Loki was reading in his chambers when a familiar knock sounded against his door. "Come in." He said.

The door opened to reveal his mother, who walked in with grace. "How are you doing?"

"Better." Loki said, setting down his book. "I have you and Katha to thank for that."

Frigga sat beside him. "You do."

"How is she?"

"Well. It seems she placed a... crude, but effective barrier in place of your spell. She may have some trouble recalling certain things, but her mind won't collapse." Frigga said.

Loki nodded. "Why did she do that in the first place?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Loki rubbed his forehead. "It can't be that."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm... You know." Loki said.

"Does she know?" Frigga asked. "About your other heritage?"

"Yes."

"And she still chose to save you. I don't know why you doubt this."

Loki was quiet. "I don't... I don't deserve her."

"Loki. You are a good man. Have you ever stopped and wondered if she deserved you?" Frigga asked.

"She deserves better."

"Well, I don't think she could find anyone better than yourself." 

"I wish I could believe you, Mother."

~~~~~~

In her next lesson with Frigga, the queen kept giving her a look out of the corner of her eyes.

"Allmother?" Kat asked.

"Yes?" Frigga said innocently.

"What?" Kat asked.

"What do you mean?" Frigga asked in the same tone of innocence.

"You've been looking at me weird all day." Kat said.

Frigga sighed, and sat down across from Kat. "I suppose I have."

"Can I ask why?" Kat raised an eyebrow.

Frigga looked at Kat, and the latter felt like the queen had taken a peek into her soul. "You love him."

Kat froze. When she remembered how to move, she looked down at her lap. "I- I- I don't know."

"Love isn't something you don't know, darling." Frigga said gently.

"It's... I just... I can't know. I can't... Not until I take this off." Kat held up her bracelet adorned wrist.

"And why is that?" Frigga asked.

"Because when Percy and I split... He uh, didn't keep all his feelings for his fiancee to himself. Venus gave this to me so that I wouldn't feel that way toward Annabeth." Kat explained.

"And you're worried that if you take it off you'll still hold affections for her?"

Kat nodded.

"Wouldn't it be better to know sooner?"

Kat closed her eyes. Then she stared at the bracelet on her wrist. Frigga watched the conflict dance across her face. Then the goddess grabbed at the leather cord, and yanked. It snapped, the pieces falling to the floor.

Kat gasped. She looked up at Frigga. Then she fled.

~~~~~~

Loki wasn't startled when Kat appeared in his chamber. He was, however, surprised when he saw her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Kat held up her wrist. "I took it off."

Loki's brows rose against his will. "Then your feelings for the Lady Annabeth..." His heart sunk.

Kat shook her head. "I love her. But it's... Familial."

"Oh." Loki's heart froze mid-plummet. 

They were silent for a minute. Loki walked to his desk, trying to act normal. 

Kat joined him. "I- I-" She couldn't quite figure out how to say it.

Loki hadn't seen her eyes this intense before. He had noticed- and admired- how they changed with her mood. It was one of the things that easily let him know if he had ever gone too far.

"Yes?" Loki asked as he looked down to her.

He saw her lip move, and knew she had bitten the inside of it. A small habit she had. She reached out, and took one of his hands into her own. Loki didn't breathe as she trailed her fingers over his callouses, and the faintest of scars.

She looked up, and let go of his hand, but only to reach up and grab his collar, pulling him down into a kiss.

When they pulled apart to breathe, a tiny giggle escaped Kat. The giggle turned into a laugh, and Loki began to laugh too. Full bellied laughter filled the room, and it took several minutes for them to finally calm down.

Neither were sure who snickered, but then the laughter started anew. When they had finally recovered, Loki pulled Kat into an embrace, and pressed a kiss to her temple. They stayed like that for a long while.

~~~~~~

In the morning, Thor headed to his brother's chambers, intending to speak with him. Possibly, specifically, about Katha. When he reached the door, he gave his signature knock and opened the door.

He was surprised to find his brother asleep. And with the Lady Katha curled up against his side. Thor couldn't stifle a mischievous smile.

He approached the bed, where they were asleep over the covers. Except his smile fell when he realized that they didn't look well. Thor set his hand to Loki's forehead, to find that his brother had a fever. A Frost Giant with a fever.

Thor reached a little forward to test if Katha was the same. At the slightest touch, she whimpered. A squeak of a whine, a pathetic sound he would expect of a wounded animal.

Thor gently shook Loki's shoulder. "Loki, Loki?" Loki didn't react in any way except a slight expression on discomfort.

Thor stepped back. Then turned and left the room, securely closing it behind him. He sprinted down the halls toward the Healing wing.

"Thor?" He heard Hogun call out.

Thor didn't bother looking back, or responding. His Frost Giant brother had a fever, one that would have made an Asgardian miserable. And Katha was ill. Her kind didn't get ill.

He burst into the healing wing, and many heads turned at his arrival, but just as quickly dismissed him in favor of their work. "Mother!"

"Thor? What's wrong?" Frigga responded.

Thor's eyes flitted about the room, and whispered to his mother. "Loki and Katha are ill."

"How bad?" Frigga whispered.

"He has a fever." Thor said simply.

Frigga's back straightened. "And Katha?"

"In pain." 

Frigga didn't reply, instead setting her hand on Thor's shoulder and teleporting the two of them to the door of Loki's chambers. Frigga marched into the room, and magic swirled around her, as she began to assess the situation.

Kat yelped, and Loki winced as her magic grew close. Frigga froze.

"Mother?" Thor asked.

Frigga didn't reply for a moment. "We need to get them to the soulforge. But I can't move them by magical means."

"I couldn't touch Katha." Thor said worriedly. "I tried to see if she had a fever as well, but it hurt her."

Seconds of silence stretched on, and Frigga eventually spoke again. "Your friends and a few healers are on their way. We have to carry them."

~~~~~~

Loki was the easiest to move, as Thor only had to pick him up and place him on the stretcher. Kat however, was much more difficult. If she had been pained at Thor's touch, Frigga didn't even make physical contact before Kat yelped. 

It ended up that Volstagg hurt her the least. Volstagg gently scooped her into his arms, and set her down on the second stretcher. Frigga thought it was because he was the least magically inclined.

In the Healer's wing, they moved Loki and Katha into two soulforges. The warriors stood back as the healers flitted about.

"It looks like his fever is caused by an influx of power," Elwin said, her grey-blue eyes never leaving the soulforge as she tied her dark brown hair up.

"Katha is reacting to magic as if her nerves have been stripped raw." Akara grumbled as Kat whimpered from the magic.

"Volstagg," Frigga beckoned the warrior forward, "Move her to Loki's."

Volstagg did as he was asked, while the others looked confused. Once Kat was next to Loki in the soulforge, it lit up like it hadn't before.

Gasps of surprise escaped Elwin and Akara. 

"An exchange..." Elwin said.

"I knew she wasn't mortal." Akara said under her breath, not loud enough for the others to hear.

"Now we know what is happening. But why?"  Elwin asked.

Frigga turned the soulforge off. The other two spluttered. Frigga's eyes glowed as she looked at her children.

"Allmother?" Akara inquired.

Frigga's mouth fell slightly open in awe. "Their souls."

"What about their souls?" Thor demanded.

"They are joining." Frigga said.

"What?" Many voices exclaimed in unison.

 "A soulbond?" Akara questioned.

"Yes." Frigga said.

"Well. Isn't this dramatic?" Elwin sighed.

"How do we help them?" Akara ignored Elwin's comment.

"We can only make them as comfortable as possible." Frigga said.

~~~~~~

Loki simultaneously felt like lead and air when he woke. He groaned as he peeled his eyelids apart.

"Loki!" Thor greeted, grinning.

"Thor?" Loki managed, "What-"

Loki froze as he felt something shift beside him. Now wide awake, he looked to his side and found Katha fast asleep next to him. Loki's mind blanked for a moment, and then he recalled what he last remembered. He felt his face flush slightly.

"No reason to get embarrassed, Brother. You've already been seen with your lady earlier." Thor grinned.

"She is not my-" Loki began, then scowled at Thor. "Wait, what do you mean?"

"I went to your chambers to speak with you, and found the both of you to be ill." Thor said.

"But I don't feel-" Loki said. "I do feel odd."

Thor laughed.

"Stop laughing, you oaf. What happened?" Loki frowned.

Thor managed to reign himself in, after Kat grumbled incoherently and buried her face into Loki's side, entirely sheltered by the covers. "It would appear that you are too loud." Loki commented.

Thor cleared his throat. "Well. Do you remember the tale of Gilogeth?"

"The humble warrior who found a soulbond?" Loki replied. "I recall. Why?"

Thor gave him a pointed look.

Loki's frown deepened into confusion.

Thor looked at Loki, to the lump under the blankets that was Kat, and back to Loki.

Loki blinked. His face softened, and his eyes widened. "I?" His gaze fell toward the concealed Kat. "With her?"

Thor grinned. To say Loki was dazed would have been an understatement. 

Thor stood, and made his way toward the door. "I'll leave you two. The others will be glad to know you've woken."

When Thor had left, Loki's head sunk deeper into the pillow. He reached for his magic, and simply felt the world around him. Usually, Kat was an entity of power when he did this.

Except now, while she still was a force of power, she was connected to him. He pushed his mind toward hers. {Wake up,} He said gently.

"Mmrph." Kat voiced.

"Wake up, Love," Loki said aloud.

Kat shifted. And then shuffled about, batting at the blanket. "Out is that way?" She asked, pointing toward Loki's head. He could only see the dent her finger made in the covers.

"Yes," Loki said, and sat up, lifting the covers to make it easier for her. 

She pushed herself up so that she was sitting, and yawned. "Did I just yawn? I don't sleep." Then she turned wide, vaguely alarmed eyes to Loki. "Why was I asleep?"

"Probably because you received quite a shock to your system, I would assume." Loki replied.

Kat frowned. "What?"

Loki blushed.

"What? What did you just think?" Kat demanded. "Why did you just blush? I didn't even say anything!"

"Well..." Loki trailed off. "Does Midgard have the concept of soulbonds?"

"Like soulmates?" Kat raised an eyebrow.

"What are 'soulmates'? Just to be sure." Loki asked.

"Soulmates are people who are meant to be together. Like, a perfect match." Kat said.

Loki nodded. "That is what soulbonds are. True soulbonds are rare- The Norns themselves have to bestow it upon the bonded."

"Cool, but why did you bring it up?" Kat asked.

"Katha," Loki said. "Does anything feel different?"

"No- oh. Oh. Oh?" Kat's eyes widened. "Are we...?"

Loki nodded.

Kat took a moment to think. "So basically the Fates just said, 'Yo, you're married'?"

Loki blushed a shade of violet. "Not quite like that..." 

"This is the most I've ever made you blush and I'm not even trying." Kat commented.

"You are taking this well." Loki tried to redirect.

Kat shrugged. "I don't think it's sunk in yet."

Loki chuckled. "The same for me."

They ended up laughing again.

"People are probably waiting to pester us with questions and we're just laughing like crazy." Kat said as she caught her breath.

"Well, if they are to pester us, I should quite like to delay such a thing in this moment." Loki said.

Kat raised an eyebrow, but was answered when Loki kissed her.

"I could get used to this." Kat commented quietly a minute later, forehead pressed against Loki's.

Loki smiled. "I'd very much appreciate that."

"I'd love to talk more," Kat said quietly, "But I'm pretty sure there are Asgardians waiting outside."

Loki chuckled. "I believe you are correct."

Kat tossed the covers aside, and hopped out of the bed. Loki followed suit. Sure enough, there were several Asgardians standing a short distance away, quietly talking among themselves. Thor, Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun turned when they heard the door open.

"Brother, Katha," Thor greeted. "It is good to see you on your feet."

"Are you sure the little Lady should be up so soon? She was quite... Out of sorts last eve." Fandral asked.

Kat glared. "Call me little one more time. I dare you."

"Loki, it seems like your little Lady is quite the spitfire after all." Fandral grinned.

Kat walked up to Fandral, and looked him in the eyes. He quirked an eyebrow. In one fluid movement, she had ducked and grabbed him in a fireman's carry. Fandral yelped quite impressively.

Thor's eyes were wide, while Volstagg and Sif laughed. A smile tugged at Hogun's lips, and Loki looked proud. Kat looked between Thor and Loki. "Where are we headed?"

"What do you mean?" Thor asked.

"There has to be somewhere we can all hang out." Kat chirped. "Like the lounge?"

"I think the lounge is a lovely idea." Loki chimed in.

As Kat began to walk in the direction of the lounge, Fandral grunted. "Are you going to put me down?"

"Now why would I do that?" Kat asked, the others following.

"Well. I'm heavy?" Fandral hadn't expected that response. "It has to be uncomfortable for you."

Kat chuckled. "You're not that heavy. The armor digs in some spots, but nothing I can't handle."

"Does there seem to be a problem, Fandral?" Sif inquired innocently.

"I would just like to reacquaint my feet with the ground." Fandral grunted.

"Don't worry, I'll reacquaint you with the ground when we get to the lounge." Kat replied.

"Thor, where is Mother?" Loki asked.

"Talking to Father." Thor replied.

"We aren't gonna be in trouble for this, right?" Kat asked the blond prince.

"No. Your status does make this a little more complicated, though." Thor told her.

"Her status? A Lady under the Allmother's tutelage shouldn't be disruptive." Volstagg thought.

"There's more you don't know. I suppose it's time to tell you all, isn't it?" Kat said.

"You don't have to." Loki said.

"They'll find out eventually. Might as well make it on our terms." Kat replied.

"Fair enough." Loki agreed.

The walk was full of small chit-chat, mostly teasing Fandral or completely ignoring him and his complaints. Many eyes took a double-take when they saw Katha carrying Fandral for apparently no reason, and without difficulty. 

When they reached the lounge, Kat found a large patch of floor, and instead of gently setting him down, she tossed him over her head and onto the ground in front of her. A loud 'Oof' of air rushed out of Fandral's lungs as his armor clanked horribly against the floor.

"Told you I'd reacquaint you with the ground." Kat said, and walked over to Loki who wrapped an arm around her waist. "Alright. Now sit down and hold onto your britches, 'cause you're about to lose your shit."

 A/N

So, was it worth the wait? For Kaloki, I mean.

Also, I recently realized that Sleeping At Last's 'Neptune' suits Loki's character so well. At least, I think so. Check it out, tell me what you think.