((Chapter heading is taken from the song No Compliance by Delain.

Tomorrow is a holiday where I am. Which means there's a chance I'll complete this before seeing Infinity War. I know what I want to do, after all, I just have to get the words out of my head into the computer.

Depending on what happens in the movie, I may continue. I have a few notes for a possible sequel, but they are as vague as you'd expect from someone who knows nothing and fears everything.))


9. Lay Me to Waste

Thor watched his brother go and wondered what on earth he was talking about. 'Well,' he said. 'Heid, Korg, I want you to go through the data we have so far from the census. List me everyone in a position of power. Anyone that functions as a teacher, as a head of some department, anyone leading a bloody choir. I want that today.' He watched them all file out, Solvi looking thoroughly defeated. He stopped her, Heimdall, and Bruce Banner before they could get out of the room. 'Solvi, come back here as soon as you can. Heimdall, please escort her until she's back with me.'

'Of course,' Heimdall said. 'There is something I noticed during the meeting. I would like to bring it to your attention.' There was a soft knock behind Thor. Gullveig was standing in the doorframe. Heimdall turned his attention to Solvi. 'After you. If you can spare a moment later …'

'Yes. Everyone gets their moment. First Solvi. I'll talk to you in an hour or so.' He rubbed the bridge of his nose. 'One moment, Gullveig, and I'm all yours. Bruce … how are you? Are you all right?'

Bruce sighed deeply. 'Confused, tired, weirded out … What exactly is happening? Why would anyone go and murder your people? There aren't that many left.'

Thor shook his head slowly. 'I really don't want to drag you into this, but I need your brain. I can't figure this out and I doubt Loki can. He tried before.'

'You sure this isn't him?'

'I trust Loki with my life.'

'You said yourself he wanted to kill you since you were little.'

Thor's lips twitched. 'Yeah. He tried. But if he'd succeeded, he'd have been completely devastated. No, it doesn't make sense. Loki rarely does. Bruce, if this is too much for you …'

He ran a hand over his pale face. 'No. I'll help you. As soon as I get my own head figured out.'

Thor patted his arm. 'Thanks. I appreciate it. I really do. Now go. Rest as much as you need, take your time.' He opened his arms wide and looked at Gullveig. 'So. Ideas?'

'I believe that unless we solve this quickly, people will rebel. Information about the murders has been leaked, and …'

'Whoa.' Thor raised his hands and grinned. 'It wasn't leaked. I asked Heid to tell our people. I don't want to build my reign on lies. Maybe it's unwise. I don't know.'

Gullveig smiled. 'It may look that way. In the long run, it will serve you well. We are lucky to have you as our King. I can imagine no-one better.'

Thor sighed. He felt drained. 'Look, Gullveig, I appreciate it. I really do. But I think I need to take a moment.' In fact, he felt almost drunk. He managed to get a grip, but whatever this was, Gullveig had noticed. Her dark brown eyes were large and full of worry as she put a hand on his arm, steadying him.

'Thor, are you well?'

'Yes.'

'Are you sure? I could call my sister …'

'No. No need, but thanks.' He frowned. 'You know, maybe I'll go see her later. But first I need to settle this mess.' There were things he had to do. Right now.

Ϡ

It hadn't taken long for Loki to clear his belongings out of his room and find space from them in Thor's. He hadn't brought much. None of them had, but Thor and he had literally escaped with nothing but the clothes they wore. Some of the refugees had at least managed to grab a few spare things. The good news was that this ship held supplies that included clothes. He liked the outfit from Sakaar for his office, but it wasn't the most comfortable thing to wear.

Waiting for Thor, even if his brother was just in the next room, was a test for his patience. If nothing went wrong now, this could be over today.

The door opened, revealing Thor and behind him, Solvi, Fjalar, and Nari. 'Solvi, please go next door with the boys,' Thor said. 'The room is yours.'

Loki walked over to his brother, smiling despite the seriousness of their problems. Just being near him made him feel at home. 'Tell me, Thor, did you notice anyone saying something peculiar?' Thor looked at him and Loki's skin started to crawl. He couldn't point his finger at it, but there was something in Thor's eyes that put him on high alert. 'Thor?' Thor's eyebrows pulled up in the centre, his expression desperate and pleading. With him? 'Thor, please say something.' His next words were very quiet. 'You're frightening me.'

'I didn't push you. I'd never.' The words were soft and came with a rush of air that gave his voice a feeble quality it didn't normally possess.

Loki blinked and tried to put the words into any context. He failed. Badly. 'What?'

'I would never have pushed you off the bridge.'

Loki took a step backwards. 'I … I know. I let go, I blamed you because …'

Thor didn't listen. His eyes were glazed, staring at something in front of him, something that wasn't there. Certainly not something Loki could see. 'I hated the muzzle, but I had to, I had to.'

'Thor, I know our laws. This is water under the bridge.'

'I should have reassured you. Told you that I'd never let them lay hand on you, hurt you … If you had been executed …'

'Thor, look, I'm aware …'

'And my promise to bring you back to the cell … And abandoning your body. I deserve it. You are right.'

His words did nothing, Loki knew. He covered the distance between them, placing him at the point that Thor was staring at. 'Look at me, look at my face, Thor.' He filled his voice with a little of his magic, something that should penetrate whatever vision was plaguing him. If he'd had the mind stone … but that thought was mute. His own abilities were all he had at his disposal.

It was as if he wasn't there. Thor's focus was on the apparition that existed in his mind alone, backing away from Loki so he couldn't touch him. Lunging at his brother seemed like a bad move, so Loki stayed put. 'I broke your heart in the lift on Sakaar,' Thor continued his rant of self-torment. 'I sent you on a suicide mission in Asgard. It's only right. Kill me, Loki, my life is yours.'

Loki moved towards him again but something powerful jerked him back. Solvi stood in the doorway staring, one arm stretched out, her palm facing him. 'He was right, then,' she said. 'He said you'd hurt him!'

Loki had landed hard on his backside and tried to get back on his feet. 'Let me go, Solvi, he needs help.' He might not be able to offer any, but if he could touch him, maybe he could break through this mess.

'From you? Hardly.'

Eyes glued on his brother, his love, Loki struggled against the powerful hold of a völva's magic. 'He'll hurt himself, Solvi! I didn't do this to him, I mean to save him.' Solvi seemed torn. Thor had somehow got hold on a knife and Loki panicked. Still fighting, he felt something warm trickle from his nose. If she didn't relent and if he kept fighting he could seriously harm himself. But he couldn't let go. 'Please, please, stop him!' He reached one hand out and the knife jerked from Thor's hand into his. He threw it behind himself, far out of harm's way. 'Let me …'

Solvi swore, and Loki lurched forwards as her hold on him broke. He used the momentum to catapult himself to Thor. He took his hands in his, securing them. 'Thor, look at me. I don't want you to be sorry for any of this. It's done, and it wasn't your fault.'

Thor's eyes met his. Slowly the despair faded. Loki dared to let go of his hands and cup his face instead. 'Are you with me?' He got a brief nod and sighed with relief. He pressed his lips to his forehead before he let himself slump to the ground next to Thor, putting one hand on his chest. 'You scared me, Thor.'

Thor's gaze remained on him. The shadow sat still behind them, and Loki's blood ran cold. This wasn't over. Thor's next words confirmed that. 'Go to the greenhouse and stay there. Consider yourself under arrest. If you leave, I'll give Heimdall and Valkyrie's people orders to kill you. You will be tried for attempting to murder me. And this time the sentence won't be life in a cell.'

Solvi gasped. 'Your majesty …'

Loki picked himself up from the ground and dusted himself off. He walked over to her. 'No use. Tell Heimdall I'm in the greenhouse and need to talk with him. Leave the room you just settled in and go somewhere else. Tell no one. Not me, and certainly not Thor. Hide. You're in danger, and we cannot protect you right now.' He looked down at Thor. He knew it was pointless, but he had to try. 'Brother, look into yourself. Harming you is the last thing I'd want. Surely, you'll find that knowledge in your heart.'

'You just tried to kill me and Solvi will be my witness,' Thor said. 'Why I ever thought I could trust you is beyond me. You want my throne as you always did.'

Every single word caused a world of pain. It wasn't Thor. This wasn't what he thought. Loki knew this, but it didn't help as much as it should. 'Look. This is exactly why I wanted to talk to you. Only I was too late. You're being controlled. You need to fight it.' He swallowed. 'I know you don't believe me. But I do have absolute confidence that at the end, your love for me will be stronger than anyone messing with you. I'm going without a fight. Because if you managed to hurt me, you'd never forgive yourself later.'