"I'm sorry All-Mother, I can't do this." He said once he knelt down and removed the glamour, showing his true self to the only person that he could trust, "You told me to make you proud, to not make things worse, to ensure Asgards' safety. And I have tried, but each day another is lost."
He looked up at the painting of Frigga, eyes glistening with tears. "I'm sorry mother, I've failed you. Every day they take them. The shadows take them as the abyss took me. The shadows will come for me as well, it's only a matter of time. Whispers of fear follow, I can't show them who I am but also I can't do this alone."
o.0.o
There was a high-pitch sound, which made him startle and turn around, "You shouldn't be here." He stared at the old man calling himself The Doctor, "How long have you been standing there listening? How did you manage to get past Asgards' defences? My defences? Here," He gestured to indicate his surroundings "around this room, I have added shields with magic, I have also told the guards not to allow anyone to enter. This room is private."
"I'm not the threat you should be concerned about." The Doctor replied "The shadows that you speak of do not live in your mind, but around you. They are real. They are called the Vashta Nerada. Just now I protected you from them. They're everywhere here except for the pool of light where I landed." The Doctor paused then asked, "Who do the guards obey? You? Or the image of you, you allow?"
He walked closer bridging the space between them, maintaining eye contact. The old man had a strange aura to him, he could sense it, see it in their eyes. The Doctor's eyes were like his own- they showed the darkness from the unknown monsters they had seen; Attire he had seen on Midgard-nothing remarkable; Temper- a force of nature kept bound, like the All-Father. But the questions- so sharp that they could draw blood, there were only two people he knew who could say such things and one of them was the person he was speaking to before The Doctor interrupted. "No need to mock me Doctor, I am their king, they obey me."
"You were once their prince. The last time I saw you, Odin the All-Father was in charge."
"Time changes, it does not sit still. You should know that," he stroked the wooden façade of the blue box "given your vessel." He faced The Doctor, "That is how it works isn't it? Like the Bifrost? Letting you travel where you want to go. But even the Bifrost cannot vanish on sight."
"You are correct." The Doctor answered, "I call it a TARDIS, it stands for Time and Relative Dimensions in Space. It can allow travel through space-time just like the Bifrost. Vanishing and reappearing is the visual manifestation of the wormhole it opens and closes."
"So," He said as he started to walk around the TARDIS, "for a brief moment it becomes intangible upon landing. I didn't consider that type of bypassing, but it makes sense." He finished examining the exterior of the blue box and came back into view "One question still remains though Doctor," he shot look at The Doctor "why are you here?"
"How can you be so dim witted and stuck in shadow even as you enter the light?" The Doctor said angrily then softened as he continued "If you must know, a young prince once asked for help, I wasn't able to properly provide it then, but now I can. Loki that offer is still on the table.
He strode back over to The Doctor, "Don't say my name. It shouldn't be on your tongue, not after what you did."
o.0.o
"Why do you follow, Doctor?" The question was asked as they travelled down a corridor, the prince a few steps ahead. Like the main room the corridor too was kept dangerously unlit, "I thought I made it quite clear that I don't need your help."
"You're running and you're hiding. I can tell you from experience that doesn't go so well. You admitted that you cannot control the feeding of the Vashta Nerada, but as you step into their feeding ground with callous, I'm wondering if you even tried. That type of disregard for one's life is a cry for help."
The prince stopped, spun around and glared, looking like he was going to retort; then as though deciding not to turned back to continue walking. After a moment of silence, he said, "And I'm wondering if you are able to make that judgement. Maybe you have the freedom to hide Doctor with that box of yours but some of us do not."
They stopped for a second time next to an entrance to another room.
"Remember that I know about the Mad Titan, I told you to find a way to escape his grasp, and you did."
The Asgardian prince laughed darkly, "You think that's what happened? No. Escape is just another illusion when it comes to the Mad Titan. Do you know what happens when you try to construct a plan without him noticing? I don't think you do, since you're still alive."
The lights in the corridor flickered. Noticing the change both of them glanced upwards, then he replied, "This is not the first body I've been in, and I too have met foes as great as yours, but right now," he grabbed the wrist the of the prince, noticing the spark of fear in his eyes before it disappeared, "we need to go somewhere lighter, the piranhas of the air will be here."
o.0.o
There was a scream from behind as he steered the prince into the room and closed the heavy door. Promptly he took out his sonic to illuminate the room. As he looked around at the tables, chairs and shelves of books his companion spoke again, "Yes, it's the library, now I would really prefer not to do anything to your hand Doctor so can you please let go?"
"You don't need to threaten violence." He said letting go of the prince, "You are more afraid than you let on. Have you noticed that about yourself? It appears and disappears so quickly from your eyes I doubt no one, not even you recognize what the hostility hides.
"Afraid? What did I say about making judgments about me, Doctor?" The prince questioned, now at a podium flipping through a large volume with increasing speed, "Where do you get that impression? I don't hide." The fluttering of the paper slowed "There is nothing to hide."
He took a few steps forward, "We both know that there are many ways to conceal that don't end with magic." And cautiously placed a hand on the prince's shoulder, "You can't bring her back."
He felt the prince begin to shake.
"You are mistaken." The prince said in an almost whisper. "You are just like the rest of them Doctor, you think there is a bliss- that will kill you- that I will be satisfied, after you let me drown. You don't heed my words."
"You are right," he replied, removing his hand "In an effort to solve the greater problem I lost sight of you. How would I have known that instead of rising to the occasion, you were yet another to be consumed by the vortex? The nothingness? How can I not notice or care when there are others who live in this universe that have failed? That don't do well when alone because of the things we have endured? That there are those of us who need an anchor? We push the ones closest away and we don't see ourselves as good men. We meticulously plan our every action so that we don't reveal our true selves- that we're kind."
"Don't lie Doctor," The prince sneered, visibly shaking again "You cannot lie to me. You don't know who I truly am. Frigga was kinder. She was braver." The God of Mischief slammed the podium, "She wouldn't have let herself do the things that I did." He turned to face him with bloodshot eyes, "Why did have to be me, Doctor? To be cursed to live? Damn the nature of time. I'm not trying to save her- even though it should be I in her place, I let it happen- it is beyond that, I'm trying to save everyone else. Or at least the ones that don't already have a death sentence hanging above their heads, counting down."
The Prince walked away from the podium and was silent before, "Grant me a favour Doctor, if somehow I survive the Mad Titan because yes, it is he who befalls- kill me. If you really have endured the same things that I have or know what it's like, slay me on your sword. In return of the respect you once gave, I give you my trust upon my death."
o.0.o
"Leave Doctor," he said from an armchair, "I gave you what you wanted."
"I'm not leaving. Not right now. Whether you like it or not there is still-"
There was a scream and he looked up to see an outline of a guard standing in front of him.
"Lord, I came to tell you there is-" they paused, looking surprised as he stood up. "I'm sorry sire, I mean Prince. Prince Loki, I was looking for the All-Father, and I see you might be busy but it is urgent, I thought you were…"
He felt his wrist being tightened. "Before you say or do anything stupid," the voice of The Doctor spoke close to his ear, "Let me remind you that you just said that you wanted to save people."
"Ah, Doctor." He said signing and grinned "You might as well come out and say you love me." He vanished the knife he had drawn.
"Good." The Doctor slackened his grip but remained holding onto his wrist. "They are unnecessary. Instead, I want to point out that your guard has two shadows of the same shade. The room is well lit. He is a victim of the Vashta Nerada. They are microorganisms and this is how they feed unnoticed. Remember what I said about being kind-" The Doctor removed his hand from his wrist, "use your light."
He looked at The Doctor at his side then looked back at his subordinate, who looked fearful.
"Sire?"
"I am well aware of what's been happening." He said, "Whatever your thoughts are," he grinned menacingly, "Yes."
He summoned his magic, letting the green glow become apparent and then in one swift motion released it, engulfing the guard.
The light from his magic dissipated, bringing his subordinate back into view; visibly shaken but alive and with only one shadow.
"Thank you, my Prince." They stammered and knelt down. "For saving me with your magic. If you don't mind me telling, since you saved me, your skills would be helpful in combating this plague of darkness. Now that Queen Frigga has died and the All-Father spends so much time alone mourning her, I have to confess that we are getting desperate. Can I tell the others of your return?"
He quickly glanced at the Doctor, who motioned for him to reply. Looking back at the guard he slowly nodded allowing the guard to rise and leave.
o.0.o
"So, Doctor," he said once they were alone again and well out of ear shot, "Have I made you proud? Did I live up to your expectations? Are you satisfied?" He looked at the Doctor waiting for his reply.
"You crave those answers. But I have already given them to you."
He scoffed and looked down letting a smile slide, "Is that your occupation Doctor? Being endlessly infuriating?" He pressed his nails into his skin, "She was like that too."
"You mean your queen and mother. I do my best."
"I'll let you know that I don't like it." He stopped fidgeting, "What now?"
"Remember what your guard said? Help them, they need you. Continue showing your light, be the author of your own story."
"Of course, that's what you did, didn't you Doctor? With that TARDIS of yours, you re-wrote your own volume of history."
The Doctor got up from his chair. "Next time you need me you can try calling."