Chapter One: The Fall of A Man
I'm so excited to be doing this fic, I loved Avengers and I adored Loki, Tom Hiddleston was simply amazing and I just couldn't resist. I should say now before I forget, any reference hereto of anything Marvel related belongs solely to Marvel but my OCs and storyline are my own. I do think the mythological aspects of this story can belong to anyone but apart from that I own nothing. Enjoy and enjoy again.
Loki POV:
It was possibly the most humiliating thing he'd ever been forced to do. Walk through the gates of Asgard in chains and a muzzle with Thor bouncing along behind him like some child bringing home his runaway pet. The taste of it welled in his mouth like rusting iron and he kept his eye focused on the ground before him to avoid the gazes of those who lined the streets to watch him pass. He could hear them, or he imagined he could hear them. There goes Loki Laufeyson, Lord of Lies. He wanted to scream, to curse them to the very depths of Niflhel for every wrong they'd ever done him. He was pushed up the grand, golden stairs and into the home where he so often roamed as a child. It had not changed. Although it felt as though centuries had passed by since he'd walked these shining halls the palace seemed timeless, elegant and untouched by the passage of time. He straightened his back and his chin rose proudly as he walked the halls of his home, or rather the place of his childhood.
I was here as a stranger really. He though dully. He'd never really belonged here, he saw that now. Why for all the Nine Realms had Odin kept him that day? The pair passed through the now empty Gladsheim, whose high golden ceiling blazed overhead like a sun. The line of vacant chairs seemed to glare as he passed and he kept his eyes fixed upon the the opposite side of the room. They stopped before an enormous pair of heavy oak doors, emblazoned with twists of gold and steel. Geri and Freki growled from beside it but held their places. Loki remembered this room, as he remembered every room of this place, Thor's hand clasped his shoulder and he spoke for the first time since they'd arrived in Asgard.
"Brother, fear not for Father will set everything aright." He said softly and Loki whirled to face him. Even trapped in his cuffs and confined within his muzzle he fixed Thor's pale blue eyes with his and glared for all he was worth. The Thunder God recoiled ever so slightly but managed to keep a calm face. There was a flash of pain deep within Thor's blue eyes and Loki scowled mutinously at the compassion in his 'brother's' face. He didn't need or want Thor's pity, the great blonde God would never know how it felt to be feared by those who had once been his family and friends. Yet something in Thor's eyes seemed to say otherwise.
"What is that to me?" Loki asked him silently and Thor's eyes narrowed.
"Do not forget Brother, we all mourned your fall… all of us." He said and turned Loki around to face the doors. He squeezed his shoulder briefly and Loki shrugged it off contemptuously. Sighing Thor reached forward and pushed the enormous oak doors open to reveal the Hall of Odin; Válaskjálf in all it's glory. The vast ceiling blazed with silver light and Loki gazed around at the sea of faces, all of whom were turned to face him and Thor, as they entered. Thor's booming roar burst across the room.
"Father, I bring home to Asgard our lost son and brother Loki Odinsson." He called and Loki twitched at the deliberate falsehood. Alright he could play this little game, lying was his specialty after all. His gaze latched onto the impressive figure who dominated the throne before him and he had a moment to bask in the full frontal attack of the All-Father's gaze before a piercing shriek rent the air. Turning from the burly old warrior on his throne he spun to see Frigg barrelling towards him and had a moment to prepare himself before the woman who'd raised him threw her arms around him and sobbed into his armoured chest. He froze, his body going rigid with the sudden contact, and looked back at Thor in alarm. The Thunder God was smirking knowingly, his blue eyes pale with amusement and soemthing else Loki refused to comtemplate. Scowling he turned his attention back to the blonde woman in his arm. His mother raised her tear-stained face to his and clasped it tenderly.
"My son, oh Loki my son you have come home." She whispered and embraced him tightly again. Awkward at the public display of affection he tried to remain aloof under the universal stares of his peers.
"Off with this infernal thing." She said after a moment and with a snap of her fingers dissolved the muzzle which, courtesy of the bloody humans, still covered his lips. Able to move the lower half of his jaw properly he gingerly stretched it before staring down into Frigg's familiar, loving face.
"Greetings… Mother." He said stiffly and her smile faded ever so slightly. He smiled but it was a thin smile that never reached his eyes. Shaking her blonde hair out from her eyes she embraced turned and Thor hurriedly before spinning to face her husband and approach the dais with her two sons in tow. Válaskjálf was silent and Loki felt, for the sake of self-preservation, it would be best to wait until he was spoken to before letting lose the string of insults he had compiled on the way into Asgard. The All-Father stared down at them and gracefully pushed himself from the throne he sat upon. He was an impressive height, thick as an oak and barrel chested he gazed down at them with his one eye, a figure of legend. Behind him, perched on the wings of his throne, sat the ravens Hugin and Munin. He stiffened slightly under their beady stares.
"Welcome home my sons." He said and Loki couldn't control the sardonic lift of his eyebrow. Odin's single eye seemed to soften slightly as he beheld his eldest son.
"Thor, you have done well. The realms of Midgard and beyond are grateful to your success… and Asgard thanks you for the return of your brother Loki." He said and Loki could feel the restistance to speak rapidly crumbling under the hypocrisy of it all. Were they all seriously going to play happy families? Hold hands perhaps while everyone pretended he still actually belonged here? He felt his anger growing but somehow managed to remain silent. The All-Father turned to face him now and the glare returned.
"Loki. You have not only broken the laws of Asgard but threatened the safety of all the nine realms… such crimes cannot go unpunished, although I wish bitterly it were not so." Odin said and Loki stared at the All-Father intently.
"Do you deny any of the accusations laid before you?" Odin asked and Loki paused to think.
"Well…" He said and glanced sideways at Thor.
"I'm certain I didn't cause nearly half the damage my 'brother' inflicted upon the city of… Manhatten is it? And I would also like to point out that my lack of driving knowledge perfectly explains the accidents several vehicles incurred under my guidance." He said innocently and grinned wickedly when everyone in the room groaned. Odin's eye narrowed and Thor sighed tiredly. He looked over at Frigg to see her face clouded with disappointment. Yes, that was it, disappointment. That's all he'd ever been and he realised now why. The dam broke and he straightened his shoulders.
"All-Father, let's put aside foolish words and be done with this trial… treat me not as though I am the son you pretend me to be, we all know I'm the master of lies, not you, and this farce tires easily." He said sharply, much to the room's general surprise. If Loki had smashed Mjöllnir into the All Father's stomach the man wouldn't have looked so surprised. Frigg gave a small wail of despair and Thor glared at him. A fleeting moment of regret passed through him but it was too late to turn back so Loki simply stared up at Odin and the two men gazed at each other for a long moment.
"Leave us." He barked to the assembled Asgardians and the room filed out silently. It seemed the All-Father deflated slightly when the room emptied of his subjects. He descended the stairs and approached rapidly to where Loki stood. Out of nowhere his fist descended and struck the side of Loki's jaw, sending him reeling back. Pain blazed across his jaw and, with his tongue, he felt his teeth quickly to make sure none were loose. They weren't thank… what? He puzzled over this briefly before pushing himself up off the floor awkwardly, his bound hands making it difficult. Frigg called out and Thor roared angrily. That surprised Loki.
"Father stop this madness!" Thor bellowed. He caught the All-Father's arm and prevented another blow from raining down upon him.
"You hurt us all when you hurt him." He growled and Loki turned to see the three of them standing together staring at him. He straightened his back stubbornly and held their gazes. Odin was breathing heavily but when he spoke it was deadly calm. Wrenching his arm from his son's grip he stepped closer.
"Loki, you try my patience. Do you grasp the wrongs you have committed?" He asked and Loki rolled his eyes.
"I wouldn't say…"
"Do you understand the wrongs you have committed?" Odin bellowed and Loki took a step back as the hall darkened. He nodded briefly.
"Do you commit yourself to the punishments of Asgard?" He demanded and Loki sighed. This was not going to end well.
"I don't have that much of a choice, do I?" He said sarcastically and held up his bound hands derisively. Frigg frowned.
"Loki, I brought you up better than this… show respect to your elders." She said firmly and Loki relented. Again he nodded, this time he met Odin's eyes frankly.
"I submit myself to the will of the All-Father." He spat, the words like poison or foul medicine on his tongue. Odin nodded and turned back and mounted the dais before bellowing for the assembly to return. Loki walked to stand along before him and waited until the hall was once again still and silent.
"Loki Laufeysson, you have been tried before the Assembly of Asgard and found guilty of treason, murder and threatening the safety of the Nine Realms… do you have anything to say before I pass judgement?" Odin asked and Loki thought he detected a glimmer of sympathy in the All Father's eye. He felt energy drain from him and sighed.
"No." He said softly.
"I could plead mercy but who here would grant it, or believe me worthy of it? I commit myself to my punishment." He said and the hall seemed to hold its breath. Frigg's shallow gasp could be heard but Loki refused to turn. Odin nodded and stood.
"Then before this hall I decree; until you have proven worthy of the gifts you hold not another day shall you reside here in Asgard. I banish thee to Midgard, stripped of your powers and immortality until such time where I see you fit to bare them once more." He said and slammed his staff to the ground with deadened finality. Loki felt his stomach catch. He felt his knees buckle slightly as he gazed with naked horror into Odin's face. Speechless he stood alone in the centre of the hall. Whispers sprung up like wild fire around him and he glared at the floor defiantly. Woodenly he turned to see his mother's eyes were once again flowing with jewel-like tears. Was she crying again? For him? Thor held her tightly, an arm wrapped around her shoulders as she weakened against him. Loki felt as though he'd been through another round of wrestling with the Hulk-monster. Finally he nodded and stood straight.
"Even I can't argue out of that one." He said self-mockingly and even through her sobs Frigg managed a watery smile. Thor seemed more than a little shaken and he nodded briefly. Odin thumped the butt of his staff to the floor and Loki felt silver light encase him. He closed his eyes and felt the power he'd carried with him all his life drain from his limbs. Weakened he stumbled and fell to the floor. Breathing hard he felt the floor beneath him become liquid or something like it. Regardless of its substance he fell through it and held himself together as wind roared passed his ears. The falling, so much liek when he'd fallen with the Bifrost, seemed never to stop and he opened his eyes briefly to see the small sphere that was Midgard approaching rapidly.
"Despair not my son," A booming voice called in his mind,
"I sense this path was always yours to take… I will be watching you always." Loki felt the presence of the All-Father leave his mind just as he hit the outer atmosphere. Flame seemed to erupt around him and he braced himself as the ground grew steadily closer. Closing his eyes he bit his lip and not for the first time wondered why in all the nine realms he ever been born.
IDa POV:
It had been a bad day. That morning alone Ida had found her usually placid mood consistently ruined by karma and her minions of foul fortune. Already suffering from a bad hair decade, her alarm clock had finally decided to commit suicide and had died sometime during the night. Late she'd packed Siggy's lunch in three minutes on the fly and left her own sitting on the kitchen bench. She'd hit every red light in the little town of Banksea, Kansas from the farm to school. Work had been a nightmare, after having two canine surgeries in the morning, a feline birth that just happened to become complicated and require a caesarian procedure she'd driven out to the horse district (just up the road from her house) to treat three horses with colic, one of which lost the foul she'd been carrying because of it. Paperwork had filled her afternoon until she'd spilt her fourth cup of tea down her new work shirt and decided to go contemplate following her alarm clock's example. Picking Siggy up from school had been relatively safe until they realised her swimmers had been left at home. Swimming lessons were therefore being held in a pair of old shorts and a singlet top found in the boot of the car. As she sat and watched her daughter's little body moved steadily up and down the lane ropes Ida felt the beginnings of a head ache blossom in her temple. The overwhelming scent of chlorine didn't help at all and she ground her teeth together and tried to relax in the hard plastic seat beneath her. She must have actually drifted off for a while because when she next opened her eyes the sun was going down and the lesson was over. A quick shower later they'd clambered into their beat up, old ute and stopped in for pasta and ice cream at Mojo's Pizza Place. It was the one thing that hadn't backfired that day and as she sat smelling the wonderful aroma of baking bread and roasting garlic Ida felt as though all was well in the world, if only for a little while. In front of her the tiny nymph that was her daughter sat munching on her garlic bread, her unusually large blue eyes peering out from behind her coke bottle glasses and her pitch black hair still dripping slightly. At ten, despite her glasses, Sigrun was a pretty child. Petite and pale she had the makings of a pixie or changeling. Ida was often grateful Siggy looked nothing like her father, it was nice to see herself back at that age… at least that's what she told herself.
"How was school?" She asked and sighed when the little girl simply shrugged nonchalantly. A minute or two passed in silence.
"How was swimming?" She asked again and this time the little girl paused in her chewing to reflect.
"I was two seconds out from my P.B but I wasn't really trying, I was hungry." She said simply and Ida grinned.
"Pizza's perfect for that, tuck in kiddo." She said and Sig buried her face into the vegetarian pizza before them. The owner came over to their booth, a tiny Italian man of about five feet all around with an authentic black moustache which he delighted in styling in the mirror behind the counter. Third generation American he had no accent but it hardly seemed to matter, the look said it all. He had an enormous grin on his round, florid face and seemed to bounce rather than walk over. Ida waved half-heartedly, her head ache returning suddenly.
"Hello Marcus." She said tiredly and the Italian grinned.
"Ah my two favourite customers, how are my bellas de farm this evening?" He asked and Siggy giggled.
"Heya Mr Marcus, I had my swimming lesson today." She said and the Italian bent to smile down at her.
"Aha and how is my little fish? Still aiming for the gold medal?" He asked and Siggy shook her head.
"No, I'm going to university when I finish school… swimming's fun but not for me." She said firmly and tucked into the rest of her pizza slice. Marcus waggled his eyebrows at Ida who shrugged.
"What can I say, she's motivated." Ida said helplessly sending the little man into a fit of laughter.
"You just let me know if you need anything Ida, it's good to see you. I heard there was trouble up at Jones' place, did you have something to do with that?" He asked and Ida sighed.
"A little, Penelope lost her foul but they all turned for the better after that, just some colic going around." She said and Marcus shook his head.
"You win some, you lose some right? Keep smiling Ida." He reminded her gently and she nodded.
"Thanks Marcus, the bill?" She asked and he waved. They were alone for a few more minutes and Ida leaned back into the red leather of the seat, trying to relax her aching back muscles.
"Are you alright Mummy?" Siggy asked and Ida smiled thinly at the cracked ceiling above her.
"Just glad the weekends here kiddo, it's been a long week." She said and Siggy nodded.
"I second that." She said and rested her hands on her hands. Ida glanced at her.
"Oh really? I reckon my week was worse." She said casually and Siggy took the bait. High IQ or not she was still only 10 and still fell for her sly old mother's mind games.
"No mine was the worst. Cecelia Jenkins had a party on Sunday and all the girls in my class were invited except me, it was all they talked about all week." She said miserably and Ida frowned. So that's what the glum faces had been about. Her anger swelled at Siggy's downcast expression who for all intents and purposes looked like a kicked puppy.
"Kiddo, how old are you?" She asked and Siggy sighed.
"10." She said roughly and Ida nodded.
"And how old are the girl's in your class?" She asked and again Siggy sighed.
"16." She said and Ida sidled out of her side of the booth. She slid into the opposite seat and wrapped and arm around Siggy's tiny shoulders, kissing the top of her soaked black hair. She sat there for a moment and simply held her daughter tightly, wishing people weren't so cruel.
"We always knew it would be hard Siggy but you remember what your grandmother used to say right?" Ida asked and Siggy nodded.
"I don't think always waiting for the pie to cool before taking a bite applies to this situation." Siggy said cheekily and Ida smirked.
"I don't know; pie always tastes better when it's not burning your mouth off." She remarked dryly and Siggy laughed. Marcus arrived the bill and they paid and left, Ida making sure she paid an extra tip to Chelsea, Marcus' younger sister who waited tables and dreamed of singing in Dallas. Turning out of the main road and into Farmer's Laneway their scuffed green ute wound its way homeward, windows down and stereo pumped to the max. Siggy had let her hair down and was jigging wildly in her seat. It was popular country tune at the moment, a hybrid of country and pop. Ida wasn't particularly fond of either genre but Siggy was having a wondrous time and that was all that mattered. Ida grinned, staring out into the pitch black road ahead and trying to avoid the millions of pot holes dotted along the laneway. The stars were out and seemed to blaze brighter tonight than they had in a long time. The song finished and she turned the radio down as they continued along the road. Siggy was breathing hard and leaned her head out of the window to stare up into the sky.
"They're really bright tonight." She said and Ida looked at her curiously.
"I was thinking the same thing. Sure you're not psychic as well as smart?" She asked and smirked into Siggy's affronted face. Silence reigned for about a minute and Ida could make out the old barn right up ahead of them. Then suddenly she jumped as Siggy let out an excited scream. The truck lurched and she slammed on the brakes, pulling them to a jarring halt.
"What? What's wrong?" She demanded, her heart racing. Siggy's hand was pointed out the window and she followed her daughter's gaze to see a trail of flame or light moving through the patches of stars. She sighed with relief and stared up at the comet.
"Kiddo, don't do that to me please, I've only got one heart and I don't have time for the health care system to give me a new one." She said tartly and Siggy muttered something unintelligible out the window.
"Care to speak up for the elderly?" She asked and rolled her eyes. She gazed up to see the bright trail was still in the sky. She watched as it seemed to come closer and closer.
"Make a wish Siggy." She said and heard the little girl hold her breath. They sat and watched the comet until Ida realised something wasn't right.
"Comets usually break up or get smaller after hitting the atmosphere." She said softly and Siggy looked at her curiously.
"When they hit the oxygen in the higher atmosphere the friction of their speed causes them to heat up and burst into flames, burning them away into nothing. This one doesn't seem to be doing that." She said and Siggy immediately fixed her gaze on the rapidly descending comet.
"Mummy?" She said worriedly and Ida watched flabagasted as the brightly burning, whatever-the-hell-it-was came crashing towards them. Ida's eyes widened and she lunged across the gear box.
"Get down!" She yelled and forced Siggy's head down into her knees, covering her as the falling object flew over them and slamming into the side of the barn with all the force of a plane out of control. The earth shook and the car rocked slightly at the impact. Looking up she blinked. Half the barn was gone. A slight glow told her that something was probably on fire but she thanked god she'd put the horses to paddock the other week. She frowned. The insurance company was going to have a hard time believing in this, she didn't think she'd taken out property insurance for damages caused by falling meteorites. Cautiously she drove forwards, after recovering sufficiently enough to restart the ute. They edged into the barn yard and pulled up short. There was a small fire and Ida swore violently.
"Stay in the car." She yelled at Siggy and kicked the door open. Running to the hose reel she blasted the flames, soaking the wooden frame of the barn before the highly flammable overcroft took to flame and alighted like a Guy Fawkes pagent. Slowly the flames died away. Grateful for the fact that the house was on the other side of the yard she dropped the hose. Hands on hips she surveyed the damaged barn and swore violently. She looked back towards the ute where Siggy still sat, her eyes wide with horror as she stared at the half smouldering barn.
"Bloody hell, as if today couldn't get any worse." She muttered tersely. The she heard a sound that made her nearly keel over in shock. A groan, and not one made from creaking timber.
"Oh my god." She whispered and raced back to the car.
"Pass the flashlight." She ordered and Siggy delved into the glove box. She found it and handed it to her mother. Ida smiled and took a moment to kiss her head comfortingly.
"Cheer up kiddo; I'm sure it's going to be fine." She said and raced back to the shell of a barn. She coughed sharply and cleared her throat as the smoke rushed into them. Clicking on the flashlight she scoured the rubble of the soaking frame… and nearly dropped the bloody thing. Half buried beneath the smouldering ruins of her barn was a man.
Hurray, first chapter done. OMG Avengers was amazing! I saw it weeks ago but this idea suddenly struck me. I wanted more Loki, he's just too damned hot! Please review and let me know what you guys think of this fic. I have ideas of where this is going but filler ideas are always welcome. So excited to be doing a Loki fic, Tom was amazing and I love the mythology behind it.
