It was one of the days that Percy was dropping Annabeth off at Camp. He was about to leave again when her hand grabbed hold of his arm. 

Percy looked to her with a frown. "Is everything okay?"

"No. Percy, you told me that you don't want to be like the other gods. But you know what they do with problems?" Annabeth said.

"They avoid them, or send demigods out to fix them." Percy replied.

"Well, what are you doing right now?" Annabeth asked. "Except for the sending demigods down to die... Look, they don't know that you're the king. They're confused, the cabins have moved around, a new one has shown up. Percy, you can't hide from this forever." 

Percy looked down. "I know, but I just... Not yet." Percy looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "I can't see the disappointment on their faces when they realize that I've done the exact opposite of what I stand for. I can't face them. I can't, not yet."

"Just, they can only wait for you for so long before it gets worse." Annabeth said, and released her hold on his arm before walking down the hill.

Percy wiped away a tear from his cheek as he vapour traveled away.

~~~~~~

Katha was out of her element in the mindscape Loki had assembled for her. The Asgardian training arena was different than what she was used to. She also felt incredibly odd in her earthen clothes amongst the fake people that was in the arena with her.

She observed what they wore, and tried to imagine a similar outfit that she could wear. It took awhile for her to think up a set of clothes that seemed to blend in with the theme around here. That was probably a good thing, because she needed as much to do as possible, so consuming time was high on the to-do list.

After that, she wandered over to the weapons. At first, she had practiced with the sword, but then Loki had begun to weave the memory barrier thing, and the sword was entirely too Percy. She began to look for another suitable weapon.

The bow was too foreign, and it seemed that she sucked absolute ass at it too, of which Loki overheard and she could tell he was trying to stifle a chuckle. It was odd, like he was with her, but that he wasn't. She realized that it was more like she was with him.

Hammers were a no-go, short swords, longswords, and greatswords were out of the question. Spears, as much as she- he had practiced with Clarisse, was not her strong suit. The knives were just too small. Staffs were too clunky and not sharp, and that just wouldn't work out well against sandbag monsters.

Katha found an old armory, stocked with weapons that hadn't seen use in many years. Boy, was she desperate if she was here among the rusted, forgotten things. Still, nothing was sticking out to her.

"Looking for something?" A voice said, right in her ear. Considering that he startled her, her immediate reaction was to turn and face her opponent. As she turned, she slammed her elbow into his cheek, with her hands in fists.

Stepping back and rubbing his jaw, Loki smirked at her. "Not the greeting I was thinking of."

"You snuck up on me." Katha stated as way of explanation.

"Wouldn't that be your fault for letting me?" Loki asked.

"This is your head, you control the rules." Katha narrowed her eyes at him.

"My, you caught on quickly." Loki praised.

"I'm oblivious, not dumb." Katha said.

Loki smirked. "So. What were you looking for, dear?"

"Don't call me that."

"Fine then, my lady." Loki amended.

Katha scowled. "That's worse."

Loki chuckled. "Anyway, back to why you are in here. None of the other weapons suited your fancy?"

"Nope."

Loki hummed thoughtfully. Then he beckoned her out to the training field. As she followed him to an unoccupied space, his clothes shimmered into less formal ones. "Fight me without a weapon. I want to see where your instincts guide you." 

Katha narrowed her eyes, but obliged anyway. She felt a bit naked without a weapon. Remember your training, remember your training- training wasn't instinct, that's not what she should focus on right now, she chastised herself as she dodged Loki's strikes and dealt her own.

After a time, Loki disengaged, and held up a hand of truce. "I have an idea."

Katha nodded, and regained her breath. Loki knew how to fight. She looked back up at him, and he had a weapon in each hand. "Try these."

Carefully, she took them from him. Katha adjusted her grip on the blades, felt the balance, the weight, and looked at Loki. "What the hell are these called?" 

"Those are Haladies." Loki said. 

Katha hadn't heard of them before, but the wicked blades piqued her curiosity. Each had a handle, but on both ends was a curved blade. Turning to a dummy, she tested them out. She knew that she didn't know how to properly use them, but they seemed... right. And oh man, would they be able to tear someone up.

"Well, I have to get back to that spell, but I can give you some instruction for those before I leave you." Loki offered.

"Sure. That'd be great." Katha nodded.

~~~~~~

The spell was nearly done. Loki took a breath of air as he looked out the window. Lady Laura's children were playing outside. The Lady Natasha and Barton were playing with them. It was odd, to know that they had been two of the major players in his defeat, and yet here they were, running around with children.

Lady Laura stepped outside, and must have called them in for lunch because the children ran inside, followed by the adults who didn't run. Loki made his way downstairs, and waited by the bottom banister. 

Unfortunately, they didn't notice him, so he had to step into the living room. Cooper was the first to notice him as he was also the first to sit down, and he silently poked his younger sister who had just taken her seat. She looked up, and her face changed from confused to curious. "Oh, hey mister."

That caused the other adults to turn her way, and then his. "Do you need something?" Clint asked with narrowed eyes. Of course he wasn't trustworthy yet. Loki doubted that he wouldn't be for quite some time. 

"No. I just came to inform you that I'm almost done. She should wake up tomorrow morning." Loki said. He took a moment to register their faces before he turned and left the room.

Loki took his seat beside Katha's bed once again, and took a moment to relax. The weight of Another's mind within your own was still foreign and heavy. A knock came at the door. "Enter." Loki said politely.

The door quietly opened, and Laura stepped inside. She set down a plate of food before leaving. He sighed, and ate the meal. 

What was in store for him once he finished this task? What kind of recompense would he be forced to serve? What debt must he repay? All this, for something he had no control over, and no memory of.

Finishing the plate, a simple wave of his hand had it cleaned by magic. With another wave, a shimmering piece of parchment floated in front of Laura. Curiously, she took it out of the air, and read the two words inside before it dissipated. Thank you. 

Loki began to weave the last of the spell.

~~~~~~

The god took a few hours of rest before finishing. When there was little left to do, Loki left the two pendants he'd made for the occasion lying on the bedside table.

Carefully, he scooped the goddess into his arms. Under normal circumstances, gods weren't allowed to teleport each other in the Greek rules. The Roman as well, for that matter. However, the twins would likely be exempt from some rules. Either way, Loki was from a different pantheon. And he had some of the goddess' power in his own head. That was likely enough of a loophole.

He safely teleported the pair of them onto the roof, where he laid Katha down. Then, after seating himself, he retreated into his mind.

Katha had begun to spar with the imaginative Asgardians. Sensing more than seeing Loki, she disengaged from the fight and made her way over to him. "Stabby stabby." She said, with a flick of her wrists, the haladies' blades catching light.

"Stabby stabby?" Loki inquired. "I do hope you're slashing with those as well."

"Stabby stabby, slashy slashy." Katha shrugged.

"Alright then. I came to tell you that it's done." Loki said.

Katha tilted her head. "I thought I felt something weird."

"Yes. I imagine it won't take full effect until you are back in your own mind." Loki said.

"Okie dokie." Katha replied.

Loki frowned. "Okie... dokie?"

Katha stared at him blankly for a moment, before gasping. "You don't know okie dokie? Dude, what is wrong with where you're from?"

Loki blinked with a blank face.

"It means 'okay'." Katha said after a silence.

"Ah." Loki voiced. "Well, are you ready? You will likely be disoriented for a while."

"How long is a while?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Depends on how well you take to the spell."

Katha nodded, accepting of the answer.

"Are you ready?"

"Sure."

~~~~~~

Loki returned Katha to her mind, and the spell was done. Loki sat on the roof, while she slowly gained consciousness. When she did, she sat up, and stared ahead. They watched the sun rise in silence.

Loki hoped that it would help to orient her. To ground her to at least one aspect of the world. To start her life with the dawn of a day. 

The sun rose. The roosters crowed, announcing the time. Eventually noise from inside the house told Loki that the occupants had awoken as well.

Katha's fingers twitched after a particularly loud noise. She seemed to drift, becoming aware of her own body instead of the world around her. She looked down and bunched the fabric in her fists. "What the hell am I wearing?" Her voice was hoarse, having been the first time she actually used it outside her mind.

Loki chuckled. Katha glanced over to him, a small smile on her lips. "I feel weird." She said.

"I'd imagine so." Loki replied.

"It's like I remember things, but like I don't." 

"Yes; that is the spell's doing."

"Huh."

They fell into silence.

~~~~~~

"You sure you're ready for this?" Clint asked Natasha.

She nodded firmly. With set shoulders, she opened the door. They were expecting to see Katha on the bed, like she had been the entire time, and Loki nearby. However, neither of them were there.

Needless to say they were about to be extremely upset. Loki however, noticed that they were in the room, and sent an illusion to them. The illusion was casually leaning against the windowsill.

Both assassins went tense when they saw him. Before either of them opened their mouths to speak, or growl, or whatever angry thing they were going to do, Loki spoke up. "Relax, I didn't take her far."

"Where is she?" Natasha demanded, her voice commanding.

"I will tell you, in just a minute. Before that, you need to put those on." He gestured to the two pendants.

"And what are they going to do?" Clint asked warily.

"Distort your appearance." Loki replied.

"What kind of distort?" Natasha narrowed her eyes.

"Katha won't perceive your true visage, but she will still recognize you in a familiar sense. This is so that you don't trigger her mind." Loki explained.

They didn't trust him.

"I won't tell you where she is until you are wearing those."

~~~~~~

Loki could have two conversations going at the same time. Himself and an illusion of his. He was quite proud of the fact, but it wasn't like he had anyone to go to for praise. 

While his double was speaking to the assassins, Katha glared at the dress. "Okay, fuck this. I need something different to wear."

"You're sitting still." Loki raised an eyebrow.

"On a roof."

"Obviously."

"I could fall off and die or something."

"Or something, considering you are a goddess, yes?"

"Oh. Right." 

Loki wondered how Perseus had survived so long.

"I still want to get out of this thing." 

Loki rolled his eyes. "Can you wait a few minutes?"

Katha narrowed her eyes. "Why? What's going to happen in a few minutes?"

"The mortals are on their way to see you."

Katha frowned. "Which mortals? There are a lot of mortals."

"Barton and Romanoff."

"Oh."

Loki scanned her features. "You recognize those names?"

"Yeah, in a weird way." She frowned. "I guess that's gonna be a thing for me now, huh? Knowing things in a weird way."

"I suppose." Loki replied.

"Wait, isn't it bad if I see someone I know?" Katha blurted.

"You won't see them as you normally would." Loki said. "It will be fine."

"If you say so." She shrugged.

Loki wondered when the last time was that someone had so simply trusted his word.

A/N

Sorry! I really wanted to get another chapter up for Christmas or New Years, but I got really fucking sick and spent my entire break feeling like a poorly crafted zombie.

Before I answer the Q&A stuff, I have a question of my own: Do you guys like it when I comment with you guys? Should I do so less, more?

Aaaaand to the Q&A:

Q: My favorite song ever?

A: Oh boy. That... I pick up new favorites every week. Currently love TheRiseUndaunted's Critical Role themes... Barns Courtney's Sinners... Oh Wonder's My Friends... It would probably be easier to say my fav artists. Imagine Dragons, Bastille, Alec Benjamin, Sam Tinnesz, Ruelle, Fluerie, Sleeping at Last.

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Q: My favorite movie ever?

A: Easy. How To Train Your Dragon. All of them. I love dragons. I love Toothless.

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Q: Pepsi or Coke?

A: Soda upsets my stomach with a couple sips. I'll take Hot Cocoa any/every day.

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Q: Are there going to be more Marvel characters coming soon? Ones that haven't been mentioned yet?

A: Yes.

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Q: What are Percy and Katha the god/goddess of?

A: This will be revealed, don't panic.

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Q: Kat is gonna be alright? She's gonna see Percy soon? Is she gonna befriend Annabeth? Kaloki?

A: *Laughing in Author*

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Q: Will Percy and Katha have a super cool friendship where they can almost read each other's thoughts and use that for pranks and stuff, or will they waste having practically identical thought processes?

A: Almost, you say? Percy is a tactician. And you're about to get a taste of Kat's look on life. Yes, you can look forward to twin shenanigans.