Your Darkest Moments

by Takada Saiko and Gabrielle Day

A/N: This is part of our series. You may be entirely lost if you have not read the others. You have been warned and it is no longer my fault.

A/N2: I shouldn't be posting this. I really shouldn't. You know why? It's been a slow write with various bits of life getting in the way (seriously, life, leave us alone so we can write) and there are bound to be other delays. So you have been warned. I fear the days of an update per day are in the past. Ah... oh well. Enjoy!

Regrets collect like old friends

Here to relive your darkest moments

I can see no way, I can see no way

And all of the ghouls come out to play

And every demon wants his pound of flesh

But I like to keep some things to myself

I like to keep my issues drawn

It's always darkest before the dawn

~ Shake It Out, Florence + the Machine

Chapter One.

Loki found little solace in large crowds. It wasn't that he was unaccustomed to the situation. As a prince of Asgard he had been raised around large, lavish parties that he was expected to attend. Attend and play his part in. Since accepting the position as the future king's lead advisor, he'd found himself even more at the center than usual, which was somewhat surprising. He might have turned his brother down on the offer if he'd known this would be the outcome.

The dark haired prince had been counting the minutes until he could make a quiet and graceful exit. Copious amounts of mead and other such beverages would eventually leave both his brother and others that might notice his presence - there or gone - ignorant of such a disappearance as he was longing for.

"Looking for your way out already?"

Loki turned, green eyes narrowing at the site of a man that he had never found any favour with, and recently had been forced to spend much time in association. Aegir, being his father's lead advisor, was expected to give the future king's advisor guidance for the days ahead. More times than not their meetings turned into a game of words with hidden meanings that few understood and more tension than anyone cared to be bothered with.

"I don't see the point in wasting time pretending to be something that I'm not," Loki grumbled, taking an offered drink from a servant. He would need it if this conversation stretched more than five more seconds and Aegir, from the looks of him, had chosen to indulge that night.

"Someone that those around you wish to associate with?" the advisor sniffed, head held high in indignation.

"I'd say that the last few years have lent a surprising amount of acceptance in my direction, at least from those that matter," Loki answered back, squaring his shoulders. "Apparently the people of Asgard are willing to forgive youthful foolishness more than some might."

"I have my own reasons to hold to it," Aegir growled, sipping at his drink.

Loki merely glanced at his, not overly enthusiastic at joining Aegir in his current state that allowed for such a loose tongue. "And what might those be?" he ventured carefully, watching for any sign that the conversation should be cut off immediately. "What causes you to hate me so?"

The aging advisor snorted. "The Allfather really has sheltered you from the truth over the years, hasn't he?" He set his empty glass down and turned to look the young prince directly in the eye. "You really don't know?"

"I don't ask for affirmation, I ask for clarity."

A small smile stretched across Aegir's lips. "There is a legend, passed down from a seer that spoke to your... father... once. She holds great knowledge of the doom that you could bring to Asgard, and I have not overlooked it as some have. I know that you are not all that you appear to be."

Loki's lips curved upward and he took a deep breath through his nose. "You are behind the times, Aegir. The issue of my...heritage is put to rest. I am a son of Odin and brother of Thor, as Asgardian as you are. Not even you should question my loyalty to my brother at this point."

Aegir picked up another glass from a passing servant, unamused. "I do not mean your heritage, even though I will always doubt your loyalties. You should not enjoy the liberties that you do, considering all of your sins. There is more danger in you yet, outside of your choices. Your destiny is to be the end of all of us, even those that you would hold dear."

The older man turned his gaze towards the future king of Asgard, Thor, standing at a distance from them with Fandral and Volstagg and others, laughing and clapping his friends on their shoulders. Loki followed his gaze, uncertainty crawling through his veins, even as his brother looked up and caught his eyes. Thor's smile widened and he waved Loki towards him. Loki nodded, suddenly feeling the need to be closer to his older brother. He looked back to Aegir briefly.

"You're nothing more than a hateful, spiteful old man who did not get what he wished for. I have no need to heed the words you say." Loki said. He moved towards Thor.

"Ask your father, then, if you care so little. You will be the end of him. Of all who have power in this realm. You are the bitter end."

Words that should not have reached him at all stung at his heart and Loki refused to turn back as he made his way across the room, through the throngs of people that nodded and greeted him. He should have been more aware of their acknowledgement, he knew, returned their greetings, but his mind was focused solely on reaching Thor. With some alarm, he realized that Aegir's words had caused no small amount of fear within him.

Things were different now, they had surmounted all those moments of their youth which caused strife. There could be nothing more to tear their future apart.

Thor grasped his shoulder as he approached, having shooed away most of his throng. "Loki, why so serious?" he asked, motioning for a servant with glasses on a tray to come towards them.

"It's nothing, brother," Loki said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. "Just another party."

"You've never been fond of them," Thor said thoughtfully.

"If this is the worst of my duties I think it bearable," the younger brother said with what he hoped was a convincing smile.

"I'm sure I've never seen Aegir approach you on purpose at one of these. What did he have to say?"

"Nothing of any importance."

Thor stopped, very still and looking directly at the younger prince. "Brother, I have known you as far back as either of us can remember and I know that your talent for lies exceeds all others, but... Please. Do not lie to me."

Loki gave a mirthless smile. "It truly is of little importance in the grand scheme of life, Thor. It is just the same old hatred that he breeds. Do not let it disturb you."

"Only if you promise the same."

"Of course," Loki answered, lips stretched in a broad smile and he latched a hand to his brother's broad shoulder. "How could I believe anything he says? He lost his wits before we were yet men. Nothing he says matters."

"I shall speak to him if-"

"Nothing he says matters," the trickster repeated. Green eyes glanced over the room, noting the entrance of their royal father and mother.

"Forgive me, brother. I've been waiting for Father. I have something that I need to speak with him about."

Thor watched him go, frowning with discontent. Loki's relationship with their father had vastly improved in the time that had passed since the incident on Midgard, but Thor could never remember a time where they had casually sought each other out at parties such as this. He looked for Aegir, saw him still standing alone and still drinking and felt his ire rise. Volstagg clapped him on the shoulder.

"What's the matter with you? I leave you for five seconds and you're scowling with enough force to bring the suns down."

Thor half turned to him. "Are we so far past our mischievous days?"

Volstagg grinned. "Why, Thor, you are my future king. I shall remain mischievous until you command me otherwise."

Thor smiled. "Excellent. Make sure the old cretin does not sleep tonight."

"Consider it done, my lord. Our old friend is still gnawing at the peace of the favorite of your brothers, eh?"

"My only brother, for whom I would do anything," Thor said.

"So we have seen. Fret not, Aegir will find himself quite haunted this night." Volstagg promised.

Assured, Thor moved through the people to find only his mother where three of his family had been standing not moments before. He kissed her cheek in greeting and she embraced him.

"Where are Father and Loki?" Thor asked.

Frigga smiled. "What, no words of greeting for your poor mother?"

"I'm sorry. You look lovely, mother. How do you fare?" Thor amended.

"Thank you, my son. I am quite well, thank you for asking. Your father and your brother have retired to the throne room, I think. They looked quite serious."

Thor frowned, glancing towards the exit that they would have taken.

Frigga reached to put a hand on her oldest child's arm. "Thor, they looked as if they wished to be left alone."

"No matter the state of things, Loki does not seek Father out without great need."

"This is true."

"He would not tell me what that need was."

Frigga found herself smiling and wrapped an arm as far around his shoulders as she could manage. When had her boys grown so big? "My dear, your brother is not required to confide every last worry in you." She hushed his expression with a shake of her head. "No, do not look at me in that way. He will confide when ready, you know this. You cannot push Loki or you may never know what is in his mind."

"I just fear that he will try to meet a challenge alone."

"And if he needs to he will. Your little brother is a grown man, just as you are." She smiled once more, her hand cupping his cheek. "My sweet Thor, I know you want to protect him."

"I do."

"And he will come to you when he is ready. You must learn patience."

"But-"

"No. Not buts. Trust your brother as he trusts you."

"I do trust him."

Frigga gave him a look that said that the point had been made. Trust and wait, Loki would come to his brother when ready.

The doors closed behind them and Loki found himself fully fascinated with the floor beneath his feet. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. He had planned to march straight up to his father and ask him - demand of him - the truth of the situation when he had the emotions to back it. Instead he now feared that the emotions were what made the whole event difficult.

"What troubles you, Loki?" Odin asked calmly.

Well, here goes nothing. "What do you know of a seer and what she said involving Asgard's doom?"

Loki did not miss the flicker of surprise in his father's face as the king took a seat and sighed. He leaned against the end of the long table and waited, father and son watching one another. The longer the silence continued, the more the concern in Loki's mind grew. Odin was not one to ever laugh anything off, but for him not to immediately dismiss the question or even to claim lack of memory was more telling to the young sorcerer.

"There was something, wasn't there?" Loki prompted.

"There were many seers, Loki, many who came to give their opinion and their prophecy after you were pronounced as our son. Many were quite displeased with your sudden appearance, that no preparations or ceremonies had been given beforehand. Your mother and I paid them little heed."

Odin said carefully. "Might I suppose there is a particular one that has been brought to your attention?"

"Only that I would be the doom of all in Asgard. No small feat, that. Even in the prophecies of my infancy I am monstrous."

Odin frowned at him. "Loki, prophecies of little merit are often overly drastic and ominous."

"So there was not one specific to my bringing about the end of Asgard? Destroying Thor?" Loki pressed, taking to pacing the floor in front of where Odin sat.

The Allfather sighed heavily. He had spent the majority of his youngest son's life avoiding truths that had weighed heavily on the young god since. He watched the trickster move in regular motions and wondered who had brought this to his attention after so long. He and Frigga had been late to the gathering, but he was sure that it must have been something that someone had said that night for Loki to be quite so focused. "There was nothing that should be given any credence to," Odin said at last.

"That's not what I asked."

"Loki-"

"Please. I need to know."

"What brought this on?"

"It does not matter."

"It does," Odin answered and stood. "A question has been asked, Loki. I will not repeat it."

Irritation washed over the dark haired prince. "And I suppose that it does not matter that I've come to you with a query, does it? I see you still refuse to give me a straight answer. I won't waste any more of your time."

"Loki," Odin called after him, steps echoing through the throne room as he took steps after his son. "This... I shouldn't have you worried over it, my son, that is all. Please do not twist my words or my intentions."

"Then give me a straight answer," Loki pleaded.

Odin pressed a hand to his temples before speaking. "There was a seer who came when you were not quite a year old. She claimed we were hiding a great destruction and that I had obscured the danger with magic. An old witch, but quick; she found you in the nursery and claimed that your destiny would cause the end of the line of Odin and bring death to the gods of Asgard."

Loki sat heavily. "What then?"

A small smile pulled at Odin's lips. "Thor kicked her in the shins, I believe. You're scaring my brother, you hag, he said."

A shaky laugh escaped Loki, the image perfected in his mind, Thor had been Thor all his life. "So how did this prophecy come to the ears of others? How can you know it is not true?"

"We got rid of her as quickly as we could, but she did go to others and the rumors spread before we could dispatch her altogether. Long before you or your brother were born she was a respected member of the court, but she dabbled long into dark and dangerous places; her mind became unsound. By the end, there were few who heeded her words."

"Some did. And all prophecies come with benchmarks. Have any been met? Parts come to pass?"

Odin suddenly wished that he had not agreed to this conversation. "Many things may appear to align in hindsight, but that does not necessarily mean that-" He stopped and shook his head. Loki was a grown man. The time for shielding him from this was over. No matter how foolish he thought the prophecy to be, his son had a right to know. "She spoke of strife between brothers, of betrayal and reconciliation. She said that the worlds would split and that you would allow our enemies through and it would end Asgard. I don't remember the words as she spoke them, but there were strong implications that Thor would die and that the realm would be either overtaken or entirely destroyed because of your actions."

Loki felt himself deflate almost entirely. "Even in my darkest of moments I have never wished harm on my home. I love Asgard dearly."

"I have no doubt that you do. Loki, if you have ever put faith in an old man's words, do so now. Your destiny is yours to write. I have every faith in you that you shall strive to support your brother in his rule and that you will do what you can to make sure that Asgard remains in all of her glory. I may not always agree with the route that you - and often Thor as well - take, but since your return your intentions have been good. Do not doubt yourself."

Loki nodded, his father moving towards the door. "Now come, lest your brother and mother seek us out."

The party had dwindled to less than a hundred people, still sizeable but easier to navigate. Loki threaded his way among familiar faces, but did not find the one in particular he wished for. He turned and found Sif, drink proffered to him. Fingers slipped around the stem of the glass and Sif nodded her approval.

"You look concerned," Sif said, sipping her own drink.

"I am always concerned."

'You never look concerned, in which lies the difference." Sif noted.

Loki forced a smile onto his face. "You must accept my most humble apologies, Lady Sif. I would not wish to present anything less than my most charming and carefree self."

"If you were not a prince and we were not surrounded by most of the court I would slap you." Sif murmured into her glass.

Loki's smile grew. "You are most welcome to try anytime we are alone."

Sif shot him a warning glance and passed off her empty glass to a passing servant. "If you are looking for Aegir or Thor they have both gone. Separately, might I add, so you can keep looking carefree."

"What should I care of Aegir's whereabouts?" Loki asked easily.

"I would not know. Perhaps if you wished to continue your conversation from earlier, you would need to know where he is. If not, I believe Thor said he was retiring early."

"You are quite clever, aren't you?"

Sif gave him a small smile, eyes twinkling with a bit of mischief of her own. It was a high compliment from the prince, but she had no question in her mind that she had earned it at least ten times over before he'd let it slip. She watched him as his attention shifted towards a couple of the exits that could be seen and she knew that an obviously nervous Loki did not bode well for their more recent bouts of peace and tranquility. She had almost become used to it, but it wouldn't be too long until the Warriors Three became restless. They really were impossible when they got like that. Much like small children looking to cause a ruckus in any way that they could in order to entertain themselves.

"Well," she said at last, managing to catch his attention once more. "Do promise to let me know before all chaos breaks loose, won't you?"

She had meant it in jest, but the look that flashed through his eyes held no humour. It was disguised as quickly as it would come and the prince tipped his drink back, finishing the contents. "I wouldn't dream of riding into chaos without first alerting the goddess of war," he answered smoothly, receiving a shove to the shoulder for his efforts.

"You can be a complete bastard at times," she grumbled.

"I was being sincere," he countered, feigning hurt.

"Liar," she huffed with the smallest of smiles and turned to take her departure. "Good night, Loki."

He let out a breath of a laugh, shaking his head. "Everyone always assumes I'm lying."