Welcome back avid readers! All mistakes are my own
It was not a rare occurrence that Frigga leave the palace for their southern home during the colder seasons, if only for a few days at most. Loki knew the nobles of the south were always adamant about being involved in the politics of Asgard, even from afar. They would insist a royal visit in which only Frigga was able to tolerate at most.
Loki remains seated as he looks at his father at the table, scoffing internally. It had been a long time since he had gone anywhere, always choosing to remain in the capitol. Looking back at his untouched food, he raises his fork and prods at the meat absentmindedly resting his head in one hand lazily.
He never enjoys when mother leaves for the south, for she was the only one he can confide in of late. Sitting in the large hall Loki keeps his gaze on his food. He wonders what it was before it was turned into this mush. Warriors of Asgard they may be, but holders of the culinary art was debatable.
Where was Thor? Loki frowned.
The loud placement of Odin's cup upon the table gives Loki the all too clear sign of impending conversation.
"How does your weapons training fair Loki?" His father mutters softly as he keeps his gaze from him.
Ever has it been this way, for his father to avert his gaze from him and ask questions to which he has always known the answer. He slumps in his seat, not bothering to lift his head as he continues to move his food around. He does not even bother to let Odin know he has not attended a training session in over a year, Loki knows this. It was easy, he supposed to simply disappear. After all, not once in the whole year had a tutor brought it to the attention of the Allfather.
"Well as always, father."
"And your other... studies? "
He straightens his posture then, lowering his fork. Loki frowns and turns his attention to Odin, seeing how intently his father looks upon him. Confusion hits him hard as he is at a loss for words. Never has Odin intentionally asked him for this and in a brief moment his face softens.
"I am concluding Lord Reiðmarr's insight into the strategies of-"
"Quite the read, Loki." Odin interrupts.
Loki finds himself fall silent as he watches Odin's face intently and cannot decipher what he reads. Often he finds himself here, for his words to be interrupted, fall on deaf ears. He had fooled himself even now, thinking this moment would be different. He chooses to remain quiet as he looks away from Odin, thoughts elsewhere.
"I have managed." Is all he mutters.
"Surely your talents are wasted on these tomes." Odin waves his hand to dismiss the idea. "Thor has mastered the sword as quickly as you a written word, you would do well to learn from him."
Loki's lips part in the immediate formation of a rebuttal. They are not wasted, they are not. Sometimes his tomes are all he has, his only friends who keep him company.
The only ones who make things feel better.
But his anger is distracted from his brother's loud and boisterous arrival.
"Father!" He booms from across the hall striding with an arrogance that sets Loki fuming and he cannot fathom why it always makes him thus.
"Late as always." Odin declares as he motions for Thor to sit.
Loki tightens his hold on his fork as Thor sits opposite him. He raises his downcast eyes to meet his brother's, knowing his glare goes unnoticed. Thor merely slams his cup down, motioning for a attendant to fill his goblet. Loki almost bends his fork, watching how one of the kitchen staff run towards their golden prince to lift the jug of wine from the table.
He could have done it himself, Loki fumes, seeing the tell tale signs of tiredness in the helper's eyes.
"Forgive me Father, but Lord Tyr was a formidable opponent in our bout."
Loki stiffens as he feels his father's gaze turn to him, his one eye piercing through his lie.
"Your session ran late then?" He asked with knowing curiosity as he continued his gaze. The Allfather hummed as Thor nodded like the fool he was.
"How did Loki fair against our Lord Tyr?"
"He didn't." Thor replied almost instantly and soon he too is turning to face him. "Where were you brother? Studying those dusty pages again, surely you will have time for that in..." Thor says and immediately Loki snaps his gaze to Thor silencing his brother's word but it is too late.
Thor's eyes widen at his slip before Odin speaks.
" To where are you going Loki?"
Loki curses Thor, curses his foolishness for telling his brother. Thor could never be trusted to keep his secret but he had hounded and hounded him one morning, not leaving until he knew why Loki was packing a few of his favourite garments. He takes a small breath as he stares at his brother unable to keep the hurt of betrayal from his face.
"To the south to meet up with mother." He says smoothly but too quickly for his liking. His heart beats faster as he finds himself cornered.
"Do not lie to me, boy." Odin states as he turns to Thor. "Where is Loki going?" Odin repeats himself more firmly when Thor does not speak.
Loki finds himself looking down as Thor replies hesitantly, his voice clear with his own folly.
"To Álfheimr, father. He wishes to study enchantments there." His brother admits softly.
Loki clenches his fists, unable to keep the burning sensation that fills his eyes.
"Enchantments, Loki?" Odin says in tired dismay. "You are a Prince of Asgard and I will not have you gallivant around the nine to fulfil such a foolish notion."
He cannot stop the hurt his father's words bring him. He wants to leave, knowing the outcome of this conversation... for the same result occurs every time. He stands quickly, the motion pushing the wooden chair from its place. His fists shake as he looks to his father, trembling in pained anger.
"It is not a mere whim or a foolish notion." He spits hitting the table in a rage. "It is what I choose to do!"
Odin stands to meet him towering over him as he has always done.
"I forbid you."
Loki leans back, mouth slightly ajar as he gasps.
"I want to go, father." He begins softly, holding his hands to his chest. "Please." Is all he can manage afterwards.
"You will follow the role you were born for and serve Asgard!" Odin roars.
Stinging hot tears trail down Loki's face as his cheeks burn with humiliation. He turns his gaze to Thor, and sees how silent his brother has become. How, with all his strength and power, could not even summon the courage to stand up for him. In a final flare of anger he hits the table once more, sweeping his arms across its surface in a cry of rage. All its contents crash onto the floor in an echo of metal to stone. He stands there, breathing heavily as his angered tears go dry.
Odin says nothing more and sits back into his seat a telling sign his decision is final.
His angers leaves him like water as his hands fall to his sides. The command of the Allfather is absolute, and he knows there is no fighting Odin's will. Still, he thinks softly, he would have liked to have gone. To have made friends, to have had ones to call his own.
If only for a few weeks...
He turns then and ignores the silent pleas from his brother and returns to the safety of his own rooms. When his mother returns asking for all that she missed he smiles gently, telling her all is well with Asgard. How, with his strength, Thor defeated four warriors at once in their training session with naught but a shield.
She smiles then, her soft smile and places a few of his stray hairs back behind his ear.
Oh, how he had missed her.
"It's only a day's walk to the border. This is where we entered, just shy of those ranges." Natasha says as they all sit by the burnt out fire. A small trail of smoke rises from the embers as daylight blooms on the surroundings.
"So still in Latveria." Clint says lamely as he sighs, rubbing his hands over his face.
"Yes. Whatever Doom did to keep all the world's eyes out, apparently can keep everything in." Natasha replies.
"We hit it, hard." Steve pitches in. "A barrier, perhaps?"
"Seemed like it." Clint says, rolling the ache out of his shoulders.
Natasha and Steve had landed not far from Clint's assumptions. Natasha, much to his relief appeared simply on the ground, where Steve had fallen into a tree. They had found each other with ease, and had seen Clint's fire as they moved around the land, trying to get their bearings. It had been an awkward reunion, to say the least.
Clint turns his head only just and stares at Loki from the corner of his eye. He had not moved the entire time, nor had spoken a single word. He follows the god's gaze once more, seeing the expanse of the land. He has drifted, Clint decides, seeing the dullness in the god's eyes. They had silently agreed not to disturb him, and for once Clint did not argue with the decision. It had been for the best, Clint thinks, to leave Loki wherever he was for the moment. Allow him that space.
"We should go." Natasha murmurs softly and stands.
Clint and Steve nod tiredly and both move slowly, stretching out the exhaustion. Steve looks to Clint for a brief moment before he turns and heads to Loki's position. Kneeling down on a knee he gently shakes the god's shoulder. When he does not move, Steve tries again.
With a slow, almost lethargic start Loki returns to himself. His eyes move to the hand upon his shoulder before they rise to meet Steve's.
"We have to go." Steve says softly and apologetically.
Loki remains silent and moves forward in his attempt to stand. Clint's eyes catch the slight shake in his frame as he rises and moves forward with speed. He grabs the god's forearm before his heavy frame buckles and motions for Steve to do the same. Slinging Loki's arms around their shoulders they move forward, stepping carefully as his feet stumble over each other as they drag along the dirt. Natasha watches on, meeting Clint's gaze as they share a look.
But still Loki remains silent.
After a few hours the shade of the mountains cover their journey in an eerie march of silence. The ache along Clint's shoulders grows as he hefts Loki's arm back into a comfortable position. He frowns as he glances to the god's face before returning his watch on the space before him.
There was something different about him, and even Clint knew that was stretching it, but still he felt it. It was in the way Loki's feet dragged tiredly across the earth, the way he simply let them move him. Was this the way in which a god gave up? He wondered.
A small tug brings Clint out of his thoughts and soon they are forced to stop. Loki is pulling his arms from them, Clint and Steve notice, with a gentleness.
"You're still injured." Is all Steve manages to say, his face painted with concern.
"Steve."
Steve turns to Natasha, giving her a hard glare, but the Widow stands firm.
When Loki remains on his two feet, Clint gives Natasha another look and watches her nod. He sighs, knowing not to press any further and they continue to walk with Loki trailing behind them. Hours pass in silence as they move across the landscape. The soreness in their feet a constant thrum of annoyance as they persevere. After a long while Clint jogs forward to Natasha, ignoring the ache in his knees.
"Hey." He says as he catches up.
"Hey." She replies.
"You good?" Clint asks after they fall into a silence.
"Been better."
Clint rubs his face with his hands and steals a glance at Steve. The captain watches them silently, ensuring his steps match Loki's, never straying far. Clint frowns for a moment and wonders how heavy his shield is strapped to his back. The thought disappears as quick as it comes and soon he is turning back.
"We need a plan." He says, looking beyond them.
"The plan is to return to the military outpost where we entered. From there we will contact head base. We crossed the border not too long ago, we will be there before nightfall."
Clint shakes his head.
"That's not what I mean."
"What do you mean?" Clint hears Steve says guardedly from behind him.
Clint forcedly stops and turns to face Steve and Loki, halting Natasha in her steps. She turns and stares at him intently while the others merely stop.
"What I mean is what we are going to do when we contact base." He finds himself crossing his arms as he looks at Loki.
"Clint." Steve says dangerously shifting his position.
Perhaps it is the way Steve's voice carries across the group that has Loki raise his gaze from the ground before them. Clint tenses if only slightly, Loki it seems, has been following the entire conversation. While it may appear Loki was brought out from his thoughts Clint knows that's not the case. The god's eyes are pained, yes, but also spark with the same sharpness he has seen before and... something else.
Something he hasn't seen before.
He frowns.
When did they change?
"You wish for me to leave." Loki says quietly before silence descends upon them. It is as though the silence from them causes Loki to nod in acceptance as he blinks and looks away from them, his jaw clenching as he holds something back.
Clint cringes, god he can't say what's on his mind for shit. He rubs his forehead in annoyance at himself. He can practically feel the anger from the others in waves.
"No, we don't" Natasha says slowly but Clint hears the truth in her voice as she gives him a dirty look.
"Then what will you do about SHIELD?" Clint says bluntly, causing her to frown.
"We'll cross that path when we get there."
"I think it's a good time to cross it now." He says forwardly. "What do you think will happen Nat, that they will simply let him tag along? Loki isn't supposed to be here and I'm pretty sure you went outside your orders on this."
The thinning of Natasha's lips is the only answer he needs. He turns to face Loki, to tell him they should split up in two's but before he can say anything he frowns. Loki's attention is focused elsewhere, to the skies. He looks too, and for the first time he can hear a continuous thrum that surrounds them from above. Natasha and Steve both raise their heads to the sky, trying to look for the source of the thrumming.
"That's no normal aircraft." Clint says as it dawns on him.
"Quinjets." Natasha says as she spins around, trying to determine their position. A sudden wind picks up around them, blowing the grass below them in a thousand directions. Clint is forced to cover his face beneath his arm dust blows from beneath them. Stealing a glance he watches Loki. The god merely stands still, eyes to the sky as his coat ripples endlessly against the winds. It shocks him then, seeing Loki so still, so planted to the ground where his teammates fight against the power of the wind.
"With Holo-Reflectors." She yells above the roar of the engines.
Clint looks up in time to see the reflectors flicker from the image of the skies to the familiar grey of metal.
Two, he sees. How did they find them? He quickly makes his way to the god before the hanger doors fall open. He grabs Loki's shoulder and tries to shake it, to bring the man from his gaze but the god continues to stare at the jets. An emotion he cannot decipher painted across his face
"What are you doing?" He asks dumbfounded in his haste. "Go...teleport away, something. You're going to be arrested."
SHIELD agents pour from the doors like ants, marching systematically as they draw their weapons towards them, shouting orders.
"There is no where left to go..." Loki says softly as Clint lets his hand slip from his shoulder. Even among the commotion he hears it clearly as Loki turns his gaze to meet his before they slowly turn back to the situation before them. They are shouting orders to clear their distance from him and Clint shouts back, telling them to stand down. Steve moves in front, blocking his clear vision as he raises his shield to protect them.
Or was it to make a point? A clear warning directed towards their fellow agents.
"Stand down Captain." The man says, raising his weapon.
"Lower you weapon, agent, no harm is being done." Clint hears Steve say.
The agent Clint knows to be in charge turns his aim to Natasha while the others train their weapons on them.
"Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton and Captain Rogers, you are ordered to return to base immediately under the direct orders of Agent Maria Hill, will you comply?"
Natasha thins her lips as she steals Clint a glance.
"If you do not comply you will be remanded in custody to await proper disciplinary protocols." The man presses.
"Screw protocols." Clint finds himself saying. "Put your guns down and let us explain."
"Negative, Agent Barton. In direct violation of SHIELD's agreement with Asgard, Loki Odinson is to come with us.
Clint tries to take a step, but soon the weapons lock fiercely on him and he is quick to raise his hands.
"Captain..." He hears Loki say quietly.
"We can figure this out-" Steve tries to say but soon Loki is moving around him.
The agents are quick to respond, fixating their weapons upon the god as he places his hands atop Steve's shield, letting the tips of his fingers touch the rim delicately. Clint opens his mouth, but cannot find any words. This wasn't right, they were meant to have more time to plan for this. He knew what division the agents were from, how highly skilled their training went. He cannot believe the concern he feels as it dawns upon him. It had boiled down to the most simplest of facts. Loki had broken the agreement between Asgard and Earth. Without Thor...
Clint's heart sinks.
Without Thor.
Loki's hands are moving now, pushing Steve's shield down with a gentleness that only comes from acceptance. He tries to smile, but it does not reach his face. He turns to Natasha and nods his head in a way that almost seems as a form of farewell for services rendered.
They watch as he turns to the agents and moves toward them. Two more agents Clint had not seen before move from inside the Quinjet, a silver briefcase carried between them. They are quick to move, opening the case and removing the objects. Loki, he sees, simply raises his wrists knowingly. The sounds of locks clamping shut are all too familiar as Clint is ordered to move into one of the jets. He takes one more glance back and watch as Loki is escorted away with his head bowed.
"Bastards." He swears, causing Steve to turn too.
The disapproval is all too clear in the Captain's eyes.
It is only when they are inside the first Quinjet, when the doors of the hanger begin to rise that Clint frowns.
"Wait..." He says stopping one of the men as the door's shut behind them. "Where are you taking him?"
"The Asgardian will be transported to a secure facility." Is all he says before ordering him to sit.
He looks to his teammates with apprehension. Their faces a telling sign they could do nothing but wait until they reached base.
Still, Clint thinks as he watches the other jet steer away from their position, he had barely even put up an argument. They would figure this out, he decided, feeling the gnawing sensation of guilt claw in his gut. They would try to make it right.
Thor sits silently on one of Stark's seats, elbows resting on his knees as he leaned forward in thought. He had been told that Loki had gone off with Lady Romanoff. He had frowned then, confused at his brother's actions. To be in the presence of one he knew Loki considered 'untruthful' was strange indeed.
Thor brings a hand through his long hair. Small relief filled his heart. Knowing his brother was no longer alone, that he had been found, it gave him hope that he had not been hunted as he had on the other worlds. Though, like any world in the nine, such things were delicate if handled wrongly. He knew not all was at it seemed.
Thor turns his head to Stark who is tapping onto his piece of glass he calls the 'tablet'. Stark had promised him he could get into contact with Romanoff, he always had managed before. If he could just find a way of communicating to her that he was here... that he was waiting for Loki.
His brother would find a way back to him.
He looks down ashamed. Long were the years since his brother had tried to find him. Oft it was he who barreled through the palace, dragging his brother around and falling a deaf ear to his protests. Protests, he thinks softly to himself, never true words of hate. His heart saddened at the thought.
He had always dragged Loki into his pursuits and never once asked his brother about his. He did not even know what his brother did half the time in the years before they were men. He read... yes, he knew that for certain but what was it that he actually read about?
"The line is silent, I don't know what's going on but they're not answering." Stark says bringing him out of his thoughts.
Thor looks to the mortal who now stands near him, waiting if but anxiously for his answer.
"You promised you could make contact." He says, standing angrily as he ignores the sudden onslaught of nausea.
"I-I know that Thor, but I don't know what way we can contact them now... they went off radar."
"So you lied." Thor finds himself say amidst Tony's placating hands. "Every moment we spend here is another moment my brother may be lost forever. We must find him Stark before something happens."
Thor does not realize he has stepped closer to Tony, grabbing him by the arms and pinning him in place. Tony looks up at him with an emotion he cannot decipher.
"We will, I have Jarvis scouring every-" he tries to say slowly.
"I must find Loki!" Thor finds himself shouting.
"Thor, big guy, let's drop the grip here and talk about this okay?" The mortal says quickly.
He does not think as he lets go of Stark sharply with a grunt of anger. He wonders why the mortal is falling backwards until the sound of glass shattering brings him back to his senses. He looks upon Stark with growing dread as the mortal hits one of his glass tables, shattering it upon impact. He blinks as the Stark hisses in pain, turning onto his side that he may push himself up.
"Tony..." He whispers with concern and moves towards him, the sound of crunching glass emanating from beneath his boots as he kneels.
"Forgive me, my friend." Thor says with raw worry as he reaches for him, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "I forget my own strength sometimes..."
He looks down at his friend's arms and hands, noticing the pattern of cuts that paint red specks all over his exposed skin. He does not think sometimes, he knows this. Always has he let his emotions burst from him. Loki had once tried to teach him control, many years ago, to avoid such occurrences.
He wished he had listened.
"Its fine, I guess. " Tony says as Thor brings his hands under his arms and lifts him to his feet. "I'm kinda used to being thrown through glass by now."
"That does not excuse my actions, you are doing what you can and I-"
Thor looks away as he falls silent, hearing only the sound of Stark brushing himself off. Small pieces fall off his clothing, hitting the floor like raindrops.
"Look. Destroyed table aside, I still want to help." Tony gestures behind him before checking his cuts, "I have a general idea of where they are. Jarvis bring up the footage on Hungary."
Thor turns to the screen that lights up and watches an explosion of green light burst from an entire level of windows amidst the flurry of chaos lining the streets. The footage is blurred and shaking almost entirely but Thor knows, knows, that light is a distinct form energy that could only come from Loki.
"That spell is combative. A form of energy similar to the one that comes from your glass heart." He says with seriousness.
This was certainly a development from his previous endeavours to remain hidden. Here, Loki was visible with intention.
"It blew up half a hotel. My guess it involved Doom on some level."
"I do not understand the context of your words." Thor says, looking at him with a frown.
"The context? He hears Tony says with confusion. "Oh... Doom? He's a dude, a uh... mortal. The King of Latveria, the country that borders where this was taken. He's been threatening neighbouring areas with war, yada yada."
"If my brother was forced to use such means, then this foe is formidable." Thor turns to Tony. "This matter must be taken seriously. Did all word after this..." Thor gestures to the foreign word he cannot say.
"Footage." Tony supplied quickly.
"...Footage. When it occurred, did it cease?"
"Yeah... it did. What are you thinking?" Tony says slowly.
"Sorcery is a fickle thing Tony Stark. Mostly it is harmless, abundant as there is air but it can be also be highly dangerous. Loki knows this, and so for him to resort to such means tells me he had no other choice." Thor turns to his friend.
"You must not underestimate this mortal." He says darkly. Worry brews back into his heart for Loki.
Tony nods and frowns in a way that much reminded Thor of him. The way in which his brows lowered in the clear sign of contemplation. The one of calculating intelligence at work.
"What is it?" He asks.
"It's just... this whole thing with Latveria, it never made sense to me."
"How so?"
"Well for starters no one could gain entry or even get word about anything from Latveria. Then, all of a sudden Doom shares to the world he is ready to blow it up with nukes? It never made sense."
"I may not know what this mortal's intentions are but I am familiar with the objective. In my experience it is a form of diversion. Ensure all eyes lay upon that of your choosing while your true intentions are met."
There is a heartbeat of silence before Stark speaks.
"Are you insinuating that the nuclear weapons were a diversion?"
Thor finds himself nodding slowly as he watches the mortal's eyes widen if only just. He hears Stark swear under his breath. Thor turns to watch the footage of his brother's power, looped on repeat. It was obvious to him that these 'weapons' were most likely non-existent. He had much experience with the plays of war and battle.
"We are yet to see his true intention." Thor says softly.
His eyes soften. Whatever this Doom character was doing he could feel that somehow, his brother was involved, caught in the heart of another battle that was not his to fight.
For now, all he could do was rest. Regain the lost energy he spent travelling and confer with his friend on the next course of action.
For now.
An alert well, it will make me update faster and a review will let you rain down all types of feels upon Loki
I swear things will get better... perhaps not, ah gee who are we kidding the feels train hasn't arrived at the station yet
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