This could not be true. Odin must be fronting this for some other sentence. Loki's thoughts frenzied as hope and despair warred in his mind, each fighting with possibilities of life and death.
It had to be execution. Odin would say he was sending Loki to Midgard, then kill him as soon as they reached the study. Tell the populace he was on Midgard, then wait an adequate time to announce his untimely death at the hands of the mortals. It was a short, simple, brutal punishment wrapped in the gauze of mercy.
If he was truly to be sent to Midgard, Loki would escape in no time and carry out his cowering plan, hiding until he found a way to regain power and defeat Thanos once and for all. He would overcome Death's Mate and take his place as the wielder of great power.
The study was nearby, so he had little time to analyze the plans floating and drifting through his mind without real direction. The possibilities were unknown as long as he did not know his true fate. Where once planning for both eventualities would have been exhilarating, it was now tiresome, heavy work, his mind drained and slow to cooperate. Loki realized this with a spike of anger as the guards assembled in front of the unlit fireplace.
Frigga, Thor, and the mortals entered a moment later, and they stood in an uncertain half circle around him. The mortals were looking from Frigga to him to each other, but they remained silent. The Captain placed himself slightly between the witch and Loki, and that caused Loki some amusement. As though the pitiful strength of a mortal, even the strongest one alive, could save her from his wrath.
The woman gazed at him with something like understanding deep in her eyes. Loki wanted to rip them from their sockets to show just what he thought of her pity, her connection. Unlike in the throne room, all challenge was gone from her attitude, and she made no move to speak or approach him. From time to time, her eyes would unfocus and stare past him, and Loki knew she was reading his thoughts. He made them gruesome, imagining her death in every unpleasant way his centuries of life had taught him. She did not respond, watching him with the same quiet interest and infuriating concern.
Frigga and Thor stayed quiet as well, but their gazes never wavered from Loki. Thor was looking at him with anticipation, as though hope still lay in his heart waiting for either a warm sun to let it grow, or a cold breeze to chill it to nonexistence. In accordance with his hidden, monstrous nature, Loki planned for the cold. Frigga's expression was the most familiar: love and sadness— he'd seen it many times before. When they were younger, Loki and Thor often got into mischief of the more troublesome variety. Very unbecoming of future kings. Odin would rail and rave, and Loki grew more used to the sound with every misdemeanor, but Frigga's gaze of sadness always told him if he had truly disappointed her.
Even now, it was difficult to keep those memories at bay. Loki brought up his own suffering, his hundreds of years as a shadow, Odin's critiques of him compared to Thor, and the censure of Thor's friends. It helped him focus on something other than the faces in front of him, as painful, anger-filled images bled over his vision.
Odin finally entered after long moments of silence, walking to stand near Thor and Frigga, directly in front of Loki.
"Step forward," he commanded, and Loki did as he was asked, showing no hesitation or fear. He came to a clanking halt in front of Odin, within reach but distant enough to avoid intimacy.
Odin raised his arm, and Gungnir slammed into the floor, making the mortals jump. Loki felt magic crawling up his legs, through his feet, into his bones, and settling there with a hot glow of energy that his chains prevented him from accessing. He did not move or acknowledge it, declining to give Odin the pleasure of flustering him with Loki's own weapon of choice.
"With these spells I bind you to the mortals you see here," Odin began, and Loki's heart sank with each word. Do not look at them. Do not recoil. "You will obey their every command. You will fight alongside them. You will not use magic against them or their brethren, unless they allow it. They hold the key to your freedom, and if they should fall, you will return to Asgard to face execution."
Loki's jaw clenched painfully tight as the chains suddenly disappeared from his body, leaving him bound instead by the fading itch of energy that settled into his body. A bracelet— small, thin, gold chain, perfect fit— had appeared on his wrist in their wake, and Loki knew it would not be removed by any but the spell caster and those he'd put in charge.
He let his gaze wander to his new captors, feeling every evil intention toward them file into his head in a hot, dark mass of hatred. The Captain glared back, but Loki ignored him, the pure, truthful patriot. The woman was who he focused on, that witch, that presumptuous harlot. Who was she to control him? He knew without asking that this had been mostly her idea. Her calm expression in the face of Odin declaration proved she'd had time to plan for it.
Frigga stepped into his line of vision, blocking his view of the mortals. "Loki," she began. "We will leave shortly for Earth." Her expression hardened as she looked into his face, but her eyes still remained sorrowful, with something like hope flickering behind them. "I am going to negotiate with their authorities to allow your stay with Lady Eleanore and Captain Rogers. Before we leave, however, I have a final order for you to follow above all others," she took a deep breath. "You will protect these two, and the team of Avengers above all else. No matter what they say, no matter what you feel, these people are your life. Heimdall will be watching you at all times, for your protection and theirs." Loki's eyes widened as he realized she was taking their side. He was outnumbered, as usual, and being sent away. Out of sight, out of trouble for them.
"You are eager to be rid of your supposed kin," Loki spoke to both the King and Queen, his voice full of scorn. Thor shifted, but remained silent, his gaze locked on the floor.
"We hope your time on Earth will help you heal," Frigga responded simply, and Loki caught himself nearly gaping in astonishment.
"That pitiful whore and the useless soldier are good for nothing more than clumsy fighting and weak resistance," he scoffed. Behind Frigga, the Captain stepped into view, the witch holding him back with a hand on his arm and a shake of her head.
Frigga's expression changed to shocked disappointment, but she quickly covered it with a smile. "Think what you will, we leave now," she said firmly. She did not approve of such language, Loki knew from past centuries of reprimand and etiquette lessons. The Captain and the witch approached her and stood near Loki, close enough for a quick snap of one of their necks.
As though sensing his intentions, the Captain placed himself closest to Loki as they formed a tight circle. Frigga placed her hand on the wench's arm and Loki's and the Captain held onto his teammate.
"Travel well," Odin nodded, raising Gungnir once more. Loki saw the power of the Tesseract gather at the spear's tip in a glowing ball of blue. "My Queen, when you wish to return, Heimdall will inform me." Frigga inclined her head, her expression now neutral.
Gungnir crashed into the floor, and the flash of energy from its impact carried the four travelers in an instant to Midgard's surface.
They landed on a rooftop in the pouring rain without the symbols the Bifrost usually left behind. From what Loki could see, this was not New York or Stuttgart. The buildings surrounding them were small, thin residences of brick and mortar with flat gravel roofs. Further away on all sides, taller structures loomed in the haze. After a moment spent looking around and at each other, the two mortals seemed to have their bearings.
"This way," the Captain lead them over to a small shelter that housed a door and a small, ash-filled receptacle that reeked of the mortals' tiny smoking papers. Loki followed, only to escape the downpour. The Captain held the door open for them, and it led down two flights of stairs and into a bright yellow hallway with red wooden doors. 216 A and B occupied one side of the hall, and 216C took up the other.
"Steve, can you…" the witch left her question hanging in the air as the Captain nodded. She darted toward the 216C door, and pulled a key from under the rug in front of it. "Brogan, are you here?" she called, entering the establishment. A mumbled male voice answered indistinctly.
"This is my apartment over here," the Soldier retrieved his own key from under his mat at door 216A and let himself into a dark room.
Frigga followed him, looking back. "Come, Loki."
The lights began burning as they walked into a small, tiled area that led on one side into a kitchen full of mortal's instruments with a closet at the end, and the other into a bathroom. In front of them lay an entertaining area that seemed to double as a modest study, with one blue chair and one brown fabric cushioned bench against the right wall with a small, half-filled bookshelf between them. A television sat on a table against the closest wall, and a door in the left led into what Loki presumed was a bedroom.
"Please, have a seat," the Captain offered. Frigga placed herself on the couch, and Loki sat in the chair to be contrary. He wondered why the wench had not followed them into this hovel. "Can I get you anything? I've got water or some food I could heat up."
"Water would be lovely, Captain," Frigga smiled up at him, her court manners in place. Loki just glared.
"Water." Rogers reached around and opened a cupboard, producing two clear glasses that he filled from a contraption on the sink. He handed one to Frigga, and set one on a small table beside Loki.
A series of thumping footsteps and impatient protests seeped from the hall through the closed door.
"Why do I have to go? You said I could meet him!" a male voice whined, retreating down the stairs.
"One, I have bigger problems, you can meet him later." The witch sounded annoyed. "Two, you seriously grossed up my apartment when I asked you not to."
"It's not that bad."
"It's awful, and I have guests waiting." Her steps echoed away and the door closed as the man continued down the steps, grumbling inaudibly. Loki was almost amused at the witch's dismissal of her underling. Perhaps she had minions, like mortal sorceresses before her. The pleasant image of her falling to the stolen power in which she dabbled crossed his mind, and he suppressed a smile.
"She won't be long," the Captain promised, hiding his own grin of a different origin.
"If I may," Frigga stood and made her way toward the door. "I believe I can help her."
"She won't want you to see the mess," the Captain warned.
"I will offer through the door," Frigga smiled at him again, and swept into the hall.
The Soldier rubbed his neck, and fought back a sigh. He looked at Loki, "She makes a good queen."
Loki did not reply, but silently agreed. Of the royals on the throne, Frigga was by far the most understanding and possibly the more intelligent of the two.
He felt a stirring of magic from the hallway, and the witch's door opened abruptly.
"Are you— thank you so much!" she was out-of-breath and relieved.
"It is my pleasure," Frigga assured her. "Shall I bring the others?"
"I'll get them, come in. That's Charlie, he's affectionate." Footsteps across the hall again, and the Captain's door opened without ceremony. "Steve, she cleaned everything, and the garbage disappeared. Loki, come on over."
Already giving him orders. Loki felt his essential nature resisting the call to obey, but he stood and followed her out of the room, the Captain behind him. He would not allow them to see him struggle undignifiedly until he found a way to break the curse.
"We have a while before SHIELD shows up," the witch tossed the words over her shoulder, probably meant for both of them, as she opened her door.
This dwelling was nearly identical to the Captain's, but with two bedroom doors and different furniture. Frigga seated on the gray cushioned bench of this place in front of the windows, a large brown chair, and a dark gray circular one situated on the wall that connected to the rightmost bedroom. There was a larger book case between the chairs, and a lamp with multiple facets and spindly arms that emitted a warm light. The place felt and smelled clean, and Loki could sense the last traces of Frigga's magic dissipating along the edges.
"I'll give you a tour." Lady Eleanore paused with her hand on the door of the white icebox, leaning against it a moment. She moved away from it, brushing past Loki with a lack of concern that would have proved deadly in any other situation. As it was, Loki knew he would just look foolish if he lashed out, and that was the only thing that kept him from testing Frigga's orders so quickly. Besides, the Captain was eyeing him with enough caution for both of the mortals put together.
"Loki, this will be your bedroom," the apparently oblivious woman opened the white door on the right and flipped a switch on the wall, covering the room in pale light that emitted from the ceiling fixture. Loki walked slowly up behind her and noted the minuscule quarters. A bed, barely long enough for him, a desk with a chair, a chest of drawers, a closet, and a bookshelf all occupied an area around twelve feet square. If this was to be his cell, Loki would suffocate.
"It looks pleasant," Frigga complemented, giving the hostess a smile. Loki shot his not-mother a silent look of incredulity, which she replied to, mouthing the words, "Be polite."
"Thanks," Lady Eleanore returned, not aware of the silent conversation, moving out the door, again so close to Loki that he felt her breath as she passed him. The mortal witch was already entirely too comfortable around him. He was, after all, very dangerous. "This is my room," she gestured at the other door across the living area, opening it to reveal a similarly-sized space. She didn't bother to turn the light on. "Kitchen, pantry, and bathroom." Within that short amount of time, the tour of the hovel was complete. "Oh, and this is Charlie." A small animal with a tail nearly as long as its body darted up to her and rubbed against her legs. "He's my cat, kitten really. He's new here too." She picked up the animal and it began emitting a rumbling noise.
"Things have certainly changed since I last visited Midgard." Frigga looked around, settling back onto the couch. Loki had to agree. He could not remember his mother ever visiting this realm, therefore she must have done so long before he did, probably just after his 'adoption' and the Ice War.
"They must have," the Captain agreed, taking a seat at the counter stool. "I was only gone for seventy years, and I barely recognize the place." A hint of sadness crept into his voice at the end, and the Lady shot him a concerned glance.
Just then, a buzzing filled the silent room. Loki honed in on the source immediately: the Captain's pocket where he sat on the stool.
"Sorry, just a minute." Rogers stood and pulled a communication device from his pocket, looking at the clear screen which read "Stark, Darren Mobile 1." "Elle, is your cell phone off?" He turned the screen to face her and she stepped toward him. Loki figured out that the pet name was actually not a letter, only a shortened version of her true name. Unoriginal.
"Oh, it must be. Here," she held out her hand, placing the cat on the ground, and Rogers gave her the device. "Hello?"
"Hey, your phone's off." The voice of the witch's lover came through to Loki's ears, albeit a bit garbled from the tiny speaker and muffled by her ear.
"Yeah, I got that," the Lady smiled and walked into the kitchen, not removing herself in the least from Loki and Frigga's hearing. The Captain, too, looked like he was listening to every word.
"We got an energy reading at your apartment. Is that where they dropped you?"
"Yep, with a couple of guests."
"Who?"
"I'm not going to say over the phone," Lady Eleanore smiled, then shot a glance at Frigga. "Can you just get Fury and everyone here for a situation report? No guns."
"We're five minutes— no, less— out. We left as soon as we got the reading. And everyone who normally has a gun is already carrying."
"Am I on speaker?" the witch asked. Loki understood what she meant— her voice broadcast for the entirety of the group to hear.
"Yeah," the young man sounded sheepish and familiar. Loki was trying to place him, to no avail. "Okay, we're jumping onto the roof now, so... See you in a minute." The call ended, and Lady Eleanore took the device away from her ear, handing it back to the Captain.
"We never get to prepare people as much as we want," she commented to him, ruefully. He nodded silently, casting a brief look at the apparently unexpected guests. Loki glared back at him, but Rogers' eyes slid past him and back to the water witch.
Frigga rose just as steps echoed down the staircase in the hall. She came to stand near the mortals as the handle of the door turned, not opening, followed by a quick succession of knocks. Loki stood from the couch, knowing that a fight might lay ahead. He did not approach the door, planning an escape from the window if things turned sour.
"Elle?" the young man called, trying the handle again.
"Just a second," she turned to look at the Captain and Queen standing just behind her, finishing with her gaze trained on Loki. He glowered at her, and she pursed her lips, placing her hand on the door handle. "Are you ready for this?" The question was addressed to all of them.
"Sure." The Captain took a deep breath, and his stance tensed.
"Let us not delay," Frigga advised gently. Loki rolled his eyes at her considerate treatment of the mortal woman who would soon control the destiny of her youngest claimed 'son.' "We will explain to them together."
Loki met the witch's eyes once more and raised his eyebrows expectantly, frowning. She looked… afraid. Of what, he was not sure, although he suspected the nerves were not on her own behalf. Her lover stood on the other side of that door, after all, along with her battle-mates. No, she had nothing to fear. Neither had the Captain, and he was just as apprehensive.
The concern must be for the reaction and the coming explanation, Loki decided. He inwardly smirked, happy in the knowledge that he was already causing mischief on Midgard again, and for those who presumed to control him. He vowed to do whatever he could to turn the other Avengers against his stay.
"Loki, please don't say anything unless Steve, your mom, or I talk to you first." Loki's jaw dropped a fraction as the mortal woman read his mind once more. Her power had slipped his mind, hidden under the guise of her average mortal appearance. The Captain looked at her and nodded with appreciation, and Frigga seemed to appraise her with new respect.
Though the order was made in the form of a request, it tied Loki's lips all the same. Otherwise, he would have told her just what he thought of her authority, and where she could go. It was Hel. He hoped instead to send her there himself one day. She looked unperturbed at the thoughts of her grisly murder that fermented in his mind, roiling into a turmoil that he suddenly felt pulled into himself. Torturous memories and his own screams took the place of revenge, even though his anger was present in force.
"Eleanore?" The boy's voice pulled Loki from his reverie. He felt shocked into the present, like being dunked, unexpectedly, into an icy pond. Or like having his arm turned blue by a Frost Giant.
"Almost ready," she looked around once more, eyes scanning everything from the cat stretched on the wooden floorboards to the bladed light fixture on the ceiling. "Okay, here we go." Lady Eleanore sighed slowly, swallowed, and turned the handle.
A/N: Well, things are about to get more interesting. Hopefully this was interesting enough already, so you're waiting on the edge of your screens for the next chapter. But I hope for too much from you lovely people.
Anyway, please read and review. I would love to hear whatever you think of… this.
Have a great weekend!
~PettyWhiteRose
