Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Marvel-characters!
AN: Well, I have to admit that writing this chapter has been difficult. I couldn't get it to flow which is why you had to wait for it for so long. My apologies for that. Also, I want to thank everyone that left me those awesome reviews! They are what keep me writing. I hope you'll all like what I have written this time!
~ Shadows and Regrets ~
Chapter 7
~ o ~
A few weeks earlier on Asgard
~ o ~
Ever since Posco involuntarily broke his nose, Loki had been left in peace. They no longer mocked or threatened him, but that also meant it had become boring again. Each time, two guards came in, placed the rope around his wrists and guided him outside for half an hour. Honestly, he was beginning to think he missed Posco's attitude.
Then another regular day came where Posco and a new guard entered his cell.
"Ah, is it that time again?" Loki asked. He stood up from where he had been previously lying on his bed and spun around to face his oh-so-favorite guard. "How is the weather?"
"It is good…my Lord."
That was – different. Loki and the guards did not talk often – never actually – but to hear Posco actually call him 'my Lord' was just a tad too much. "So polite." He couldn't help but mock the man. "Only last week you thought me scum and broke my nose and now I am your Lord again. Why the change of heart?"
Posco, who was binding his wrists together, looked up to meet his gaze. They stood challenging, but also distant and calculated. "I realize my mistake," he replied calmly, "I crossed a line. I still think you are not worth to be our King's son, as I am sure you still think me a lowly servant, but I do take my job seriously."
Loki had not expected this answer.
"I should not have hit you."
"You should not have," Loki agreed. Whatever this man told him, he still distrusted him. But something had changed now even though Loki could not quite name it. "Now you've made everything awkward."
The next thirty minutes passed without incident and Loki was glad of it. He enjoyed his time outside and realized how much he missed his freedom. With every day that went by, he lost more and more of his magic. If Loki did not do something soon, he would find himself ordinary.
Then, as if by some miracle, the opportunity came.
Posco escorted Loki back to his cell – along with that new guard. However, said guard was not very good at his job and he was distracted while remaining outside in the stone hallway. Loki felt the little hairs in the back of his neck stand up when thinking of his options. He looked directly into Posco's eyes and saw – for the first time – no hatred in them. Had this opportunity arrived yesterday, Loki would never have hesitated.
Today, however… Why did that fool have to apologize?
Loki remembered everything that had happened to him lately. His fall from the bridge, his alliance with the Chitauri, his attack on earth and much, much more. If he did not act right now, he would be stuck in this cell for another long time. By then, his magic would be gone. That made the case clear.
Just before Posco moved to remove the ropes around his wrists, Loki kicked out and hit Posco in his stomach. The guard was completely taken off guard and Loki used it to his advantage. He turned him around and started choking him with his ropes. Feeling the life leave this man's body was almost thrilling. Loki had never liked Posco and that apology had almost ruined it all, but in the end, it felt good. It felt just.
The second guard should never have left his post! By the time he returned, he found his prisoner killing his guard.
The new guard hurried inside, using his spear to attack Loki, but of course that was useless. Loki might not have his magic, but he had always been quick on his feet. He darted aside and grabbed the spear with both his hands. With one quick pull, he gained control of the weapon and turned it against the guard. Loki knocked him of his feet and quickly began to strangle him as well. It had all passed in less than five minutes.
Loki cut his ropes and stepped out of the cell. A tingling sensation invaded his body and he knew it was his magic returning to him, though it was faint. Too faint to use. Now was not the time to think about this, however, and Loki ran. He reached the end of the hall and ascended the long staircase. He got to the top in less than a minute.
He could hear more guards coming after him, but Loki dared not look back. Somewhere in the distance, an alarm sounded. Now the whole of Asgard knew he had escaped. If only his magic would grow stronger, then he could transport himself away from here. He stopped for a second to catch his breath and he used the opportunity to reach out to his magic again. He could feel it like a snake twisting and turning in his chest, but it was still too weak. All he needed to do, Loki realized, was buy himself time.
He began to run again and made a left turn. That had been a mistake. Not twenty feet away stood Odin, Gungnir in his hands and pointed at him. Loki came to a quick halt and realized he was trapped. His eyes grew wide and breaths came out raggedly. Just buy yourself time, Loki reminded himself.
"Allfather," Loki breathed, never looking away from Odin's cold blue eyes.
"Why, Loki?" Odin asked, his voice even and calculated as always. "Was your punishment not just?"
Loki licked his lips, suddenly aware of how thirsty he felt. "I guess it is in my nature to defy you," he said challenging, "I've never been your perfect son, I've never been your son, so why do you keep expecting me to obey?"
Odin's eyes narrowed and his grip on Gungnir tightened. "Did you kill your guards?"
"Yes," Loki answered, not seeing to point in lying about it, "yes, I did."
Behind him, two dozen guards appeared. They looked bigger than the ones having guarded him all this time and Loki knew they were out for blood. They were all without doubt best buddies with Posco.
"You cannot escape," Odin said, "surrender now and end this."
Loki had come too far for that. "Never."
A dead moment passed. Loki considered using his magic – even the easiest spell might help him – but he knew that would be pointless. He decided to let it grow stronger first. Then Odin realized his plan and Loki felt like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes widened and he could only watch as Odin fired his weapon. He fell down, his chest burning. If only he had something to fight back with.
~ o ~
Present time
~ o ~
When Thor first arrived back at his chambers, he was surprised to find that they felt strangely unfamiliar. Perhaps it was because he had been residing on earth for so long now. He could remember every detail of this room, but he felt detached from it all. It was probably because of the situation right now. He had difficulty keeping his head straight with everything that was happening to his brother.
His brother who wasn't even his brother.
Odin and Frigga had told him the truth some days after Loki had fallen from the bridge and Thor had felt torn for long. When he had learned of Loki's actions back on earth, he had been angry. Somehow, it had all began to make sense. But now Thor knew where he stood. Loki might not share his blood, but they grew up together and Thor would never stop calling him 'brother'. It had been a wise decision.
Yet now he was faced with a few impossible tasks. Protecting Loki would not be easy. Odin wanted him in a cell, Fury and the rest of the Avengers probably wanted him in the deepest dungeon of Asgard and then there were the Chitauri. They demanded Loki's head on a plate. His young brother should learn to keep more friends than enemies.
A short knock on his door disrupted his train of thoughts. Thor inhaled deeply and forced himself to focus. He called to enter and was pleased to see the Warriors Three and the Lady Sif. It had been so long since he had spoken with them and he was glad that they looked good.
"We heard what happened on Midgard," Sif said, not bothering to greet him properly. She looked tense, but then again, she always looked tense when matters were about Loki. "The Chitauri did not attack the earth, did they?"
"Not that I know of," Thor answered. He didn't want to imagine what would happen if that race did decide to attack earth. He feared for his friends, but he could not run to their aid just yet. Loki was his first concern. He was family after all. "They made some demands, but Loki told me that they have done the same here." He drew strength from that thought and besides, the Avengers weren't the only one to stand in for earth's defences.
"That's true," Fandral said, clearly remembering the event of the Chitauri making their demands in this realm.
Thor, realizing that he didn't know much of it all, decided that it was time to change that. He wanted details, more specifically; he wanted to know how Odin had handled it all. Thor knew how difficult it was for his father to keep loyal and affectionate about his youngest son. "What did the Allfather say?"
Sif looked confused. "You do not know?"
Thor shook his head.
"He is considering the Chitauri's offer," she explained, "we can only guess what he'll decide in the end."
Anger flooded Thor's veins. He could not believe Odin would even need time to think about this. If this was true, then Loki – as he had claimed in the first place - was not safe here. Then where in this entire universe was he safe? "I must speak with my father," Thor said, his voice hard, "I will not allow anyone to hand over my brother to those primates."
"Thor, you cannot go now," Volstagg stopped Thor, "your father has made it clear that he does not wish to be disturbed."
He would be stubborn about this. "He will be disturbed by me, his son."
"You don't understand," Sif said, something hidden in her gaze that Thor failed to recognize, "he's with them right now."
His heart skipped a beat while his hands transformed into two fists. They ached for Mjolnir. "The Chitauri are with my father?"
The three warriors and lady Sif looked awkward.
"Yes," Hogun said.
Thor spun around and headed for the exit. His hand swung out towards his bed where his hammer lay, but it instantly flew to his open hand. Thor swiftly caught it and stormed outside while ignoring the pleading cries of his friends. If Odin was with the Chitauri, then now was the time to tell them how Thor felt about Loki. He could finish this madness once and for all.
He might just slay them all if they refused to leave Loki be.
AN: Without revealing anything; next chapter might hold some answers…
