Work Text:
Loki needed some paperwork done, or rather he needed some paperwork faked. He could do it himself of course but illusions usually didn't survive the test of cross checking and he intended to stay on Midgard for a long time.
After he survived the stab wound that should have killed him, Midgard was an easy choice for a hiding place. A realm least advanced when it comes to magic, with most of the population not even aware of its existence, was a perfect hiding spot. All he had to do was hide from the Ancient One’s wards.
The only downside of Midgard was that, of all the Nine, it was the realm most in love with bureaucracy. It was easier to fake being a baron on Alfheim than a US citizenship. That is why the first thing Loki did on Midgard was come to Los Angeles and visit Wolfram & Hart.
Or at least that was his plan.
Loki should have remembered that, for him, things never go according to plan.
“What the fuck happened here?” asked Loki, staring at the abandoned building that used to be Wolfram & Hart offices. There was not a trace of power that used to reside in that building. Like it was erased from this plane of existence.
His mind started racing. Was it the Avengers? None of them had any experience with magic barring the exception of Thor, who was way too ignorant to even know about Wolfram & Hart, not to mention destroying it so completely.
“Actually, I happened. And a few other people helped.”
The voice, with a strong cockney accent, was familiar although Loki hadn't heard it in a long time. He smiled as he turned around.
"Last time I saw you I called you a monster," said Loki. The man, or rather the vampire, hiding in the shadows of an alley grinned but there was something guarded about him. There was also something weird about his aura but Loki couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"And now you've joined the club. Care for a drink?"
###*###
Loki was not a fan of Midgardian spirits. They were not strong enough to get an Asgardian (or a Jotun) drunk while also tasting foul. Nothing like the sweet, strong Asgardian mead.
He hadn't drunk Asgardian mead since Thor’s banishment. He hadn’t been drunk for way longer than that, since the time before his not-brother's coronation was filled with scheming and hiding from Heimdal.
He longed for a drink. One strong enough to quiet the incessant barrage of thoughts in his head.
“Give us the good stuff,” Spike said to the barkeeper who hesitated for a moment, looking at Loki. In the end he brought over a bottle of dark, brown liquid and two glasses. The vampire paid him and took the bottle to the table in the furthest corner, leaving Loki to take the glasses.
The bar was dingy at best, with suspicious stains on the floor and weathered posters on the walls. Loki sat at the table anyway. A part of him was gleeful at finding himself in this kind of establishment in the company of a monster, that some Asgardians would call abomination and others would call a pest.
Like calls to like. If only the Allfather could see him now.
Spike poured the drinks. The liquid seemed almost thick, and there was a thin stream of smoke rising from the surface. Or maybe the poor lighting of the bar was just playing tricks on Loki. Nevertheless he said “You first,” and did not make a move to take the glass before the vampire downed his. Loki could think of several poisons that could kill a Jotun without doing any harm to an undead, but for some reason he found Spike drinking the contents of the bottle to be reassurance enough. He quickly took a large gulp, before he could change his mind and immediately regretted it.
It felt like swallowing liquid fire. As he started coughing his lungs out, Loki felt the room spin a little.
He was a little drunk. After less than a glass.
This was the good stuff.
“A little too strong for you, mate? Maybe I’ll get you some wine? Grape juice?” asked Spike in a mocking tone, although there was still some tension in his posture.
"Shut up," said Loki but without any heat in his voice. If Thor would ask that Loki would chugg the whole bottle to prove a point. After Spike's comment Loki just took a small sip.
"So…" Spike started in an attempt to be casual that ended up being anything but.
"Any plans of conquering the world? I'm in between jobs at the moment, maybe I could help…"
Loki knew that Spike had an ulterior motive in asking about that. It was painfully obvious. He just couldn't figure out what that motive was.
"Yeah. I have an army of fire demons coming over this Tuesday. Meet me at the docks at noon. Bring sunscreen and garlic."
Spike chuckled but there was no real amusement in it. His aura also flickered a little, signaling uneasiness.
Loki blinked.
Aura.
Auras could reveal one’s hidden feelings and secret desires because they were a byproduct of one’s soul. The body and even mind could be controlled to some extent to hide the truth but the soul was incapable of discretion.
Vampires did not have souls so they did not have auras. Except apparently Spike did.
"Did you mess with gypsies again? Your sire's fate didn't teach you anything?" Loki asked and felt quite a bit of satisfaction when Spike dropped the act. The vampire reached into the fold of his coat, undoubtedly for a weapon but he did not attack.
"Oh, that little old thing? I've won it for myself. As you've probably figured out by now I'm a white hat now. So let me ask you again. Any plans of conquering the world? Mass murder? Arson?" asked Spike. Loki was suddenly very aware of just how dangerous Spike really was. Most Asgardians would scoff and call him a pest but that did not stop the vampire from killing two Slayers.
Most of the Nine Realms saw vampires as even more savage and monstrous than the Frost Giants but that apparently didn't stop Spike from getting a soul.
It suddenly became much harder to breathe.
"Why would you do that? You saw what having a soul did to Angel…"
Spike sighed but he must've noticed the desperation in Loki's voice because he took his hand off his hidden weapon and poured them another drink instead.
"To be honest? I was stupid, didn't think it would hurt that much. I went insane for a couple of months…" the vampire paused for a moment "As for the reason why? I hurt someone I loved. I never wanted to do it again. A soul seemed like a decent failsafe."
Loki thought of Frigga bleeding out on the floor. He grabbed his glass and drank until there was nothing left.
"I wish it would be that easy," Loki muttered, forgetting for a moment that Spike could hear him.
"It's never easy. If you're a monster, it takes real courage to choose to stop being one. To face what you've done and change. And you have to choose it for yourself, there's no on and off switch, Spike said but after a moment he added "Well, except for Angel, he is always one good shag away from losing his soul and trying to murder everyone he knows."
Loki looked at Spike. Most of the Asgardians would say that no vampire was capable of change, that it was in their nature to kill and destroy.
Just like the Frost Giants. Just like Loki himself, sentenced by the Allfather to an eternity in the dungeons.
But Spike changed. Maybe Loki could too.
The vampires stood up and took the bottle from the table, hiding it somewhere under his coat.
"You know there is a nest of K'Thsyk demons nearby. I was gonna take care of them before they lay any eggs. Wanna come along?"
"You need my help with some lower demons?" Loki tried to sneer but there was no fire behind it. The vampire shrugged.
"Sometimes it's good to hit things. And you can try out that hero gig. Who knows, maybe you'll like it."
###*###
"...I told her to go and she did. Then the entire town blew up," said Spike, swaying slightly. Loki wasn't faring much better. The bottle they took from the bar made a few reappearances throughout the night just to end up empty and abandoned at the side of the road.
"You went with a bang!"
"Like hell I did. A true hero's death, saving the world."
Loki stopped and frowned.
"Can you even die if you're…" he started saying but Spike interrupted him.
"And then I came back. And at first I couldn't go to her, then I thought I would die again soon anyway… Now it's just awkward."
Loki looked at the vampire and rubbed the barely healed wound in his chest. Suddenly he felt a little more sober. As if someone poured a bucket of ice water on his head.
"You're afraid aren't you. You had a good ending and you're worried you'll fuck that up."
"And how the fuck would you know what I…"
"Thor thinks I died protecting Asgard. I didn't rush to correct that."
Spike was silent for a moment.
“Well, that's fucking stupid. You should go to him!”
“Well, you should go to her!” Loki replied immediately.
“Go to who exactly?” asked a woman with an axe. Loki has never seen her before but he immediately knew who she was. The Slayer was every bit as formidable as Spike made her sound to be. She also seemed angry, thankfully not at Loki.
“ Willow's wards got triggered. I came here expecting an Apocalypse, instead I find two drunk idiots, one who should be dead and anotherwho should be in prison. You have thirty seconds to explain.”
Spike swallowed, visibly more sober than a moment before.
“Well… you see…he's a good guy now? I think. And for the record I'm still a good guy…”
“Is it a good time to mention that there is an Apocalypse coming? There's this guy named Thanos…”