Hello, all! This story requires a bit of explanation or "just so you know" tidbits. I wrote this story just after the Dark World came out (so yes, it's a dusty, old story) so anything that came out of Marvel after that movie is irrelevant to this timeline. It picks up in the movie right after Loki is stabbed by the Kurse Elf and totally goes its own path (I don't even consider Frigga as dead in my timeline because I just like her too much). I will also mention that Loki is a very hard one for me to write, but I just love his relationship with Thor too much to not try (so please just be gentle and forgive me). I tend to like the glimpses that we get to see of Loki's more genuine nature when he's not trying to put on a face or be something he's not. (But he is the god of mischief so there's that too.)
The actual purpose of this story is to lay the groundwork for another story that comes sequentially after (that I'm more excited about) called "Breath of Life" that I'm currently still working on that tells my personal twist on the tale of Loki's marriage to Sigyn. However, I felt that this story was kind of helpful to read first as it introduces Loki and Sigyn's relationship and provides a bit of backstory to its sequel. (I currently have no idea when that story will be completed but I am determined to finish it.) The song I associate with this story is "Tears of an Angel" by RyanDan (hence the story's title), with the majority of the lyrics coming from Thor's perspective early on in the story but the final, quieter refrain from Loki's perspective towards the end of the story.
Finally, I am definitely not a writer…I merely scribble and jot for my own personal pleasure. Feel free to read said scribbles or pass up for better pastures. Enough with my rambling…let's get on with it! (Will be about 11 chapters. I own nothing.)
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" The anguished cry of the god of thunder rang out across the plains of Svartalfheim. He watched his brother gasp in both shock and pain as the hideous beast skewered him on the sword that had been driven through his own monstrous chest only moments before. Thor watched from his helpless position on the ground as the creature first snarled defiantly in Loki's face before forcefully throwing the younger god aside like he was a ragdoll. The vibration of Loki's ungraceful crash to the ground reverberated to Thor's fingertips, and he watched his brother coil in utter agony. Loki's hands—ever so sensitive and expressive—curled and clung to the air above him, desperate to grasp onto anything that would take away this new, never-ending spasm of pain. White, hot searing pain. Loki's body shook with the power of that pain, unable to conquer it and unable to abate it.
Thor vaguely remembered seeing the creature disappear into a wormhole out of the corner of his eye, destroyed and no longer a threat like the other dozens of bloodied elves (Malekith among them) scattered about the rocky terrain. He cared not—except for the fact that the one responsible for gravely injuring his brother was now gone. In spite of his own aches and hurts, Thor pushed himself willingly to his feet and rushed to the side of his fallen brother. There Loki laid, his chest uncharacteristically heaving with lungs gasping for air in a rapid, shallow rhythm, his whole body quivering. Thor noticed his brother's eyes roaming around, pupils dilated, unable to focus due to the shock and the suffering. When he managed to snake his arm under his brother's head for support and coax him upwards onto his lap, Loki's eyes rolled forward involuntarily and took in the sight of his wound. This seemed to increase the younger prince's panic and a shudder riveted through the man's delicate frame. Thor struggled to pull Loki's limp body closer to himself and continued to try to readjust his grip. Loki merely sagged in Thor's grasp, unable to respond to Thor's attempts to hold him.
"You fool! You didn't listen!" Thor scolded through choked sobs, trying to punish his brother for the hurt he was now experiencing but the worry in his blue eyes gave him away. Loki's own eyes managed to find Thor's and Thor noticed they were a brilliant, raging storm of pain and fear. Loki nodded his head hurriedly in a shaky fashion, a tell-tale sign of his system losing control.
"I am a fool. I am a fool!" Loki all but cried as he curled forwards in pain at both the severity of his wound and the certainty of the truth. Panic rose in Thor's heart as his brother gasped and shuddered in his arms, spasms of pain rocking the younger man's frame.
"Stay with me, okay?" pleaded Thor, his hand quickly cradling Loki's face to reassure himself that his brother was still alive. He tugged his brother further up onto his lap, causing Loki's face to roll back and his eyes to meet Thor's again. In those emerald orbs Thor noticed a sudden desperation to communicate something…
"I'm sorry," Loki whispered in short spurts, his genuine request of forgiveness growing more desperate as his voice rose. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Thor shushed his brother gently, assuring him that he understood.
"It's okay. It's all right," he soothed him, putting all of his effort into keeping himself from screaming that it wasn't okay, it wasn't all right—his brother was dying! Loki's breathing evened out a little at the calming reassurance and his eyes hovered around his elder brother's face, an anchor and lifeline.
"I'll tell father what you did here today," promised Thor with a firm nod, a warrior's attempt to maintain control on the battlefield. Despite the immense throbbing of pain, Loki managed to raise his eyebrows at Thor's comment.
"I didn't do it for him," came the strangely steady reply. Loki did not explain further. He didn't have to. Thor read his meaning in his brother's eyes: I did it for you. Time seemed to stand still for a moment as both brothers realized the truth that their hearts had known all along…that they loved each other and always had…and always would.
But reality crashed in once again as Loki let out a gasp as his back arched in response to the deep throbbing in his abdomen. He moaned in anguish and his eyes shut tightly against the intense discomfort. "Hold on, brother," encouraged Thor, though his voice shook. He gathered his brother more firmly in his arms and braced himself to stand. "We will get you to the healers in Asgard. They will be able to save you." The promise nearly fell on deaf ears as Loki cried out in pain once Thor finally stood.
"It is too late, brother," hissed Loki as he unconsciously gripped a fistful of Thor's cloak at his shoulder to brace himself against another wave of agony.
"No, Loki. You mustn't talk like that. I will save you," Thor almost growled and dared the nine realms to prove him wrong. Thor noticed Jane out of the corner of his eye joining him, hesitant to come closer but obviously wanting to help. Thor glanced at her and nodded briefly in the direction he was headed towards the skiff. "Prepare a place for him, please," he quietly asked, knowing Jane wanted something to do. The young woman nodded hurriedly and rushed on ahead to the skiff. Thor tried not to jostle his brother as he moved as quickly as he could. He knew time was of the essence. If he dawdled too long, it could cost Loki his life.
"Father will not have me." The statement caught Thor off guard. He glanced down at his brother and saw an eerie, fearful stillness about his face—almost as if he was solely focused on that one truth. No, not a truth, Thor corrected himself. He gripped his brother tighter.
"Our father does love you. You underestimate him, Loki," Thor assured him.
"And you misjudge him," Loki countered surprisingly gentle, his eyes flickering upwards towards Thor's face. His eyes slowly travelled back down and merely stared into Thor's chest. "You weren't there at the sentencing," he whispered and shuddered again before closing his eyes. Thor let the matter drop, knowing any more arguments would only upset his brother and would antagonize the already unstable situation. He would show Loki his fears were groundless once they reached Asgard. When he reached the skiff, Thor carefully boarded and made his way over to the bench that Jane had prepared as a bed. She had arranged the pillows and blankets to try to make it as comfortable as possible, and Thor greatly appreciated her efforts. He lowered his brother onto the mound of furs as gently as he would a newborn babe. Loki winced at the movement, unable to stop a hiss of teeth-gritting pain, but then relaxed a bit into the softness.
"Thank you," he whispered gratefully, his eyes flickering to Jane who merely nodded in silence, unsure of what else to do. Thor was quick to cover his brother in his cape to keep him warm and pressed his hands firmly on his wound. Loki's hands immediately clasped around Thor's thick wrists and desperately tried to pull his hands away from applying pressure. "Stop, Thor, that hurts," Loki seethed through clenched teeth, his eyes growing wide before squinting taught.
"You are bleeding, brother. Too much," Thor verbally worried, his voice catching on his last words. He eyed his cape already turning a disconcerting shade of black.
"I'll try to staunch it using magic, just please let go," Loki almost growled. Thor set his jaw but knew they had to get going anyways or this would all be for naught. The god glanced back to the third member of their company.
"Put your hands here," Thor instructed as he reached out and pulled Jane's tiny hands down to Loki's abdomen. Jane nervously obeyed and knelt beside the injured trickster. Thor covered Jane's hands in his to make sure she was in the right place before removing his own. Loki visibly relaxed since Jane could in no way apply the same pressure Thor had been unknowingly exerting. "Keep an eye on him. Alert me if he worsens," Thor requested and stood.
"Yes, mother," retorted Loki, stealing an annoyed look at his brother before clinching his eyes tight as another spasm of pain controlled him. Jane nodded to Thor and whispered an anxious "okay" as she watched Loki's face, finding his obvious momentary vulnerability unnerving. Thor made it to the helm in one stride and immediately set the skiff on course for the portal from where they had come.
From this point forward the story takes off on its own path and does not follow Marvel in order to eventually weave Sigyn into the story. Reviews are appreciated!