Chp 9

Lucas had a dream where he was lying in his own pool of blood. Loki and Sigyn were cradling him while Odin, Thor and the rest of the Avengers just watched as he died. He woke up, breathing heavily. "You ok, kid?", asked Neko as she was stretching by Lucas' feet. "Kinda…. Nightmares are killing me slowly", said Lucas. "Perhaps you should tell Loki about it", urged Neko.

"He knows, sorta…", said Lucas. He went back to sleep only to be pulled out of bed when Captain Flack hauled him to the crime scene. He went to Bronx, where the crime scene was. As he processed the scene, Lucas was photographing the wall with the splatter of blood when he saw a flash of black shadow. Lucas stood there, stunned. He tried to photograph the wall again and he saw the same shadow only this time with a face of a skull. He stood there, stiff until Dr Hawkes snapped him out.

"You ok, Luke?", Dr Hawkes asked. "Yeah, it's just that I haven't have enough sleep lately", said Lucas as he regretfully lied to Dr Hawkes. "Why don't you head back home and catch some sleep? I'll cover for you till your shift starts", said Dr Hawkes. "Nah, you don't need to. I'm fine", said Lucas as he continued his work. When everyone left for the crime scene, Lucas was left there and he knew he needed to know what the thing that he saw was.

"I know you're out there! Show yourself!", he shouted. "Ease your heart, son of Loki", said a voice. Then, a group of people in black long coats with hoods appeared out from the shadows. One by one, they uncovered themselves. One of them, with golden hair stepped forward. "I'm Aaron, Head of Rounins. We heard you were looking for us, correct?", asked the golden hair named Aaron.

"How did you know? Father told me how to find you. He didn't mentioned that you would find me first", said Lucas. "Did you know that he's a silver tongue? You should've known that by now, boy", said Aaron. Lucas felt slightly hurtful. He knew that Loki is a trickster, but he doesn't expect Loki to lie to him. "Well, still want our help?", said the one with the fiery red hair.

"I need to know whether I can change the future or not", said Lucas. "Why would you want to do that? To save the son of Laufey, King of Jotuns? Or do you take pity on his wife and children?", said Aaron, taunting Lucas. "Are you trying to cloud my judgement?!", Lucas asked angrily. "Irish temper. I like that", said the one with the fiery red hair. "You should know what's coming", said the one with blue hair, "I've seen the future. He will manipulate you into doing his dirty works. He will let you think that you have made sacrifice when you only done nothing but save his skin from being slain by Thor! Is that what you want?".

Lucas felt dizzy. Was he actually doing the right thing, siding Loki? Who should he fight for if not for what he believed? The Rounins kept badgering him with questions till Lucas fell on to his knees. Before he fell into the darkness, he heard Aaron said, "Think back, Lucas. Know the pros and cons. Think a thousand times before you come and find us again".

(Sometime later)

Lucas woke up in a white room with the smell of medicine; he knew that he's in the hospital. "Look, who's finally wake up", Lucas heard a familiar voice; it was Sergeant Danny Messer. The rest of the NYPD team was there as well. "How long was I out?", Lucas asked, groggily. "Including today, that would be six days and six hours", said Adam Ross. Lucas jolted up and said in shock, "SIX DAYS?! HOW THE HELL WAS I OUT COLD FOR SIX DAYS?!". Adam just shrugged. "Luke, calm down", said Det. Taylor. "Yeah, don't sweat it. We've been covering for you. Doctor said you had a fever due to a shock. Hawkes said you saw something", said Captain Flack.

"I don't even know what to say. Weird things have been happening to me lately. Things that I cannot explain", said Lucas. "Maybe you should rest for a few days. You look tired", said Taylor. Lucas nodded and lied down. Lucas talked to them for a while before the nurses gave him his medication and he felt drowsy. "Go to sleep, Luke. I'll have the boys to send some of your clothes later, ok?", said Captain Flack. Lucas nodded before he fell into a deep sleep.

He entered the Dream State where it was just him and Loki. "My son, what is happening in Midgard? I could not trace you here or anywhere. Are you all right?", he asked. Lucas thought back what Aaron said. "Have you ever lie to me?", Lucas asked back. Loki looked at him astonished and said, "Why would you say that?". "I wanna know that if you ever lie to me or my mother. Did you even love her? Or did you just use her for a time to fulfil your…, needs?", Lucas said.

"I have never regarded your mother like that. It was mutual after I left and what I had for her was pure love. How I love her may not have been the same as I love Sigyn, but I did love her and I love you. You are my son", said Loki. "Will I ever be? I'm nothing but a mortal. Your sons, your REAL sons are the opposite", said Lucas. "Whatever possessed you to think in such ways let me tell you this. No matter what, you are my son, mortal or not. I love you mother and I love you. You are the greatest gift to me and your mother. Whoever have said things to you I want you to know that I love you as I have love my other children. Rest, my son", he said and kissed Lucas' forehead before he disappeared, leaving Lucas to think of his own judgement.