last time someone made something he could eat and enjoy. It did smell utterly divine though…
Shrugging, the man grabbed a bowl and started eating. He doubted Baldr had it in him to poison someone so he wasn't suspicious. Plus the soup wasn't bad. If anything it was actually pretty good considering Baldr had never cooked before. The spice level made him feel warm..
Though, it could just be the fact someone cooked something tailored to his tastes that made him feel so warm.
For once, Loki couldn't come up with a retort or insult towards Baldr. The idiot was just too… nice.
There was a small part of him that wished to just snatch Baldr up and take him out of the halls. For a day at least. Or maybe forever.. Loki ignored that part though. He was already on thin enough ice with Odin. If the subtle threats were anything to go by, then the fool knew exactly how close he and Baldr were.
Curse that man's all seeing eye.
Baldr looked and was horribly proud of himself. Maybe it wasn't the best soup around but he tried his hardest and it seemed to have paid off.
“Oh- Does Jorm want anything?” He silently hoped the (part) frost giant would say no since he wasn't sure he could physically make anything else. Just trying to make the soup ended up giving him a headache.
The other snickered quietly, “Jorm has a specific palette. He won't eat anything here though.. I suppose if you can keep it secret then I'll tell you what he will eat.”
They both knew that Baldr loved secrets. Call him nosy but he was already nodding the moment Loki said “though” in that fake contemplating tone.
Laughing at his rather sudden nodding, Loki leaned forward, “Toasted cheese and bread.” He whispered.
Baldr blinked. Huh. He didn't expect something so simple.. Baldr glanced at the supply they had in the kitchen and began thinking. He didn't want Jorm to go hungry..
“I can already see you thinking. Hold him and I'll make it before you get in trouble.”
Jorm was in his arms before he could even think to say no. Suddenly, Baldr felt like those mothers he'd see down in the village whenever he visited. Oddly though, this wasn't a terrible realization. Jorm was rather light and just wiggled every so often.
“Does he like wiggling like a snake?” Baldr gently questioned.
His response was nothing more than a chuckle and nod as Loki threw bread and cheese into a pan.
Green eyes glanced over amused. Jorm didn't seem particularly upset about being shoved into Baldr’s arms which was good. He tended to get grumpy about people outside the three of them (Hel, Fenrir, and himself) touching him. Admittedly the only time anyone outside of them had touched him was when Odin had “requested” to see him after he was born. Jorm ended up biting him which led to the fool getting paralyzed for a short time.
Loki didn't bring him around Odin anymore after that small event.
Baldr cheerfully spoke to Jorm and him without really looking for a response. He just told them about the recent happenings in the halls and how bored he was with the others throwing weapons at him. Loki could freely (but silently) admit that it was endearing to see him readily accept holding Jorm. He could fondly recall the idiot doing the same for Hel and Fenrir when they were younger..
The blond was a kind man.
Much kinder than he should be.
He didn't even know the kids were his, yet he still cared for them. Going as far as braiding Hel’s hair when she wanted to feel girly or wrestling items away from Fenrir to ensure he doesn't get in trouble. Now he held Jorm and spoke to him without thinking of him as slow or dumb because he wouldn't talk.
..it was sweet.
It made him regret not saying yes.
A little while after Hel was born, Baldr had asked to marry him. No one knew of that small fact though. Loki himself had vehemently refused it since Odin would have his head if he tried making moves on his son. But he could still remember the idiot looking so determined and grabbing his hands. His eyes burning vibrant as he quietly swore to him: One day I will have you and I will make choosing me worth it.
Of course Loki had his reasons for saying no. It wasn't just because his head would be violently removed from his body. The main reason for him saying no was because Baldr would lose all status and credibility. Marrying not only the outsider but also the man known for lying constantly? That was a disaster waiting to happen. Baldr would never hear the end of the other Aesir’s cruelty.
Nothing about this situation was fair but that's just how the Norns divined it.
..he could always try and burn down their house. It may not stop what they've divined but it would certainly make him happy for a bit.
He silently flipped the grilled cheese as he shook off memory lane. Baldr was too busy excitedly telling Jorm about his newest craft to notice the room had dropped a degree or two. Apparently Baldr had tried his hand at weaving again, this time beads were involved. Loki truly doubted that it was nearly as good as he was describing. Last time he tried weaving, Baldr’s fingers were cramped for days and he'd lost focus within the first hour. If beads were actually involved then he probably was adding onto a piece his mother made.
Still, Baldr was excited and Jorm looked quietly amazed so maybe the exaggeration wasn't so bad.
“Oh!! Loki? Where's Hel and Fenrir?” Baldr happily inquired. He adored those two.
A gentle hum met him, “They're around. Truthfully they were playing and Fenrir got a bit.. excited. The two ran off under the claim that Hel would catch him and bring him back.”
Baldr softly smiled. “Ah. I just wanted to show Hel the newest braid I learned and give Fenrir something I got in town.”
Loud incomprehensible yelling interrupted Loki before he could respond. Baldr quickly put Jorm down and ran out the door.
Loki vaguely met his son's eyes as Jorm hummed in a noncommittal manner. Shrugging back, he handed the grilled cheese to the boy.