Memento Mori

Summary: Of the many people capable of carrying the fate of the universe on their shoulders by travelling back in time, Loki would have been the first choice of exactly nobody. With no allies, no plan and nobody on his side, Loki will just have to wing it.

Or: That awkward moment when you've completed your redemption arc, but nobody else got the memo.

Chapter 10

"Woah, hey!" Quill scrambled backwards to plant himself before Rocket – who'd been about to exit the Milano with a tool bag thrown over one shoulder and a blaster slung over the other. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I want you to think very hard about this," Rocket said, his voice pitched patronizingly. "We're on Nidavellir. I don't know about you guys, but I'm going sightseeing." As the only one other than Thor and Loki who had heard about the place before, Rocket had been looking forward to their arrival with ridiculous giddiness.

Loki didn't particularly care either way. He had come to the forge for a reason and one reason only. He was going to go in, get Stormbreaker, and leave.

Technically speaking, they did not have to count on Stormbreaker alone. Any decent weapon forged by the dwarves was a masterpiece and should, by all rights, be more than capable of holding an infinity gem. Gungnir had been forged in Nidavellir's fire, and it was holding up to the challenge splendidly.

In any case, Loki didn't much care what their travelling companions got up to in the meantime.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Quill said, then frowned as if the thought of acting the responsible one felt foreign to him. He shook his head, then added, "We're getting the weapon and then we'll leave, right? We're not here for fun."

"What's gotten into you?" Rocket crossed his arms and scowled. "When have you gotten so boring?"

"Maybe back when we've agreed to visit a species made up of blacksmith warriors armed to their teeth with weapons they're making themselves?"

"The dwarves are not a violent species," Thor chimed in from where he'd been carefully storing away the power stone. "Not unless you give them a reason to be angered."

"Exactly!" Quill threw his hands in the air. "When have we ever not given someone a reason to kill us?"

"Oh, don't be a buzzkill." Rocket looked down as the tree creature tugged at his pant leg. He crouched down to let him hop onto his hand, and allowed him to climb on his shoulder as he rose. "You're not stopping me from taking a look at Nidavellir. This place is a legend!"

"Woah, hold on." Quill's brows knit together in a frown. "You want to take Groot?"

"Duh. He needs to get out of the spaceship from time to time."

"You have no idea if it's safe out there," Gamora said. "He stays. Drax can keep an eye on him."

"Oh, come on. When's the last time he's been on a planet?"

"I am Groot."

"Exactly! He's gonna think there's nothing out there other than this dump." Rocket cast a pointed glance around the Milano. Piles of junk covered almost every available surface to the point where it was difficult to make out what the spaceship actually looked like. "He's coming."

"We don't have time for this," Gamora decided with a scowl, luckily for everybody present. Loki had been about to settle the matter in a far less diplomatic way. "Take him. Just make sure he doesn't run off."

"Yeah, you know how he's been ever since he's started walking," Quill said. They'd almost exited the ship when he yelled after them: "And don't steal from the dwarves!"

If Loki were to place a bet, he would give them no longer than half a day until they would be chased out of the forge. It was yet to be determined whose fault it was going to be.

Thor was a well known – and even better liked – face on Nidavellir, so the dwarves allowed them to head towards the center without a guide. As they showed disinterest towards most things outside of their forge, Thor knew better than to blame it on his charm and the dwarves' trust in him alone.

Only few dwarves stopped to greet them on their way. The vast majority completely ignored them, unwilling to focus on anything other than their life's work. Thor, long since used to it, was not discouraged. He knew his way around well enough.

"They're not very hospitable," Gamora muttered, not loud enough for any of the dwarves to hear. Even if they had, Thor doubted that they would have cared.

"They mean no offense," Thor said. "Other than trade, the dwarves prefer to keep to themselves."

"But you've met them before?" Rocket threw him a curious glance. It didn't last long, his eyes twitching back towards the weaponry being built all around them.

"Many times. The dwarves tolerate Asgardian visitors because of our long history together." He paused, laying a hand on Mjolnir's handle. "Asgard has long since granted Nidavellir and its people protection in exchange for steady trading relations."

"I am Groot," the tree creature complained.

Thor laughed. "I'm afraid there is nothing to be done. The forges never cease to burn. Nidavellir is always hot."

"Worth it," Rocket grumbled, even though he'd started to pant only few minutes into their visit. Even Thor had begun to feel sweat on his brow. He wouldn't want to trade with the furred animal for all of Nidavellir's treasures.

"I have always hated this place." Loki scowled as Rocket bumped into him yet again in an attempt to avoid being trampled by a careless dwarf. The forges were always busy, loud and abuzz with activity.

Loki's face was red from the heat, but he didn't show it beyond his mild crankiness. Sympathy poured into Thor's gut at the thought of Loki's true heritage. He'd always been weak to high temperatures.

"Is that so, Brother?" Thor hid a smirk. "It has nothing to do with our last visit here with Father?"

Thor had visited many times more, but never again with Loki. Perhaps for the better.

Loki scowled, less than amused at the reminder. "I will have you know that–"

"Eitri!" Thor beamed as they rounded another workbench, thrilled despite the dire circumstances to see his friend. The dwarf was even older than Thor. He'd known him back when Thor had been nothing more than a stubborn, hot-headed teenager. "How are you, my friend?"

Eitri grunted a greeting, barely looking up from his work. "Thor. It has been a while." His eyes flickered up to rest somewhere behind Thor.

Thor suppressed the urge to take a step to the side in a futile attempt to shield from sight who Eitri had already seen.

"You've brought your brother."

The air grew tense as Loki and Eitri locked their eyes in a silent standoff. All around them the noise of clashing metal and hissing fire echoed through the halls. The Guardians fidgeted as if uncertain whether they should prepare for conflict or not.

Eitri's eyes were dark and gleaming as if they, too, had been forged in the heat of Nidavellir's dying star. "I trust our dagger has served you to your satisfaction."

Behind Thor, Loki stiffened. Carefully, he said, "It has been a long time since I have last come here. I am not certain what you–"

"We do not forget a single weapon that leaves our forges," Eitri interrupted. Thor could not make out anger in his voice, but that did not mean much. "We also know when one has been taken without our permission or intent."

Loki hesitated. Thor knew for a fact that one of the reasons he did not like Nidavellir was that he had never figured out how to talk to the dwarves. If it hadn't gotten him into trouble as much as it had back when he was young, it would have almost been funny. "Is that so."

Even the Guardians stayed silent during the long, uncomfortable pause that followed.

Eventually, Eitri turned back to his work with a huff. "Keep it. It was barely more than a child's toy."

Thor could almost feel his brother bristling in outrage. He was quick to interrupt before he could make matters worse for them. Mostly for himself. "We have come for your help, Eitri."

"You have brought Mjolnir and Gungnir." Eitri's gaze swept over his hammer. Thor didn't question how he knew about Gungnir as well. "Have you found them to be lacking?"

"Not at all. They are as marvelous as on the day that you have forged them." Thor hadn't actually been alive when either of them had been made. Even so, it didn't feel like a lie. Mjolnir had yet to let him down even a single time, and Gungir's capability to hold an infinity gem spoke for itself.

"The favor I am about to ask is of a different nature." Thor paused. "The fate of the universe might depend on it."

"Odin has told us the very same thing before receiving Gungnir as our gift." Eitri's tool hit metal and showered them with sparks. "He said so again, and started his war crusade with Mjolnir in his executioner's hand."

Thor's heart skipped a beat. Someone else had wielded Mjolnir before him? What war crusade?

"Now you stand before me," Eitri continued, "and ask the same once again. Tell me, Asgardian. Why should I believe that you do not merely wish to make yourself stronger?"

Thor fought the instinctive need to defend his father. Something about Eitri's tone made him feel like he was being tested.

He'd cast aside his childish idolization of his father with the realization that even the Allfather was capable of making mistakes. Proof alone was Odin's contribution to Loki's downwards spiral, starting at the moment that Odin had taken him in and decided to keep his parentage a secret.

"I am not my father," Thor said, pushing down the thought that once, it was all he'd ever wanted to be. "I am not Odin, and I am not interested in partaking in whatever warfare he had conducted."

He was, however, intending to ask his father some questions. As soon as they had taken care of the rather more pressing matter of the impending end of the world.

"I merely wish to defeat a creature capable of – and planning to – spread great suffering and doom across the universe."

Eitri's expression dropped into something that resembled deep weariness and grief. Thor was taken aback by the intensity of it.

"You know what my brother is talking about," Loki said, his brows drawn in a wary frown. "Do you not?"

"Not precisely." Eitri sighed, his shoulder dropping as if a weight had been placed upon them. "Our seers have gotten restless. More so than they are already."

Loki's head perked up. "I did not know there were seers among your people."

"They are few and far between," Eitri said, his eyes grim and his voice low. "It is a curse that poisons the mind and weakens the flesh. They suffer from the inability to distinguish what is and what will come to be. I would not wish their fate on anyone."

None of them spoke for several tense heartbeats.

Thor broke the silence, hesitant to tear Eitri out of his dark thoughts. "I believe that we know what has your seers in unease."

He hesitated, stealing a glance at his brother.

"His name is Thanos," Loki went on easily. His voice was solemn in a way Thor had only rarely witnessed. "His intention is to bring balance to the universe by slaughtering a huge part of it. He has started with his home world and will not rest until he has finished what he has started. Or until we stop him."

"To do that," Thor continued, "we need the means to harness the power of one of these." Thor opened the Nova Corp's container and stretched out his arms, allowing Eitri to catch a brief glimpse of the power stone resting at its center.

He knew that the message had gotten across when Eitri's eyes widened. "Is that...?"

"It is."

"It is one of the–"

"Yes." Thor pushed urgency into his voice to make his friend understand quicker. "We needn't draw attention to it any more than we already have."

Eitri collected himself with obvious effort. Thor had never seen him look this agitated before.

"... Yes. Yes, of course." Eitri hesitated, looking around as if reassuring himself that his reaction had not drawn unwanted attention. None of the other dwarves had so much as looked up from their own projects.

"You are my friend," Thor continued once he was certain that Eitri would not cause an uproar. "I would not trust anybody else with the task."

Once his words had sunken in, countless emotions flickered over Eitri's face before he managed to reel them in and contain his obvious excitement. "You have my promise that it will be the most magnificent piece of weaponry these hands have ever crafted and ever will."

Thor's mouth pulled into a grin. "I knew I could count on you. And I promise you that as soon as I have finished what we have started, I shall return it to its creator."

Rocket let out a strangled noise. "Are you sure about that?"

"Of course." Thor patted Mjolnir's handle. "I am quite happy with Mjolnir and have no need for keeping both."

"Seriously?" Rocket was beginning to sound desperate. "No second thoughts? None? You're gonna give it away, just like that?"

"Rocket." Gamora send him scathing look of warning. "Let it go."

"I am Groot."

"Yes, I know that we only came to use the thing to kill Thanos, but–"

"I am Groot."

"What's that supposed to mean?! I'm perfectly capable of setting priorities."

Eitri's voice boomed through the hall and broke up the bickering easily. "Thor. Perhaps you could show your friends around the forge."

His tone made it clear that it wasn't a request. Still, Thor hesitated. "Surely the weapon will take a long time to make. We should leave and return another–"

Eitri waved him off with a motion that could have shattered a small building. "You underestimate our work. Designing a weapon is the part that takes the longest. Once the mold is made, it is only a matter of pouring the metal and seeing your work come into fruition."

Thor blinked, surprise welling up in his chest. "You have already designed a weapon capable of what we seek?"

Eitri's mouth twitched into a smile that looked sardonic more than it did cheerful. "I did not have the infinity stones in mind when I designed it. I am confident that it will live up to its purpose regardless."

"Eitri," Thor started, "You have my utmost–"

"Your father commanded us to built it," Eitri interrupted, his voice like cooling metal. "It was supposed to become Asgard's greatest weapon, surpassing even Gungnir and Mjolnir."

Thor found that rather difficult to believe. Still, he asked, "Why have you never completed it?"

There was silence for a long, breathless moment. When Eitri answered, he avoided Thor's glance. "The Allfather had changed his mind."

Thor's brows knit together at such a curt, deflective response that gave him more questions than answers. But as he tried to share a glance with his brother, he found that Loki wasn't looking at him, either.

Thor felt his frown deepen. There was something going over his head, some hidden, horrible truth about their father that Loki already knew.

But now was not the time to investigate. Thor could not afford to get distracted with the stakes as high as they were. Later, during some quiet, private moment he would confront Loki about what he knew – or perhaps Odin himself, once their mission had been completed. His father owed him that much.

Thor would get his answers, one way or another.

"Send warriors after them," Odin commanded, expecting his head of guard to follow his instructions without looking at her. "As many as you deem necessary. And take heed of the dwarves. Their alliance has always been of practical nature, not of loyalty."

He did not say that between him and Thor, Odin was not certain whose side they would choose. Thor had friends among them, genuine friends, while Odin had only ever commanded their obedience through mutual benefit. Or, on rare occasions he was not proud of, fear.

Odin had not wanted his sons' rebellious act to get out of hand. He certainly felt no joy sending his warriors to drag them back to Asgard forcefully. The second Thor and Loki had taken hold of another infinity stone, they'd left him out of options. Them setting foot on Nidavellir afterwards only cemented that decision.

The silence at his side spoke more of his wife's feelings than words ever could. Odin sighed, dismissing his guards and turning to face Frigga. Her expression was one carved of stone.

"They've left me no choice," he told her, urging her to view the situation from his perspective. "They have already found out how to use the stones." In fact, it had taken Loki mere seconds to figure out how to use Gungnir to serve exactly that goal. "What reason do you believe has brought them to Nidavellir? Hmm?"

Frigga avoided his glance stubbornly. "You cannot begin to presume what either of your sons is intending. You never could."

Odin closed his eye. This was not a battle he was able to win. "I beg of you, Frigga. I cannot make you see reason, but promise me that you will not interfere. Promise me you will not leave the palace. At least until I can bring both of them back to us."

There was a long, drawn out pause. At last, Frigga let her shoulders slum. "You are lucky you have not tried to command me."

"Is that agreement?"

"... Yes. Yes, I suppose it is." Odin knew his wife. She was reluctant, but she was telling the truth. "As long as you promise me not to treat them like common criminals."

The insinuation put a dark, indignant scowl on Odin's face. He caught himself before he could say something he would regret. "Of course."

Frigga met his promise with a nod. She rose, the fabric of her dress billowing with the movement.

"Where are you going?"

"Our chambers." Frigga did not turn. "I promised not to leave the palace. But I will not stand by your side and watch, either."

Bitterness arose at the back of Odin's throat and he swallowed it down with practiced ease. "As you wish."

If any of his advisers caught his blackened mood during the following discussion, they did not utter a single word about it where Odin could hear.

A/N: My wonderful betas are PyrothTenka, To Mockingbird and Igornerd!

Let me know what you think!

~Gwen