((I'm going to see Infinity War on May 5. Since all this is happening before it – and that includes the end – and because I know where I'm going with this, the story itself will not be influenced.
The chapter heading is a line from Honor for All, the outro of Dishonored, which I love something fierce.
On a completely unrelated note, capitalisation in chapter headings is probably the one thing in the English language that will always confuse me.))
7. We Live for Today but We Die for the Next
Heid was colourless as her hands hovered over the body, trying to gauge what had happened to the poor soul and when. Who she was she had known, and since that realisation she was white as a sheet. She had yet to tell them, but immediately after saying she knew her, she had set to work and the brothers hadn't wanted to interrupt her focus. Loki felt out of place. He wanted to leave, to run away. But Thor was almost as pale as Heid and he kept close, communicating without words that he needed him and Loki found that his legs refused to follow the command to turn and walk away from all this. Instead, he placed a hand between Thor's shoulder blades, and when he didn't move away, started rubbing small circles. Thor leaned into his hand, relaxing somewhat. 'Thanks,' he said softly. For what, Loki knew. Being there.
At last, Heid lowered her hands. For a few moments she closed her eyes. 'Asphyxiation,' she said simply. 'Not through physical violence.' She lowered her voice. 'Strange. There was enough of that, but it wasn't to kill her.'
'Are we sure she wasn't just strangled? Can you make anything out, given her state?'
Heid nodded. 'Enough to tell that she wasn't restrained at all. She held still through this. All of this.'
Thor stared at the uncountable cuts. 'How?'
'Because,' Loki said, 'she was controlled. By someone with amazing mental powers. This is not easy. And it must have been a witch. At least we are certain about that now.'
'Who was she,' Thor asked.
Heid wide eyes stared into nothing. 'The grandmother of the boys whose mother was killed before.'
'Oh no.' Thor's voice was soft.
'I believe,' Loki said, 'we should talk to Solvi again.'
'You think it was her?'
Loki shrugged. 'No. But I think there's something she's not saying. I'd like you to be there. Maybe she'll have a harder time lying to her king.'
'So you don't think we should wait this out anymore?'
Loki ignored him. 'When did she die, Heid?'
'In the early hours of dawn. Well. What passes for that on the ship.'
His expression hardened. 'Ah. Might I ask what the rest of the council talked about after Thor and I left? You lingered. I'm sure there was something.' Heid avoided his gaze. 'You wondered if it was me, didn't you? I bet you everyone on this ship does.'
'I don't!' Thor said emphatically. 'I didn't before, and now I can confirm it because you were with me at that time.'
'That's just it, though.' Loki looked at him. 'Someone knew I was with you. They did it when I have the perfect alibi. So there are two options what the intention is. Maybe it's both, even.'
Heid's grim smile told him her mind was going along with his. 'They want to discredit Thor. If he protects you, this will breed doubt. If he doesn't, it drives a wedge between you, weakening him just as much because you as an ally are an incredible asset.'
'That is one of the two,' Loki said. 'The other is worse than that and the reason we have to act. They want to be found and will keep killing until they are.'
'That makes no sense,' Thor said.
Heid snorted. It was entirely without humour. 'Oh, it does. We're not talking about someone sane.'
Loki indicated the body. 'This was the cruellest murder I've seen in my life. This person wants credit.'
'Credit?' Thor's voice cracked. 'Credit for this? Expecting … what? Praise?'
'Perhaps even that,' Loki said softly. 'More likely, it's just about attention. This is someone who feels they ought to be wielding power. Thor, the best thing for you to do is not to reveal that I have to be innocent. Protect your credibility, get me out of the council officially. No, listen. They're trying to mess with you. It's time you start messing with them instead.'
Heid nodded fervently. 'Maybe he's right. Loki, you're our best shot at getting answers, I think, and we need both of you on this. We can't put you in the brig.'
'Whoa!' Thor's voice was becoming thunderous. 'I won't even consider …'
'Shut up,' Loki barked. 'Listen to us. This ship has no room that can hold me against my will anyway. But you have to play along.'
'But if who did this knows that you were with me …'
'They do,' Loki said. 'The ship does not.'
'Then they should.' He took Loki's hands. 'Let them know, Loki. I told you last night. I am not ashamed of you.'
'They wouldn't believe you! They'd say you protect your brother.' He swallowed. 'Your lover.'
'I'm their king.'
Loki grabbed Thor's shoulders. He barely held himself from shaking some sense into him. 'Yes. And you need to stay that.'
'There is one problem with that plan,' Heid said. 'It will alert them to you. If you act the way they intend, they'll feel a lot safer than if you start showing that you see through their plan. If that is, indeed, what it was.'
Thor nodded slowly. 'Here's a thought. We're going to discuss this. I will reveal the truth – all of it – to the council. I would also like to bring in Solvi.'
'Seat her before a tribunal of Asgard's finest,' Loki said. 'Should convince her to talk.'
'Exactly.' He shook his head. 'No. Whatever you say, whatever the others will say, I will not allow you to be blamed for this, even as an act. If I do this, even if we catch the real culprit, a foul taste will linger with some people. If my standing needs to be protected, so does yours.' He looked at Heid. 'And there is something else. My friend. The Hulk. I need you to help him change. If there is anyone in your department who can do that … He's got one hell of a brain and I need him on the council. Yesterday.'
'Well, in the widest sense, his affliction is a disease and I might be able to help, at least temporarily,' Heid said quietly. 'Will he trust me?'
Thor nodded. 'Tell him I sent you. Be careful and if he won't work with you, don't push but call me. Just don't tell him what you're trying to do. Tell him you mean to bolster him. Join us after talking to him. Loki … we're summoning the rest. Right now.'
Ϡ
It took almost half an hour until the council – except Heid – was assembled. Thor studied his hands until they had all settled, acknowledging each one of them with a nod. 'Sorry for the short notice,' he said. 'There has been another murder. Heid will join us in a little while, but she knows all of this.' He sighed. 'We believe that this person wants to discredit me in the eyes of our people. To what end … we're not sure.' He frowned. 'In case anyone is wondering but won't ask until after I have left the room, Loki was with me at the time it happened. He was with me all night.'
Valkyrie's eyes narrowed. 'What do you mean, he was with you all night? Doing what?'
Gullveig snorted. 'Unless you want details, that's a very daft question.'
'I'm sorry,' Korg said, 'but aren't you … I mean, is it common for Asgardians to you know …' He made a flailing gesture that could only reference something sexual with a lot of imagination. 'With siblings?'
'We're not related,' Thor said simply. 'And it's not up for debate. I don't care about your opinions. Regarding this at least.'
Heimdall gave him a long look. 'I admit that I watched Loki's movement. I can attest that he did not leave his room last night.'
'Good, that will have more weight than the word of his lover.'
'I would not tell the people that at all, Thor.' Heimdall's voice was calm as ever. 'Tell them you know he was elsewhere, tell them I am witness to it, but I don't think they should know about the nature of your relationship at this point. If you want it known when all this is over, it will be something entirely different.'
'He's right,' Loki said quietly. 'This is ideal.'
'What I want to make very clear,' Thor said, 'is that Loki remains on this council. I will not give this monster an inch of room by succumbing to pressure.'
Heimdall nodded slowly. 'I agree. You would show your hand.'
There was a soft knock on the door. 'Come in,' Thor called.
Inside stepped Heid, her expression schooled carefully. It didn't last long before her face was filled with pride. 'I bring you Solvi. She came to me herself.' She ushered the woman inside. Solvi was clutching a piece of paper in white hands. 'Oh, and of course there's the other thing,' Heid said way too casually. She threw the door open wide.
Behind her, wide-eyed and uncomfortable in his pale skin, stood Bruce Banner. His searching eyes found Thor. He pointed an accusing finger at him. 'What the hell is going on here?'
