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*
Even though there is air conditioning in the apartment, Kai wears only track shorts and a thin tank top when it's this hot outside. He's in the kitchen, and while diner time usually consists of something simple that came out of a box or jar, he's actually putting the finishing touches on a handmade Dutch baby pancake. He's taken it out of the oven and squeezed lemon juice on it, now he dusts it with powdered sugar. Kevin lays in the middle of the living room floor on his back, his round belly to the air, sound asleep.
*
Loki has no idea what the baby pancake is, but he comes out of the bedroom and heads directly for it and tries to eat the fruits of Kai's labor with a sly look on his face. Much like a cat, he takes so much time to make sure that Kai notices what he's up to.
*
"Hey!" Kai squawks, and he bats at Loki's hands. "I'm just about to serve it." He laughs and pulls the plate away, sidestepping Loki to take it to the kitchen table. It's a tasty treat, to be sure. Warm, buttery, eggy, and sweet. It's easily big enough to share. "Okay, now we can eat." He produces a pair of fork, handing one to Loki. "Now you can eat it." For all his scolding, he's grinning.
*
Loki tilts his head, follows Kai, grinning, but once he sits down he lays his hands on the table and fiddles with his fork. "And now…I barely want any. Its more fun to steal it. I will wait for you to want it again." He chuckles, and indeed, when Kai goes to get himself a bite, that's when Loki jumps back in to get some. "Marvelous cooking…your time at the restaurant is improving your skills…"
*
"Of course," Kai says wryly. "It's part of my ploy to get more for me." He winks at Loki. Then he cuts off a bit of the pancake with his fork and pops it into his mouth. Then he grins and says, "Do you think so? I just figured you deserved more than spaghetti from a jar while I'm eating baklava." After another bite, he asks, "How do you feel about camping? Bucky mentioned us maybe going to a cabin for a weekend."
*
"Camping? Ah…a cabin, a retreat…certainly. Is it just the three of us, or is he still pretending to love Scarlett?" Loki refuses to believe that Bucky ever really wanted to leave their house and that his proper place is as their pet.
*
Kai indulges that refusal by saying nothing of it. "I think it would just be us and the boys. He's got… how do I put this? Clones? Sort of? They're feral, but they look just like him. We were thinking maybe they would do well in the woods for a few days. So it would be like going with a lot of Buckies."
*
"He has feral clones of himself?" Loki blinks. "Well, I want one. Do you already have one?"
*
Kai shakes his head and says, "I asked, but he's in defensive papa mode. We might want to give it a little while, then we can lure one in with food and luxury. They still need a lot of work, but I'm already feeding them. I almost got one to take the food from my hand."
*
Loki chuckles and shakes his head. "No…they should be destroyed. Truly. Clones are dangerous business…and very confusing, particularly to those inclined to criminal activity. So, we can gather them up and I'll just…" He takes a bite of the pancake. "take care of it? Should I?"
*
Kai shakes his head and says, "No, no, no they're not exactly clones. They're also like children, only they're not." He takes another bite of pancake, his features pinched in consternation. "Bucky really cares about them. They're like his children. We should nuture them so that they can exact revenge upon the evildoers who made them."
*
Loki grins softly. "Ohhh…very well, that sounds like a suitable alternative to mass destruction. I shall assist you in this quest. So, when do we depart?"
*
"I'll have to ask Bucky," Kai says. "But as soon as possible would be best. I don't want to wait too long to return to Asgard. Balder said if Thor won't take us, he will." He nibbles on pancake, regarding Loki with speculation. "I've got a plan."
*
Loki knits his brows. "Agreed…but…this plan, now I am curious." He takes another bite of the pancake and taps his toe on top of Kai's toe below the table.
*
Kai grins, and lo, there are dimples. He rests his elbows on the table, fork dangling from his fingers idly. "Here's my thinking. Thor, or Balder now that he's back, brings us to Asgard. The All-Father is in a good mood because his beloved boy is back. We ask Thor or Balder to request clemency for my parents. Since the All-Father is in a good mood, he releases them. They return to Alfheim, have another child, train that brat to be the heir, and we never have to worry about it or babies again. And, of course, with your brothers putting in a good word for you, your presence in Asgard is assured. We end up with the All-Father's favor and no obligations."
*
"This is acceptible, of course. You know…freeing your parents, we could do that first, if you wish. I hate to keep them waiting another century just because we wished to go camping with clones and got distracted.
*
Loki continues. "Though, I do also want to go camping." He smiiilllles.
*
"Yeah, you have a point," Kai says. "We should go to Asgard first. I was also hoping we could get Asgard's technology to help Lambert. Bertie's going blind, and Midgard medicine is so primitive. It would be such a simple procedure in Asgard. Maybe he could bring the All-Father some satyr wine to sweeten the deal." He smiles, and he reaches across the plate to take Loki's hand. "It'll be a fun trip. Lots of reveling. Lots of trouble to cause in Alfheim after."