Avengers: The King of Kings.
Summary: "One year after Ceil Zak'Vael's defeat, tensions are running in all new highs as anticipation for the Black Hunt's return takes its toll. After reaching a breaking point with Loki, who has grown distant as "the inevitable" looms closer, Thor returns to Earth in hopes of clearing his head before the fight that is to come. However, his "pity party" is quickly interrupted when he inexplicably reunites with the Avengers, who give him some disturbing news: millions of people have been disappearing, and some of the biggest cities in the world have gone dark. With S.H.I.E.L.D scrambling for answers, they're finally forced go after the one man they believe capable of such chaos- Loki. Now, tasked with saving the Earth from certain doom- and his brother from wrongful imprisonment- while at the same time trying to find a reason to keep fighting, Thor's got to decide what's worth what and, most importantly, why, before an old enemy returns to wreck havoc on the one place that was supposed to stay safe- and with a near-silent, morose Loki by his side and constant infighting within the Avengers to boot, Thor's got his work cut out for him… but when tragedy strikes too close to home, it's time to get serious again."
Warning: "This will be a relatively tame fanfic, with the exception of some blood, violence, angst, some language, a character death or two, and other adult situations. So, to be on the safe side, we'll be going with Rated T. I have watched the Avenger's movie and all relating Marvel movies, but this does not mean that I am perfect and/or know absolutely everything there is to know about, and I'm bound to forget or misuse some small detail. So, with that, please forgive me if I screw up, and just enjoy the story."
Disclaimer: "I do not own Thor. Please don't ruin my day by thinking I do."
Author's Note: This story is dedicated to PhantomLilac AND MischievousChaos."
N._.s._.S
Chapter Thirteen: No More Sorries II.
"It's always too late for sorries- but I appreciate the sentiment."
- Neil Gaiman.
Loki bids Jane goodbye as they reach the Bifrost.
Sort of.
"Away with you then," He said with a smirk as she shoots him a dark look, "I must cross the Bridge alone."
"They're waiting for you."
At that, Loki looks over his shoulder, and sees that the mortal was right- he could see Odin standing next to Heimdall, and Axel Hernsson on the Gatekeeper's other side.
"They are," the God of Mischief affirmed, without missing a beat, "You're right."
"What will you say?"
"There is nothing I can say that will lessen the blow of what I am about to do," Loki answered, turning back to look at the woman as he added, quite kindly, "That is why you are not coming with me. This is a matter that must be settled between me and them."
"But what if-?"
"What if?" Loki interrupted as he slipped a hand into his pocket and drawing out the golden soul, "I do not deal in what if's. I hate what if's. There is no if, Jane, only when. Remember that."
Jane doesn't answer as Loki moves ahead, continuing on without her.
"Farewell."
N._.s._.S
"So you're here," Heimdall speaks first, breaking the instantly tense silence that follows as Loki enters the Bifrost, armed with his golden spear, "Where would you go?"
"Midgard," Loki answered, not missing a beat as he kept his eyes embattled in the Gatekeeper's in order to avoid the shrewd, azure gaze of his adoptive fathers, "I go to Midgard."
Heimdall's eyes flash to Odin's, whose eyes meet Loki's at last.
Then, incredibly, after a short battle of wills between jade-green and azure, the All-Father finally shifts his gaze and nodded once; granting the Gatekeeper permission to do as the God of Mischief bid.
As Loki passed them, Axel Hernsson finally spoke up.
You are fools.
The Honored King refused to look at any of them when they turned to him, instead keeping his eyes on the golden walls around them.
You and your brother both are.
With that, the King turned on his heels and, his white cloak billowing furiously behind him, left.
Loki could only smile.
"Loki."
The God of Mischief looks over his shoulder at Odin when he spoke, smile fading a little.
"I'm not coming back," Loki warns him, quietly, "Even if I do somehow make it out alive."
"I know."
"And I'm not sorry, either," He adds, slowly, seriously, "It's too late for that."
"No," The All-Father answered, cautiously, "It's never too late."
Loki looked back toward the portal.
"No more sorries," He said, raising his voice as he looked back at Odin a few moments later, his jade-green eyes lighting up in what could only have been anger, "Not this time. We don't get to be sorry."
With that, he turned and, with Heimdall's nod, entered the portal.
There was a flash of bright white light, and then Loki Odinsson was gone once again.
N._.s._.S
When Axel Hernsson saw the flash of light light up the sky, he immediately looked up, up into the brilliant splashes of sapphire blue and white surrounding the afternoon sun, and closed his suddenly too-bright, maroon eyes, silently clasping his dark hands over his chest, uttering a soft prayer that none but the sea and wind could hear.
Hurry hither, defiant soul.
Hurry hither, forlorn heart-
Hurry!
Your time is running out-
Hurry hither!
Your journey is almost over...
The Honored King slowly unclasped his hands and let them fall limply back to his sides as he opened his eyes again and looked back toward the Bifrost, where he could see Odin standing, alone, at the entrance.
Tears finally, slowly flowed over Axel's black face, like stars over a sky of absolute darkness, as he mourned for the young, lost soul that would forever wander, lost within a place so far from his true home.
Mourning the soul that no one could have saved.
... But may you stand, victorious, at the end.
No one could have saved him... He informs Odin as the All-Father approached him, a few minutes later, silently bushing his anguished tears away, But I daresay you knew that long ago.
It's not a question.
But Odin doesn't acknowledge it as he passed by.
His face is set in both anger and grief.
Axel watched Odin leave, and then slowly returned his bright-eyed gaze to the sky, running a long-fingered, black hand through his bangs, brushing them back as his maroon eyes suddenly lit up again.
There is but one way to break a Curse, after all, He mused, with a glance at the All-Father's retreating form, And I can't help but wonder if you have already figured it out, O God of Lies...
If he had a mouth, Axel Hernsson would have been smiling.
Or perhaps he already was.
I wonder if you are really as much of a fool as you would want us all to believe.
N._.s._.S
Sorry for the slight shortness of this chapter, guys.
Anyway, this'll tide you over until tomorrow.
Or so I hope.
Tell me what you guys think! XD