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 Twenty-Nine: Promise Me Thus.
"For every promise, there is price to pay."
- Jim Rohn.
"You... you..."
Apparently, Thor was having trouble finding anything bad enough to call him; and Loki couldn't blame him- but then again, his brother couldn't exactly form a coherent sentence at the moment, due to how badly he was crying, and his crushing embrace over the God of Mischief certainly wasn't helping anything in that regard.
After realizing that simply calling out for the God of Thunder wasn't going to do it, Loki had stepped up beside his brother and climbed right up beside him, reaching up and slowly clasping his hand over Thor's, regardless of the roaring thunder and the lightning striking dangerously close as he approached.
"You..." Thor tried again, though his voice quickly died again, "You're..."
"I know," Loki answered, quietly, gently, "And I'm so sorry."
"Damn it, Loki."
The world around them had seemed to slow to a complete standstill as Thor turned to see who had dared try to stop him; dared try to stop the thunder he summoned- but when he saw Loki, the anger behind his stormy, azure eyes melted quickly away, and he'd actually dropped Mjolnir when he embraced him, before Loki could even get a single word in.
"Do you have any idea what I-" Thor began, slowly, finally, letting go of Loki as he spoke, and drawing away a little as they stared at each other for a long, terrible moment before trying again, "What I went through?"
- Just as what had happened in the Svartalfheim two years ago, there's blood everywhere. The wound in the God of Mischief's chest was gaping and deep- and Thor knew from last time that it went all the way though, and he unlatched his crimson cape, pressing it as firmly, but as gently as he could, over the terrible wound in a futile effort to stop the blood that was already soaking the ground underneath-
"I didn't know that son of a bitch would stab me like that after I broke the Curse over Midgard," Loki retorted, firmly looking out toward the flooded city, still obscured by the heavy rainfall over the balcony, shoving the painful memory away, "And I seriously thought I was going to die back there. I didn't know if I-"
A roar of thunder and a flash of lightning interrupted him at that moment, and made the both of them look up into the black sky; and when another bolt came down a few moments later, Loki sighed, almost wearily, running a hand through his soaked, raven-black hair.
"I didn't know if I'd make it, and I wasn't going to take that chance."
"You could have told me," Thor answered, quietly, "You could have said something."
"And then what?" Loki retorted, although not unkindly, "What if I was wrong? What if I really was dead, and I'd given you some false illusion of hope?"
"Then at least I'd have that!"
There was another crack of thunder above their heads and Loki flinched.
"Thor, I wasn't going to do that to you. It would have been cruel-"
"Even crueler than watching you die twice?"
- It ended with blood pooled on the empty street underneath, covering the shaking arms that cradled him, and with tears running, still hot and fast, burning down frozen, white cheeks. It ended in silence, in an absolute, terrible silence, broken only by the stricken sobs of the one man who bore witness to the end-
"That's not what I meant-" Loki began, though his voice suddenly broke and he looked away again. "If I had told you everything, you wouldn't have let me do any of it in the first place."
That much, Loki knew with absolute certainty, was true.
Thor couldn't come up with a retort to that, and he looked back, at Jane, before sighing in defeat.
"You didn't have to play hero," He finally declared, quietly, "You didn't have to suffer like that alone."
Loki exhaled and smiled a little, shaking his head.
"I was never alone, at least not completely. It wasn't like what happened after I learned I was a Jotun, and Laufeysson besides," He told him, darkly, though his voice gentled slightly as he continued, "I knew if I couldn't handle it, if I couldn't keep the pain in check; I could rely on you, that I could tell you everything if I needed. It was my choice this time, Thor, part of breaking my Curse."
Thor didn't have an answer to that. Instead, he turned back and scooped up Jane from where she sat, just outside the door leading back into their room.
"What happens now?" He finally asked, quietly, breaking the silence as he laid her on their bed, looking over his shoulder and frowning as Loki followed him in and closed the door, locking it and shutting out the violent storm that still raged outside.
"I'm leaving."
Those words were another stab to the heart, and Thor straightened back up and turned to look at his brother again, golden brows raised in both surprise and concern as he looked over his brother clearly for the first time that night, seeing that despite the jagged marks of the Curse finally being gone, his Loki's face was still gaunt and pale; and his jade-green eyes were haunted and visibly weary.
"Can I convince you otherwise?"
Loki's reply is firm. "I doubt it."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to be forced to become something I'm not," Loki answered, simply, with a wry smile, "And I don't ever want to question who- or what- I am again."
For the first time in years, both brothers were finally on the same page- and now, on the same sentence. For the first time, Thor saw the Loki that had been hidden since he'd learned about his true heritage; the one trapped in not only both Asgard and Jotunheim, but some dark, terrifying place between.
"And you're going to be able to do this... by leaving," Thor surmised, slowly, "For good?"
"Yes."
There is no hesitation in Loki's voice even at that answer; and from that moment, Thor knew there would be no point to trying to persuade him against leaving; because if there was one thing that they had in common even before all this, it was being steadfast and brutally stubborn when it came to doing something that they truly felt they had to do.
"So you want me to tell them you're dead?"
Loki inclines his head. "It's for the best. That way, they won't ever come looking for me."
"What about Heimdall?"
"Heimdall cannot see me, never could. You and I both know that."
"And father?"
"Odin will rest easy knowing that I've gone in peace."
"Me?"
This time, Loki's jade-green eyes flashed, and he crossed the room to place both hands on his brothers shoulder, drawing them close and staring deep into his brother's eyes as he answered.
"You will know that you've given me the freedom I've long sought," He said, so softly that Thor nearly missed it, thanks to the still very audible thunderstorm raging outside, "And you will be happy knowing that I will be safe, and content to live my own life."
"Will we ever see each other again?"
Loki smiled, but when he tried to draw away, without a word, Thor caught him in another embrace.
"I forgive you," Thor finally managed to murmur, and Loki looked back at him, clearly stunned, "I never saw you as a monster, or insane, or as a Jotun, Loki. Because that's not who you are."
The God of Mischief simply, slowly returns the embrace, just as another bolt of lightning lights up the room, illuminating the tears that had welled in those bright, tired jade eyes.
"You are my brother."
N._.s._.S
As they walked downstairs, side-by-side, Loki could still not be seen by anyone else, so Thor drew many strange, even startled looks from those they quietly passed as they made their way down to the Courtyard. They had chosen this place together, believing it was a fitting place for Loki to safely take his leave; since that place was theirs alone, and no one but themselves would be seen, thanks to the enchantments Loki had cast so long ago over the beautiful place.
And most of all, they believed that it was fitting that it would share their final secret.
They waited until they were out of earshot of others before they started talking; mostly because they didn't know how to start a conversation and they didn't want Asgard thinking Thor had lost his mind when they witnessed him talking into the air. So, they were quiet as they made their way through the half-flooded grounds, away from every other living soul. The storm had finally taken a break, turning into a light drizzle of rain as they continued down to the Courtyard, which they found had somehow escaped any kind of damage at all.
"What are you going to do after the Hunt's finished?" Loki asked as they carefully moved down the gilded steps toward the lake, "I can't imagine you'll be content on staying here in Asgard after... after everything that's happened?"
"No. I'm staying on Midgard," Thor said, decisively, "I'll bring Jane back with me when the Hunt's gone."
For some reason, it was strange to hear Thor call Midgard his "home," but Loki easily let the matter go without comment as he continued.
"Have you decided where?"
"New York, of course."
"Gods, that place was terrible. Too many lights and strange people."
Thor laughed then, and Loki soon joined him, breaking the tension that had built up on the walk to the yard, as they were left to their own thoughts.
"What about you?" Thor asked after they'd calmed back down, "Where will you go?"
"I don't know. Somewhere quiet. Gods know the Jotunheim could probably use a living touch again."
"Do you really want to live there?"
"Why not?" Loki shrugged, "It's actually quite beautiful. Secluded and safe, too."
"It's just..." Thor paused for effect, smiling a little, "Wouldn't you rather go to Vanaheim, marry some pretty maid in a distant, tiny village where no one's heard of you, have a few children, and have a normal life?"
After a shocked moment, Loki simply patted Thor's shoulder and smirked.
"You and Jane will have that covered in due time, I'm sure."
They reached the lake laughing again.
"Seriously, Thor," Loki said as their laughter died, and the air turned serious, "Don't worry about me."
"You know I can't do that."
Loki turned to face him, and smiled a little, jade-green eyes lighting up again.
"Live your life, content with who you are, and at peace with what you've done," He said, gently, reaching out to grasp his brother's shoulder, "You deserve that much."
"As do you."
Loki embraced him then, suddenly and tightly, closing his eyes and letting his tense shoulders relax a little as Thor returned it, and after a few long, quiet moments, he drew back and spoke again.
"Promise me something, Thor. Before I leave."
"Yes?"
"When you and your friends have defeated the Black Hunt, and the storm fades, promise me you will look up into the sky, and smile for me."
If Thor thought that was an odd request, he knew better than to voice it.
"I will."
Loki looked away and and let out a deep breath. Before him, the lake slowly began to freeze, rippling over the shoreline and creeping along to the center.
"Hey," Loki's voice is surprised, as if he'd just thought of something for the first time, and he looked back at his brother, as if he couldn't contain his curiosity. "Thor?"
"Yes?"
"The day you married Jane, do you remember how you asked me to freeze the lake?"
"I do."
"Why?"
"Because Jane and Sif made a bet that you couldn't."
Loki laughed at that one; and overhead, thunder clapped, as if alongside him, causing both brothers to look up as the rain began to fall harder again. Loki turned back, still smiling, and began moving again, toward the center of the lake, where he stood in silence as the rain fell about him, the tiny droplets turning to snow as it reached the earth at his feet.
The God of Mischief took in a long, slow deep breath, extending his arms out. Thor saw blue creeping up into his brother's features, angry and suddenly, before it suddenly faded in a flick of an eye when Loki let his arms drop back down, creating a wave of snow to fall silently to his feet.
Loki exhaled, and the snow began to circle around him, lifting slowly into the air, as if guided by the hand of some invisible force, and it was then that Thor knew that his brother was leaving.
And this time, it would be for good.
"Loki!" Thor called, as the torrent of snow lifted over his brother's thin form, "Promise me something!"
Thor saw a flash of jade and gold from within the white mass, and knew Loki had heard him.
"Promise me you'll smile back!"
There was another laugh, this one booming and clear, despite the thunder still roaring overhead, resonating though the yard as, without warning, or a final response, Loki, snow and all, disappeared; leaving the lake still frozen, and now, completely barren of life.
And the courtyard silent.
N._.s._.S
Thor returned to the palace as the heavy rain turned to hail- and then to a snowfall, as if Loki's leaving had become the turning point in it; that now he was free, gone for good, the storm could slowly begin to falter. For some reason, however, despite losing his brother for what he knew would be the final time, it felt as though some terrible burden had suddenly lifted from the God of Thunder's shoulders; and while he would always bear Loki's secret heavily, he could smile freely still.
For he knew that somewhere within the Nine Realms, his brother could too.
N._.s._.S
Loki was free.
N._.s._.S
Hope you guys liked this chapter- I sure did.
Anyway, we've only got 6 more chapters, plus the epilogue coming up.
We'll have this done by the end of this week! XD
Anyway, please let me know what you guys think!
Not what you expected, am I right?
