OMg Guys! So sorry for not updating and instead on sitting on these chapters so long. I lways wrestle with the posting, because I don't want to ever post anything because the chapters never feel good enough, but on the other hand if I just sit on top of my writing and never post anything, what would be the point of writing in the first Place.

Special thank you for anyone who has rewieved, you guys are the reason that I update and don't give in to throwing the towel. So I wantted to get this episode donr before christmas, as a christmas present for anyone who reviewed, liked or followed. I love you all guys!

"Skaldak no!"

They weren't fast enough. Skaldak already had his claws on the table, and there was nothing that any one of them could do to stop him from releasing the missiles.

"Where is the honor in condemning bilions of innocents to death. 5000 years ago mars was a vast empire, the jewel of this solar system. The people of earth have just begun to leave their caves. 5000 Years isn't such a long time, they are still just frightened children. Still primitive. Who are you to judge them!" The Doctor pleaded, desperation bleeding into his tone.

and just like that, Loki was no longer inside a soviet submarine on the past. He was once again on the bifrost, battling his not-brother.

You can't destroy an entire race!

Why not?

Yes, why not? He didn't have an answer. There was no answer.

"I am Skaldak, and under the martian law, this planet is forfeit."

"Then teach them. Show them another way. Show them that there is honor in mercy!"

No. That wasn't good enough. It wasn't the right answer. It wasn't an answer that mattered.

"Is this how you want the history to remember you? Grand marshall Skaldak, the destroyer of earth. Because thats what you will be! Not a soldier! A murderer!"

it was closer. It was almost the answer. But it still wasn't enough. Because Loki could see the swirling colours of the bifrost, the crackling power in the air, and he knew that it was already too late. Too late for regrets or doubts.

You can't destroy an entire race!

Why not?

"A world! No change for goodbyes, bilions of families, a world!"

But it didn't matter. Because the only thing that mattered was his family. His family, his home. And what was some distant world when you scaled it against your own.

"Alright Skaldak! Alright! I'm a time lord, I know a thing or two about sonic tech. And I will blow this submarine up before you can even reach that button!"

But it wouldn't matter. Not even if Thor killed him on that bridge. Because this wasn't about him, not anymore, it was just this one change, this last mad reach for, for-

"you would sacriface yourself?" The Doctor stared at the martian, willing him to relent

"In a heartbeat," Skaldak hissed back.

And of course he would. But there still was no answer.

Why not? Why not?

"Look into my eyes Skaldak! Look into my eyes and tell me that you are capable of doing this!" The Doctor screams, no longer able to keep his temper in the tense situation.

But Loki doesn't want to. He doesn't want to see the hate in Thors eyes. Because for once in his life, he wants to do something right. Wants to sucseed in something.

"Well then Doctor. Which one of us shall blink first?"

The only thing that Loki had ever been good at had been lying. Lying and magic. And he had only wantted his family. His family.

"It won't gain your family back!"

Both the Doctor and Skaldak turned to look at Loki. Loki looked back. He stepped forward and locked his gazes with the ice warrior.

"Destroying this world will gain you nothing. There is no reason for you to stop, for spare it. But it will still gain you nothing. Do you think that your family would want this? Would thank you for this? Your daughter? You didn't kill the professor when you had clear change. Why? Was it because he too used to sign with his daughter once. He sang about hungry wolves to his daughter, just like you once sang with your daughter!"

"the songs of the red snow..."

"Do you think that your family would forgive you. Do you think that they would see why you did it. Because they wouldn't. That planet is full of families singing together and killing them will gain you nothing! Only thing it would gain is the disgust and hate of your family!"

"You know nothing-!"

"I do! I do! Look into my eyes and see your future!"

there was a choking noise from the Doctor. Loki didn't care about it.

"Your daughter would have hated you!"

the red insect-like eyes stared at the red jotnar eyes. Neither of them blinked.

The seconds were longer than eternity.

Then the floor was lurched under them. Again.

But they weren't falling, no, they were rising.

It still wasn't enough. Loki should have known. He was a good liar. His truths were rarely as impressive. The Doctor was still hoping, he was leaning towards the blinking light, muttering, "Show mercy Skaldak, I'll destroy us if i have to, show mercy..." But Loki knew better.

They had came for skaldak, his peole had came for him and he was safe on his own ship, ready to leave midgard and never look back.

He wouldn't show mercy, he was a monster afterall. He was too much like Loki. Skaldak would launch the missiles.

Then the blinking light disappeared.

Loki stared at it.

The Doctor slumped against the table in relief.

The captain let himself fall against the wall and slide down, swiping the sweat from his brow.

Some of the humans laughed.

Some of the humans cried.

The professor, completely out of nowhere, reached out and wrapped his arms around Loki in a hug, slapping him in the back. "So, how about that song now?"

"And the valkyries came, they came they came, to take away my maiden fair..."Loki found himself singing in a faint voice.

When the professor had let him go, there was the Doctor embracing him. "Oh, were not dead, isn't it glorious. We saved the world."

"I think it was technicaly Skaldak that saved the world."

"Isn't that even more glorious. Oh nice, you didn't freeze my skin off."

Loki groaned. It was so... so like the Doctor.

The freezing wind felt sinfully good on Lokis skin, when they watched the martian aircraft leave the midgardian sky.

"Doctor?"

"Yes Loki."

"Where's the tardis?"

"Ah."

….

"Well, you see. I've been tinkering and well, I didn't mean to activate the HAHS, but.."

"Where is it?"

"Apparently the south pole." The Doctor answered, while staring at his whirring screwdriver.

"Thats on the opposite side of the world isn't it?"

"I'm sure that these nice people can give us a lift."

"Well, you definetly are a brave young man."

"Don't call me young man, professor."

"shouting on the face of an martian ice warrior like that. Not many boys would do that."

"i think I prefer the young man."

"About the things you said back there..."

"I didn't do it."

"I suspected as much."

"Why?"

"just a hunch. An old mans hunch. And for the record, I must say, that I happen to be very pleased to have met you alien boy.

"Don't call me boy. But for the record, I am glad to have met you too professor..."

"Romanoff. Professor Romanoff."

Journey from the other end of the pole, to the other, in a small submarine, was not over very quickly or pleasantly. Admittely, it was going much more pleasantly than it could have gone, for one, no one was now actively trying to kill them. That being said, It was also extremingly boring. Also now that the threath of dying an horrible acognising death was no longer hanging over them, Loki was viciously reminded by his body that he had been injured in various places. Professor Romanoff and the Doctor did their best in treating on Lokis injuries, but there was no magical cure. He just needed to let his body heal. Even his healing was so much slower without his magic. His magic had been there for him all of his life, now that it was gone, his body didn't seem to know what to do. Not to forget that he was in his true jotun form that seemed so unfamiliar and alien to him. The healing procress was in no way pleasant.

Despite all that, Loki was not as miserable as one would have thought. Professor Romanoff had become a something akin to a friend to Loki, who had started to ask guestions to make idle converstations with the older man. Professor Romanoff was intelligent and posessed a wicked sense of humor. He was also more than happy to tell Loki of his planet and was of course also very curious of Lokis own home and sometimes Loki would even answer the professors guestions. Proffesor Romanoff luckily did not press for the answers too much.

And sometimes when Loki couldn't sleep, he would sit alone in the dark corridors, listening to the humming of the engines. And some how most of these nights, professor Romanoff ended up accidentlly working somewhere near, and singing the song of the hungry wolves, lulling Loki into a sense of peace.

The athmosphere might have been pleasant in the ship, making the days nice enough, but the nights weren't as easy. In the darkness Loki would lie awake, hearing the voices ringing in his ears, as they were being uttered right next to him.

"you can't kill off an entire race!"

"the frost giants are monsters!"

"You can't destroy an entire planet!"

"Loki, no"

and the Loki would have to spring up and start his restless roaming. Sometimes he would catch a glimbse of his blue skin and red eyes in some reflection and he would shudder.

"Talk to me Loki."

ah, the Doctor. Of course. But Loki couldn't comply.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"because I can't."

"Please Loki, as your friend I am begging you-"

"And that is why I can't tell you. Because you are my friend."

"Loki I won't leave. I promise-"

"Don't promise."

"Whatever it is, I will-"

"No. Please leave me alone."

and the Doctor complied, and somehow, even if the Doctor had done exactly as Loki had asked of him, Loki felt hopeless.

And nothing changed. At days they would laugh and joke together. The humans would teach Loki to play card games. Loki would become the king of the pokernight, only to be robbed the title when the Doctor joined them, and proved himself to be even better cheater than Loki. Lokis injuries would slowly start to dissappear and professor Romanoff would start surprising Loki with the little snippets of knowledge of asgard that he had picked up from Loki and the Doctor.

"Tell him"

"He will hate me"

"He won't"

"I tried to destroy jotunheim."

"Tell me."

"What is there to tell?"

"Everything."

"I..."

"I will listen."

…

"It all started with Thors coronation..."

"Its okay, its okay"

"no it's-I...I'm a monster."

"you are not. No! Look at me. .Not. . Never that Loki. Never. Jotunheim still stands. What you tried to do was wrong. So so wrong, but you were lucky. You were incredibly lucky and the universe saved you from a guilt you cannot imagine. You made some wrong turns, but you are not a monster. You are clever and you have much more good in you than you even know. Do you know who stopped Skaldaks claw from pushing that button. Do you know who saved Akhaten and all of its seven systems from being devoured. Do you know who risked himself to drive the chitauri away from earth. You Loki. You are important Loki, don't forget that."

"Doctor...Do they...Do the frost giants have songs that they sing to their loved ones?"

"Yes. Yes they do. They sing just like all the other creatures capable of love in this universe."

"and you know what. I think that we should go to listen to their songs."