This chapter isn't plot-important, but if you'd like some fluff proceed on. Otherwise skip straight to the next chapter to get right into it. Enjoy :)
"I..My prince, you really shouldn't be moving around, you should rest." Eir said worriedly, trailing behind Loki. Loki handed a woman some food before turning, smiling slightly.
"I appreciate your concern, Eir, but I am fine. I feel my magic returning. I should be able to heal quickly. After all, there is no time left. Thanos could strike at any second. All he would need to do is snap his fingers, and half the universe would perish. Asgard's numbers have dwindled enough I cannot afford to lose more lives and risk Asgard's survival." Loki said, bowing slightly to Eir and speaking smoothly, easily lying to her. He knew his body wasn't exactly strong enough for this, but he couldn't afford any more time to be wasted. Eir was about to speak when they were interrupted by a rather flustered voice.
"Shh..just-..it's okay, calm down, your parents need some time to rest, they'll be back! it's okay!" Loki turned to see Valkyrie trying to calm a few crying children. He walked over immediately, kneeling down in front of the bawling children Valkyrie was talking to. Valkyrie shot him a dirty look but Loki ignored her, speaking gently to the children.
"Do not cry, little ones, your parents will be back shortly. Come, would you like me to tell you a story?" At that, a few children stopped crying, looking up curiously.
"Wh..what kind of story?" The boy right in front of him sobbed out, wiping his eyes. Loki smiled slightly, patting the boy's hair. He sat down gingerly, cross-legged as he continued to speak in an entrancing, gentle voice.
"Oh, just a simple one. Hmm...have you heard of the time my brother, Thor, dressed up as a woman to get back his beloved hammer, Mjolnir?" One by one, the children stopped crying, with only an occasional sniffle as they gathered around him, listening intently. And when the parents returned from their meal and rest, they were shocked to find the children laughing, as Loki told them how Thor sprang up from his disguise as Frigga, waving his hands as cartoonish projections moved around in front of them. Valkyrie smiled warmly at the parents as Loki finished the story.
"...and Thor struck them all down with one mighty blow of lighting from his trusty hammer, Mjolnir, still donning the bridal gown. The giants were easily defeated and punished for their actions. A mighty feast was held to celebrate the return of Mjolnir. And I? Not a day shall pass without me recalling how amusing and queer Thor looked, dressed as a woman while shouting and waving Mjolnir in the air. And that, little ones, is the story of how Thor got his hammer back." Loki finished smoothly, the realistic projection of Thor in a wedding gown-wearing jewels-while Mjolnir was waved around in the air still remaining in front of them. All the children burst out laughing and clapping as Loki got up and did a little bow, before making Thor's projection do the same, prompting even louder applause and laughter. At this, their parents were shaken out of their shock and ran over, picking up their children, who screamed happily and hugged their parents, before enthusiastically sharing with them the entertaining story. Loki smiled softly at them, before noticing the same boy he had spoken to earlier standing alone. Slowly, he approached the child, kneeling down and laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Why are you alone, little one?" He asked kindly, and the boy sniffed, looking down, before shooting the quickest glance at a couple hugging another child, smiling and laughing happily. But Loki caught the glance and saw them. Suddenly he saw himself in this small child, and his heart filled with emotions. A sort of determination came to him as he looked into the boy's lonely eyes. He would not let this innocent child walk down the same path he did. He smiled kindly.
"Do you know? When Thor and I were children, like you, I always felt that Odin and Frigga loved him more than me." Loki said softly, and the boy looked up suddenly, thirsting for someone to understand him.
"Really?" He asked, the eagerness flowing out from the one word.
"Yes, what I say now is all true. I always felt so desperate for their love. I always felt that everyone thought I wasn't as good as Thor. I wanted to prove to them I could be as good as him, I could be better than him." Loki said and the boy nodded along, eyes alit, knowing he was not alone. Loki looked him in the eye and placed both hands on his shoulders.
"But I want you to know, that no matter what you think, no matter what, your parents love you. They love you the same as your brother. Your brother loves you too. Your family loves you regardless of your blood...regardless. Remember this, and you will not make the same mistakes I once did. Love them back, and cherish their love...before it is too late. Alright?" The boy's eyes shone with understanding, relief and happiness, and he nodded. Loki smiled, ruffling the boy's hair and standing.
"Now go, return to your family. I am sure they will also want to hear from you the story I have told." The boy smiled brightly and bowed, muttering his thanks before sprinting to his family, who welcomed him with open arms as he began talking animatedly. Loki watched them with a bitter-sweet sort of regret and happiness.
"Thanks." Loki turned to see Valkyrie, and he bowed.
"It was my pleasure."
"When did you become so good with children?" She asked, smiling, and Loki opened his mouth, but Eir-who had appeared without them noticing again-answered for him.
"He always was. Now come, my prince, enough exhausting your magic on petty things. As your healer I demand you lay down and rest for at least an hour or two." Eir said, waving her hand towards the bed. Loki resigned himself to it, knowing he could not win against Eir, and followed her with Valkyrie.
"It was far from just being small petty things. Children must be enlightened of the tales of their ancestors. After all, they might learn from our mistakes and become far wiser than us when they eventually take our places... and they will build a better Asgard than any previous generation...they will not make the same mistakes we-...I did. And hopefully, peace and happiness will settle across the Nine Realms...if we survive this. Otherwise, I would like to at least have contributed to one of their happy memories before they die." Loki said, deep in thought as Eir handed him a glass of water and medicine, that he took without complaints. Eir smiled warmly as she took the glass away.
"You've changed."
"I have." He admitted truthfully, slightly uncomfortable.
"For the better, I hope." She turned, eyes teary, and stroked his cheek, gazing deeply into his deep emerald eyes.
"Frigga would be so proud. Her beloved son...she thought lost forever...finally returned." She whispered, and Loki's eyes widened and trembled. If anyone looked closely they'd catch a glimpse of his eyes tearing as he looked away.
"...thank you, Eir. really...I..." He said softly, looking back and smiling genuinely. Eir understood what he meant. She smiled warmly as she took him into his arms and embraced him with the love of a mother that he hadn't felt for years.
"You can't be serious." Valkyrie said, walking along side Loki. It had been 2 days. Loki had recovered significantly, even if walking was still a considerable challenge-though he wouldn't tell anybody-and they'd managed to get some supplies from an inhabited planet (Loki would not be telling them anytime soon how he acquired them): enough to sustain them for at least a week or two. Now, though, Loki was planning his next move.
"I am. I must go to Midgard and assist the Avengers...and my brother. I can provide my fair share of help, especially some insight on what Thanos wants...since I have been in his service before." Loki's tone darkened.
"And what about me? I should go with you! And what about your people? You can't just leave us here drifting around in space! You're the only person left to lead them! If you go..." Valkyrie trailed off as Loki began arming himself. He turned for a moment.
"You will lead them." Valkyrie stares stunned at him.
"You did well before I arrived, I know you will do as well when I leave. I must." Loki said, gathering a few daggers and storing them in his inter-dimensional pocket.
"I will cloak the ship before I leave, such that you are invisible. You are to remain here, stationary, hidden and safe, for as long as you can until there is a need. That is an official order from the Prince of Asgard." Loki said sharply at the end, turning. His eyes soften at the sight of Valkyrie.
"Stay safe, and protect our people for me. And know this. I will return." Loki paused. His last words to Thor came right back in a painful, bitter pang in his gut. He turned away.
"The sun will shine on us again." He whispered, before striding out of the room. Before he left he spoke to all the Asgardians, hoping to provide reassurance and what little hope they had left.
"...And know that I will be fighting for all of us. Always. For Asgard!" Loki shouted, raising his fist.
"FOR ASGARD!" All the people screamed, cheering and clapping. Loki would never have thought a day would arrive when people would be cheering instead of jeering him. It felt...great, refreshing, a remarkable difference from how he was usually treated the previous 1500 years. Loki was still deep in his thoughts when a hand tugged at his shirt. Loki looked down as a small, trembling voice spoke.
"You...You'll come back, right? Right?" It was the little boy he'd spoken to, the one he had grown quite fond of. He smiled.
"Yes, little one. I will come back." The boy seemed on the verge of tears.
"Do you promise?" He murmured. He pointed at Loki.
"Do you promise?!" This time he shouted as loud as he could, and Loki was taken aback. He knelt down again.
"Hey, calm down.." he soothes but the boy shook his head.
"Promise! Promise me! You'll come back?! Promise me! Promise us! You won't leave us alone here, right? You promise, right? You won't leave us alone..." The boy was screaming, voice trembling as he balled his fist around the cloth of Loki's shirt. Loki stares, stunned, at the boy. He never thought anyone would want him to come back, wouldn't want him to leave. He quickly recovered, looking seriously into the boy's eyes and speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I...promise. I promise I'll come back." He said firmly. The boy nodded but still looked unsure as Loki stood, ruffling his hair.
"I swear on my mother, Frigga's, name, that I will not abandon my people here and that I will return." He said loudly and firmly. The people burst into cheers again as he turned and left. Striding down the corridors, he arrived at the pod. It had been repaired-with a little bit of magic and some scraps-cleaned up, refueled and stocked with supplies. The pod was now ready for a long journey. To Earth. Loki inhaled deeply. Once again memories of his brother rushed back to him, no matter how hard he tried to push them to the back of his mind. He paused at the doorway of the pod, hands trembling slightly.
"Lackey I-..." Loki whipped around with the slightest flinch, but relaxed when he saw that it was Valkyrie.
"Valkyrie." Loki said, voice smooth and disguised of emotion as always.
"Hey." Valkyrie paused before forcing her eyes to look into Loki's.
"I just wanted to...apologize...for hitting you. That was uncalled for." Loki stared at her, slightly stunned, before quickly recovering.
"It's alright, I expected you to be mad." Valkyrie leaned against the doorframe.
"You...still haven't told us how you managed to survive." Valkyrie said softly, slightly unsure about touching this surely sensitive issue. But Loki knew they'd ask sooner or later, and they had a right to know.
He turned, walking into the pod and busying himself with it. Finally, he took in a deep breath and spoke.
"The one he...that you saw...that was merely a powerful illusion...one nearly impossible to tell from the real. It was difficult, very difficult... but Thanos believed in...balance. He was going to kill Thor, I knew he was. But I thought that if he killed one brother...or at least thought he killed one, he'd spare the other... and Thor would live. So I made him believe he killed me. But the magic necessary to create a realistic projection, enough to trick Thanos, was...immense. Even though I hid concealed elsewhere in the ship, my connection to the projection was strong...it was necessary to be convincing. And yet, the infinity stones somehow reached through my illusion...to me. I felt most of what my illusion felt, I could feel him. I could feel the pain...the.. everything..." Loki had stopped moving, fingers brushing his heavily bruised neck, although it was recovering. Valkyrie had entered the pod, slowly approaching him.
"I held on till the last moment, before I cut the connection. Yet I was drained of magic and strength, and was...vulnerable. I got caught in the blow. You know what happened after that." Loki didn't turn to face her, fingers still hovering close to his neck, and Valkyrie could tell he was reliving the painful nightmare of a memory. Cautiously, she touched his shoulder. His barely suppressed flinch did not go unnoticed, yet he did not react vehemently to the action. Gingerly, she turned Loki around, looking at him face-to-face.
"Hey...It's okay. It's over now. You... did the right thing. You stood by Asgard, by your brother's side." Valkyrie said softly. Loki stared at the ground.
"I will never leave his side. Not again. Not after this." Loki muttered.
"...I think I should go." Valkyrie took a step back.
"Ah, yes, I..I guess I'll be on my way. I...see you soon. Good luck." She said awkwardly, shifting closer to the door.
"And don't you dare leave me alone here with them, you better return or I will find you myself and drag you back." Valkyrie said sharply, and Loki smiled slightly, nodding. As Valkyrie turned and headed out the door Loki felt a strange urge in his heart.
"Wait." The word slipped out of his mouth before he knew it and Valkyrie paused at the door.
"What's your name? Your real name. Surely Valkyrie isn't your real name, it was the term used for the group of female warriors." Loki said, forcing his voice to stay smooth and calm. Loki could see her stiffen slightly and she hesitated. But finally...
"Brunnhilde." It was a soft whisper, filled with pain and distaste.
"My name's Brunnhilde." She said it slightly louder than a whisper without turning around, hiding her expression. She steeled herself.
"Good bye, Loki." And with those final parting words Brunnhilde left the pod, forcing her legs to move, her feet to keep stepping one in front of the other. She didn't turn back, she didn't look around, because she was afraid of what would happen if she did. She didn't know what would happen, and she didn't want to find out. Loki stared after her, at the closed door, eyes slightly glazed over. Brunnhilde... hmmm... Loki shook himself, pushing all his thoughts to the back of his mind. He had a mission, and he couldn't be distracted. He needed to focus. With new resolution, Loki turned and sat in the pod, flicking switches and pushing buttons. He felt the gently jerk as the pod detached from the ship, and Loki set course for his next destination, eyes burning with determination: Earth.
