Chapter 12

Loki stared at Summer's middle with venomous hatred boiling inside his heart. She was… Summer was pregnant. Thor had gotten her pregnant.

Then something inside him snapped – his patience was stretched too far. His orbs lifted to Summer's, her eyes wide and apologetic. Apologetic, as if it were her fault. Oh Summer, Loki though pitifully. The thought didn't show though in his hard gaze. He'd let a lot go; not any more. "I can't let this pass." His voice was dark, and no sooner had he said the words had he turned on his heel and stormed from the room.

His mind knew exactly where his rage was carrying him. That was it, he thought, eyes burning a path in the corridors ahead of him. That was the last straw.

He could hear Summer race after him, but even at his walking pace, he was too fast for her to catch up to him. Nothing could stop him now though. That was too much to ask of him. He wouldn't just sit back while Summer suffered anymore.

A baby… an abomination that Thor had infected her with. So that was why Summer had dropped into seclusion. To hide what Thor had done to her.

Uncontainable rage bubbled, clenching his fists ready to pound, his steps swift and determined. Thor… his time had come at last. Every muscle in Loki's body flexed in anticipation, burning with the fury that spurred him on.

Loki was an unstoppable force as he stormed, ignoring the stares of the servants he got as he marched, Summer in tow. He knew this was the first time she'd stepped out of her room with her condition so blatant and part of him would have felt empathetic if he wasn't so enraged.

Adrenaline flooded through him and the urge to kill something was overwhelming. Loki turned into the training room, and said something came into view at last.

Loki's teeth gritted at the infuriatingly happy grin on his brother face as he sparred with an imaginary opponent, completely ignorant of the lives he had torn apart. He wouldn't for long, Loki promised darkly in his head.

"Thor!"

The roar was dark and thick with menace, sounding more dangerous than Loki would have believed possible to come from him. Now though, anything was possible.

Thor's body paused in his invisible battle, head turning to the doorway of the arena. His eyes drank in the sight of his storming brother, but whether the golden haired warrior was simply blind to the venom in Loki's eyes or he belittled it, he straightened up calmly. He even had the nerve to flitter a grin across his face.

Loki's anger proved it – Thor had won. It was something he'd concluded months ago, but seeing it on his brothers face gave the god a fresh wave of superiority.

He didn't even raise a hand in resistance as Loki's fist drew back and pommelled into Thor's cheek.

The blow snapped his head to the side, Loki's knuckles burning into his jaw so hard he was sure something cracked. He staggered back, more out of surprise than anything else. Loki was powerful, even more so fuelled by anger, but he was no match for Thor.

The giant god clutched his jaw as he righted himself from the attack – and Loki's second fist punched him back the other way.

"Loki!"

Thor heard the cry but he didn't see Summers face as Loki's fist directed his vision in another direction. He grinned – so Loki had found out at last.

The attack paused for a second, and Thor used the opportunity to straighten himself up, backing off out of Loki's immediate range, teeth stained with his own blood as he grinned: Summer clung to Loki's arm. He didn't dare swing with Summer so in the way. "Let go, Summer." Loki warned darkly. "I have to do this."

Summer didn't stand a chance as Loki's shoulder shrugged, knocking her away. Then Thor saw it and his heart stopped for a moment, grin wiped from his face – Summer staggered back, hand cupping her bloated stomach.

Loki faced his brother again, and the rage that he felt in his heart now stared back at him; Thor's teeth gritted. The battle was on. The large warrior's feet were squarely on the ground as Loki charged in for a second attack and he knew he didn't stand a chance against Thor's bulk. It wouldn't stop him trying though.

The God of Thunder caught Loki's punch in his large hand and twisted Loki's arm at the wrist, crippling his brother for a vital second. His elbow crashed back into Loki's jaw.

His brother would have gone flying if his grip had released, but Loki's sheer determination seemed to drive him on. He forced back from the blow and rammed his shoulders into Thor's body. A sweep of his feet had Thor crashing to the floor.

Loki threw himself at him – and Thor rolled himself to the side, Loki leaping at thin air. Both rolled to their feet, glaring at each other for an angry second.

Both stepped forward at the same time. They met in mid-air, both arms braced to strike the other, but locking together as they blocked. Hands gripped arms, surrendering to a battle of strength to throw the other off. Loki dug in his heels and fought.

Thor's angry, blazing blue eyes were electric with rage in the secluded cave of their battle embrace, but Loki returned them with equal hatred.

There was no forgiveness for his brother now. "You did this to her." Loki growled, feeling the raging blood pulse through his body.

"I didn't know." Thor forced through gritted teeth, the expression in his eyes blind rage. No regret, no empathy. He didn't care he'd ripped Summer's life apart; he was just concerned about himself.

Loki hated him more than ever. "And that makes it permissible, does it?!"

Loki's hands slipped down from their battle, and in the second of vulnerability, gripped the sides of Thor's head, and head-butted him hard.

The god saw the attack coming far too late and was helpless to stop it as his head was knocked into a daze, staggering back as Loki released him. His eyes were crossed until the world came back into focus, his rage and humiliation pushing for a violent response. He let out a wild battle cry and charged at Loki, Summer's cries of protest echoing in his ear.

He and Loki crashed with a sickening force, both of them slamming to the ground in a flurry of grappling limbs. They rolled endlessly, both of them fighting for supremacy.

Small fists pounded into his back and shoulders when they rose from the floor, and he felt fingers clawing at him, too small to be Loki. He shoved Loki off for a second and gripped Summer's wrists, before she could hit him again. Even he could feel the bones of her wrist crush under his grab, but his expression fiery and merciless as he tugged her gaping mouth, locked in a silent scream of pain, and wide eyes down to his fallen level. "Stay out of this, woman." He growled in a voice like thunder.

He righted himself at the same time he released her wrist, Summer crumpling to a weak heap at his feet. Oh, it made him feel powerful.

Loki's eyes looked ready to kill as he stood too, the two gods facing off over the helpless form of the mortal at the heart of their battle.

"Stop!"

The demanding authoritive voice was just as recognisable as the powerful, echoing thud of the staff on marble that accompanied it, and both gods turned to see their father stride into the training room in his full kingly glory. His face was hard and thunderous, completely contrasting to the concerned form of their mother hurrying in after him.

Odin made a bee line for his two sons, while Frigga skirted round to help Summer, an arm around her shoulders. But as soon as Summer's body straightened enough to reveal her bump, the goddess froze, shock written on her face.

The wizened eyes of the All Father lingered on the young woman for a heart stopping moment, and Loki could see the pieced fitting together in his fathers mind. Odin was no fool. There was no masking the fire as he turned his gaze back to his two sons, both still seething with their own angers.

"What happened?" each syllable was clear and commanding, in a tone so low and threatening it would make any mortal man fall to his knees if it were directed to him.

Loki stood his ground, too blinded with anger to think of what to do otherwise. "Thor happened!" he yelled, flinging an arm behind him to point an accusing finger. Thor didn't nothing to refute it, only clenching his fists tighter and allowing a more animalistic rage to darken his features. "He attacked her and defiled her, and now Summer has to suffer the consequences of his actions!"

"It was not my fault!" Thor spat, stepping up to be level with his brother in the eyes of their father. "I did not know she was with child."

"The child is yours?" Odin demanded before Loki could intervene.

Thor's face was thick with anger, but it couldn't hide the hesitation in his voice. "Maybe." He finally grumbled, with a dismissive look in Summer's direction. "Unless the little harlot has been spreading herself around to every man in Asgard-"

Loki took a mincing step. "How dare you."

"Silence!"

The thunderous shout stilled both Thor and Loki in their intimidating strides, fully meaning to commence their battle afresh. Loki's blood was still singing for a fight.

Odin's eyes moved to his wife, Frigga's palm pressed against Summer's bloated stomach while Summer cried silently onto her shoulder. Frigga's spare hand stroked the girl's hair comfortingly, not losing her motherly touch despite all the chaos around them.

"Is it possible?" the All Father asked in a somewhat softer voice.

Frigga's eyes didn't lift from Summer. "Almost certainly. Our races are very similar, and Asgardians advanced genealogy will speed up the process, but yes – it is very possible." Her eyes lifted at last to those of her husband, and they both linked gazes, exchanging the same sorrowful remorse. Loki knew that his father could snap that back to cold, cruel, punishing glares at the blink of an eye though. "She's pregnant." His mother breathed.

It was no illusion as Odin's face paled a shade and Loki anticipated the thoughts running through his father's head. His teeth gritted against them. "No!" he growled angrily before Odin could even voice them.

Odin's eyes lifted to his son, orbs completely unreadable. "What wold you have me do? I have no choice-"

"You would have her suffer for his mistake?"

"Think of the future!" Odin hissed at Loki through gritted teeth, his orbs betraying that he was just as unhappy as Loki. "An illegitimate child, a son of Odin committing such a heinous act - surely you can appreciate such things cannot come to pass?"

Loki stayed silent, sadly understanding perfectly. The reputation of the family – of Thor, the future king – was more important than doing what was right by an innocent girl. His heart sank with horror as he realised the cold truth in Odin's words: what else could be done to protect Thor and his blessed reputation? His rein would be cursed from the start if it were publically known that Thor was a brute that had raped and impregnated an innocent mortal woman.

Frigga's eyes gleamed at her husband, round and pleading from the floor. "Does it have to come to this? Is there not another way?"

"I don't understand." Summer eyes flittered between Frigga and Odin, her head lifted from Frigga's shoulder as the conversation had developed, but neither would meet her gaze. How could they, after what was being plotted around her?

Loki shuddered out the air from his lungs as her round, inquisitive eyes found his. He couldn't look away. He saw the dread settle in her heart as she read the broken anguish in Loki's face, his chest tightening painfully as he forced out the words. "He …he means to send you away." He finally breathed dreamily. Saying aloud made it sound all too real for him, hammering home the reality in harder.

But it was nothing compared to Summer. Her eyes widened as if Loki had just ordered her execution, her fingers that had been resting on Frigga's shoulders clenched and gripped as if the goddess were the only thing keeping her to Asgard.

"No…" she breathed, her voice breaking on the last note to more of a beg. Her eyes found Odin. "No, please, you can't. I'll do anything!"

It may very well be a death sentence, Loki thought to himself, feeling numb with utter hopelessness. How could this be happening? And all the while Thor stood back, arms crossed condemningly as he oversaw Summer's conviction.

Loki's teeth gritted, and his rage flared again with a violent passion, sparking alive the numbness into adrenaline. "This is all your fault!"

He surged forward, intending to do very serious harm to the god, but Odin somehow beat him to it, the base of his staff hitting the marble floor and blocking Loki before he could take another step. His blazing eyes lifted to those of his father, and Odin's hand gripped Loki's shoulder to restrain him.

"This is why she must go." He said harshly, his orbs hardening with objectivity to mar out the wrong of what must be done. They flickered between Loki and Thor. "Look at what has happened to you two. Brother upon brother. I cannot have this tear my family apart. I will not tolerate anything for that."

His hand fell away from Loki's shoulder and he turned slowly, ominously, to Summer, still clawing at Frigga's form for help. The goddess stayed subdued. Loki felt powerless to move, his heart breaking at the absolute fear in Summer's orbs.

His eyes felt wetter than they ought be as he gulped down the hard lump in his throat. "Please…." He begged. "You saw how she came to us. You know what awaits her back on earth. You can't send her back to that."

Odin's orbs were apologetic as he stepped closer to Summer. "I never said it was easy." He said, as Frigga melted away miserably, prising Summer's fingers from her person.

Summer's tears spilled helplessly as Odin towered over her, his staff rising in the air. "Please." She spilled uncontrollably. "Please, don't do this!" her eyes flickered to Loki. "Loki!" Her heart sank when Loki's mouth opened, but no sound left them, only harsh, ragged breaths. Then her eyes moved to Thor, and his burning stare. "It's your child. Don't you care?!"

His arms stayed tightly crossed. "It's your child, not mine."

"You bastard…" the defiance left her voice as her eyes lifted once more to the upraised staff, looming above her. Her hand fell to her rounded stomach.

Loki watched on, the breath hitching in his throat. This wasn't fair. His feet carried him forward, instinctive to block the injustice that was about to occur. "No!" he cried, desperation in his voice. "This isn't fair. It's not her fault."

A hand caught his shoulder, and Loki sneered as Thor's body moved to half block his, halting Loki in his path. The grip on his shoulder was firm, Thor's blazing eyes shamelessly looking into his. "It's what's best." He growled. "We have to put this behind us."

"Reconciliation is behind us now." Loki snarled, before looking to his father, frozen in place as if he wanted to draw down his staff and change his mind. Summer was starting to scramble to her feet. "He can't get away with this. You can't send her back - it's wrong!" His hand clawed at Thor's on his shoulder but his brother's grip held and he merely stretched an arm across his body to hold him back more fully. Loki struggled fruitlessly, no match for Thor's brute strength. "No!"

"What Thor did was unacceptable," Odin said in a quiet, sombre voice. "But the fate of the kingdom rests with him."

That was it. Case closed. There was no debate, no discussion left to be had that could change the All Fathers mind. A horrific part of Loki empathised, knowing that were he not so tied to Summer, where he merely reading it in a book, in the mind-sight of the ruler in Odin's position… he knew he would do the same thing.

"What about what you said?" Loki burst, feeling he would speak, shout and protest until his throat died if it had the slightest hope of changing his father's mind. "You said a wise king always defends the helpless. How does this fit in with your justice-"

"A king has to make decisions!" Odin swung round, tearing himself from Summer at last as his suddenly angry eyes blazed over his shoulder at his youngest son, restrained by his eldest. His booming roar echoed throughout the chamber. "That is why you will never be king! A ruler has to decide amongst unthinkable options for the good of his kingdom, no matter what the price. You do not understand!"

Loki fought against his brother, but Thor's arm splayed close to his body so he couldn't even lift his arms for a blow. "I understand that this is wrong!"

Odin's orbs hardened and Loki felt his heart plummet. "Then I hope this will help you come to terms with the harshness of ruling. And be grateful that you will be spared of it."

The heel of the staff slammed down.

"No!" Loki yelled, seeing Summer's hands rising to her face protectively as a light leaked from the head of the staff, stretching out to claim her with a speed that slowed tantalizingly in Loki's mind.

Then everything exploded all at once: a blinding flash of electric blue hid Summer's cowering form from view behind Odin's towering body, Loki forced to throw an arm over his eyes at the brightness. He surrendered to blindness for a second, forced to impatiently wait for the light shining through his eyelids to fade.

Thor's arm slacked as he too rode the impact, and Loki forced him away as darkness settled again, eyes snapping open. They scanned the floor instantly for Summer behind his father.

… but she was gone.

Loki sank to his knees in horror.