Author's Note: Hello everyone, welcome back! Thanks for reading and reviewing^^
Mini-spoiler (don't like don't read): Two things - I talk about Asgard's Constitution, though I don't know if they really have one. After all, Odin is the only monarch, but that is the premise I want to build on. And the account of the Commander-in-chief-role is my own imagination now, too. I thought it was simply a nice twist. I use a character from the Marvel universe that actually belongs to the X-Men, but I found him the most fitting applicant for my purposes. Plus, he doesn't get much text here either. He is not mine, won't ever be, and since I'm not too much into all comics, this is only internet-research-based characterization I make here.
Anyways, I still hope you'll like it.
Read, review and hopefully enjoy ;)
Dreams are curious things. Especially since they are something inside the mind that is still not fully understood by those who have them, or claim to have them. We all dream, but what is a dream, right? Some say it's your mind's way of dealing with information you gathered over the course of the day, over the course of life, others call it a way into the soul, some others may speak about secret desires, dark urges, even, some interpret pictures as they do a painting, making dreams perhaps more of an art form or object of art than anything else.
Some don't even remember their dreams.
Others claim they don't have them – or that they don't exist.
And the curious thing is – they are all right. Because we can't say if they dream or not, if what they dream is right or wrong, because it is plainly not the question. Dreams are not about right and wrong, there is no right or wrong. There is just, if it is, a world beyond.
A sweet escape.
A flash of hope.
A nightmare.
And sometimes flashes of light and darkness, some reaching in the past, some in the present, and the most frightful ones of them all... reach into the future.
Loki awakes to the familiar sound of rain pitter-pattering against the house's façade. She leans on her forearm, blinking a few times so that her eyes adjust to the darkness. The trickster lets out a sigh before flinging her arm lazily in the air to make the lamp on the nightstand switch on. She sits up soundlessly, brushing her fingertips over her lips before her clothes change from nightwear to her usual clothes, safe for the added hooded green cloak. She flings her hands another time to transport into the lab and grabs one of the small metals cubes from the table. After that she makes her way outside the building. Her eyes drift up to where the thunder is rolling and the raindrops fall from the sky like cobwebs. Loki takes a short moment to enjoy the cooling sensation on her skin. She pulls the hood over her face before she walks further down the road. The trickster walks into an empty side alley and tosses the metal cube into the darkness. A blue-white light flashes from it. Loki confidently steps into the light and is absorbed by it, just to be tossed out on an empty field.
"EMPRESS!" unmistakably Tony's voice rings from her pocket. Loki rolls her eyes, fishing the communication device out of the jacket.
"The alarm went off and one of our cubes is gone!" he goes on with his rambling, but then tilts his head at the virtual picture he sees of her. He narrows his eyes at the trickster, "Seriously?"
"What? We are way past the test-phase. We already used them, so it shouldn't bother that I used them without supervision," she shrugs.
"God, why didn't you just say anything or left a note? Then I wouldn't have been disturbed in my beauty sleep," he grunts. "Okay, where are you at?"
"Some empty field, though I don't think your presence will be required here," she replies.
"Why? It's definitely something from Asgard," Tony argues.
"Correct. I think it's Thor," Loki replies in a softer voice.
"How would you know? We already figured that his DNA scan doesn't say if it's really him in the flux. It just tells us that it's something of his species," Tony shakes his head.
"I know when the thunder is rolling to make his presence known," she sighs. "So you may just as well head back to your beauty sleep, even if I don't think this will be very fruitful."
"Yeah, I know I'm too pretty for it to actually work," he shrugs. "Let us know if something's up. And tell Big Guy 'hi' from me. I'll otherwise greet him in the morning."
"Noted," she agrees.
"Good," Tony flashes a lazy smile at her, but then snickers. "Have your private moment with Thor with all the crying and hugging and kissing and saying sweet things of how you missed him."
Loki rolls her eyes before she switches the device off. She folds her hands behind her back and silently waits for the all too familiar pull of energy which paints the nightsky in brightness, in light. A few moments later, the surge of energy comes after all, tossing the hood off her head and her hair flying in all directions of the wind. The light fades away and reveals a sole figure standing at its center. Loki brushes the strands of her raven hair back out of her face as she slowly walks over to the Aesir whose eyes instantly fall on her. He covers the last bit of distance, his smile growing bigger with every stride he takes. Thor snakes his arms around her, pulling her close enough to himself that she can feel that familiar throb against her ears, the throbbing Loki missed so dearly. He then captures her lips in a gentle but strong kiss, smiling against her teeth.
"What are you doing here?" he asks once he pulls away, his arms still around her.
"Tap-dancing?" she snorts. "Obviously, I came here to welcome you back to Midgard."
"How did you know it was me?" he frowns.
"Look around you," she says, tilting her chin upwards to where the rain forms the little cobwebs in the darkness.
"Yes?" Thor grimaces, knitting his eyebrows.
"The thunder is rolling, or is it not?" she speaks.
"True, but it does not only rain or thunder for when I'm here," Thor argues.
"I know the difference," Loki explains.
"How?" he furrows his eyebrows at her.
"I just do," she shrugs.
"How are you?" he asks softly.
"We both know that this is by no means the question that is in focus, or rather should be in focus. What is going on in Asgard seems much more important than is my current disposition," Loki retorts. He kisses her again, even if it comes a bit as a surprise to Loki this time. She blinks at him once he pulls away, "Is that your way of bypassing an answer?"
"I just missed you so much," he admits.
"From that I take that your stay in Asgard was not at all too pleasant," she grimaces. Thor just shakes his head.
"So bad then," she sighs. Loki already feared for the worse, but a small portion inside of her had sincerely hoped that Thor would do what he managed with her, too, to move her, move her another direction. She really thought that the thunderer could move even that old man, if only just a little.
But then again... one must never underestimate the stubbornness of the Aesir.
"I think it's better for us to head back to the Mansion. I will explain everything to you there," Thor argues, wiping some of the rain drops from her flawless face. "Or else you catch a cold."
"Ah-ha-ha, almost funny," she snorts. Loki turns around, but wordlessly drags Thor along with her as she holds on to his wrist. Thor smirks at that, but chooses not to comment.
"If you let me, I can take us to the Mansion in no time," Thor argues, already holding Mjölnir ready, but she brushes him off, "I have it covered."
She tosses the cube ahead again and the blue-white light flashes from it.
"Is that what I think it is?" he asks with a smile.
"If you think it is the transportation device that we worked on, then yes, it's what you think it is," she affirms. Thor means to say something else, but that is when they are already pulled into the flux, just to come back in the side alley Loki left from.
"... that is magnificent," Thor can't help but say. He never believed it'd be possible for him to travel within a world in such a way. He only knows how it is like to travel from one realm to the other, or seeing the world pass him by once he swings Mjölnir, but this here? It is magic.
"I must say that this is one of the proudest achievements in this field I have made so far," Loki admits.
"Not your proudest achievement altogether?" he frowns. Loki grasps his hand a little tighter, pulling him out of the alley wordlessly. Thor smiles, getting the hint – because, upon contemplation, their greatest achievement so far is something entirely else, something between them and them alone. They make their way back to the Mansion and inside. Both shrug the water out of their hair before making their way to Loki's room, not wanting to startle any of the others. They dry themselves and quickly change into more comfortable wear.
"So... the business in Asgard," Loki says directly once they are settled.
"I would rather not burden you with any of this," Thor argues. No, he really would rather not. After all, Loki made Earth her home, so it is actually unfair to burden her with even thinking about the realm that has nothing but scorn and defiance for her. Why would she bother about Asgard, if not for Mother and him, if not for her own safety?
"Thor, your false sense of protection is truly endless, but you have to see whatever is going on with Asgard may have consequences for me the same way, so I would rather know what is going on," she argues sharply.
"I know," he exhales wearily.
"Well? So what is going in Asgard that makes you think you cannot tell me?" she questions.
"It's... it's about Father," Thor begins solemnly.
"When isn't it?" she sighs.
"I don't know what is the matter with him. He is not like himself," Thor grunts, closing his eyes against the memory of the cold eyes his father looked back at him with when he announced that he'd go back to Midgard. Thor never saw such emptiness in the King's eyes, and he has seen that man in sheer fury, in the moment he cast him out of Asgard.
"Odin is not like himself half of the time, Thor. That man is about as much of a walking ambiguity as I am," Loki huffs. "However, from your way of inquiry I take that this is actually not just about how he hates me to his or my blood, but rather about politics."
"Exactly," he exhales, letting himself sink down on the bed.
"Well, did he now make up a law to finally banish me to the land of unicellar organisms or worms? Or what is he up to?" she snorts.
"In a word... exclusion," Thor explains.
"Oh, by the Gods, that man is truly made of madness alone!" she cries out, throwing her hands in the air. The thunderer is startled for a moment, not only at her outburst, but also because he is still honestly amazed how it takes just one word for Loki to understand a problem to its core.
"That's the same thought I had," he huffs.
"... how far... does the exclusion yet go?" she grimaces.
"... he is slowly but surely closing the gates to the other realms. He called for me this time to have me deliver the news to Vanaheimr," Thor informs her.
"Did he yet say how long it takes until he goes for Midgard?" Loki asks silently.
"He agreed that it shall be the last one, but... it won't be that long, the way I reckon," Thor admits.
"What is he thinking?! If he wants to keep you away from Midgard and I, fine. Then he shall shut down the gates to Midgard and leave it at that, but this is about political decisions that may corrupt entire Asgard! The leaders of the other realms will now believe that Asgard does not want to have to do with them. They will think that Asgard is not interested in peace with them! They will go to war at worst!" Loki breaks out, stomping around to give her fury expression. Once again, Thor is shocked to see that even at this moment, after all the suffering Asgard put her through, a part of Loki seemingly still holds on to Asgard.
"I know," Thor shakes his head.
"Is he under the weather or under a spell? I honestly hope for that...," she huffs.
"Not that I know. Mother couldn't say anything either, other than that he is... changed," Thor shrugs helplessly.
"So he might just have gone insane after all," Loki sneers.
"I would think so," Thor joins the chorus.
"... and what is your plan now?" Loki grimaces.
"I don't have any plans yet, to be honest to you," Thor admits, his shoulders hanging low. "I tried again and again to talk to him, but the thing is that he is the King, while I am not. That means I have no right to tell him what to do or not to do."
"And there it goes again that this is seemingly my fault, for I interrupted with your coronation," Loki shakes her head, hugging her arms.
Does it really boil down to it that it is her fault once again?
"Even if so, Father would still be in charge, for I declined to take the throne after the events, for I didn't feel yet ready for it," Thor argues quickly, knowing that Loki will just blame herself for it. And it is truly not her wrongdoing that brings about that trouble, no matter what Odin might say. It's not Loki's fault that he closes the gates, that is the Allfather's decision, and it's the wrong one.
"Still," she means to say, but Thor interrupts her, "Loki, none of it is your fault."
"And closing down the gates to Midgard is in your opinion not a broad hint?" Loki argues.
"It's what he may say, but that doesn't make it right," Thor argues determinedly.
"I thought what the Allfather says is rule, is reality," she hums solemnly.
"It is not for me, at least no longer," Thor tells her in a strong voice. "So you are not at fault, no matter what he may say. That he closes down the gates might be his motive for that he has something against you or because he has something against us being together, but that doesn't mean he is justified in his opinion. He makes that decision, not you."
"... thank you," she mumbles.
"It's nothing," Thor shakes his head. There is a moment of silence, but then Loki speaks up again, meaning to bring the focus back on the political dimension, "If only Asgard was not a monarchy, really."
"Well, that is hardly anything we can change now," Thor shrugs.
"Or ever," Loki rolls her eyes.
"Right," the thunderer agrees. "So you see, since he is King, I have no chance to move against him without being punished for it. Not that I fear the punishment, but... I fear that he may not choose what is convention."
"So you mean that he either kills you or has you banished to another realm but Midgard, or... keeps you locked up in your room. I get the idea," Loki nods.
"I just don't know what to do anymore. He let me go back, but just under probation, the way I figure," Thor exhales wearily.
"Well, but you still have ground... just not as the Prince," Loki argues, making Thor look at her incredulously, "What now? Father is the ultimate ruler. He can make laws, he is it who makes all legal decisions, all decisions about Asgard and the Bifröst. He is King. That is no circumstance I can move around, now Prince or not."
"Exactly," Loki agrees.
"What now?" the thunderer grimaces, so Loki goes on to explain, "Well, one of the advantages is that Odin actually empowered you with something he seemingly did not yet take from you, as far as I understood."
"And what would that be?" Thor grimaces, honestly at a loss. Just what is she hinting at again?
"What are you? Other than the Prince of Asgard and successor to the Throne?" Loki sighs, already getting annoyed that Thor just won't catch on. That dense dull oaf.
"I don't know, Loki," Thor grunts.
"Commander-in-chief," she spells out to him.
"Well, yes, but...," Thor shrugs, but Loki interrupts him, "Odin made you Commander-in-chief under the Constitution of Asgard."
"Yes," Thor agrees with a nod.
"... and that doesn't make you see... a possible way out?" Loki makes a face. Unbelievable, that man.
"Should it?" he furrows his eyebrows in confusion.
"Oh, no, I'm just saying that because I find it funny," she huffs. "Didn't you ever take the studies of Asgard's law seriously?!"
"... you know that I didn't, so let's not pretend," Thor grumbles. She knows that he halfway slept through most of it.
"Odin is the King. That is a circumstance we cannot ever move around, unless he decides to go into Odinsleep, or you have the guts to kill him outright," Loki explains. "However, even he is bound by Asgard's Constitution. And it gives you an exclusive right to make peace negotiations even in absence of the King or without his consent in times of crisis."
"We are not at war, yet," Thor argues.
"Exactly," Loki nods. "Of course it's a loose reading of the law, but it states that the Commander-in-chief may do so to prevent war. That law was never undone. It is in our constitution. And if you stick to it, you are not breaking the constitution. You are not even going against Odin's orders. All you do is... talk."
"If he found out that I moved behind his back in such a way...," Thor shakes his head, but the female trickster quickly interrupts him, "Then he mustn't find out."
"Don't you think Father would realize?" Thor argues.
"What is he supposed to realize, you tell me? According to what I understand, Odin seeks exclusion because he believes it will bring Asgard peace. If your secret actions ensure just that, then the only crime we commit would be to make him believe that it's his foolish doing that leads to such result, when in fact it's rationality that leads us there," Loki argues. Even if she doesn't like the idea to play into the old man's hands and leave him in the belief that he is doing things right, Loki sees that it might be a necessity.
"If I go to the leaders and talk to them, he will know," Thor replies.
"If you keep close to the King and offer to execute his orders, you can go to the other realms upon his order – and openly declare that the peace treaties shall be put to rest, for Asgard seeks to be a secluded place again. At the same time, you may mutter under your breath something quite simple – a plea to the heart of the leaders that they shall wait. That you are doing anything to keep them going again. In that way, you are not nullifying Odin's order, you just make a plea as the Commander-in-chief and therefore enabled to make such a plea," Loki explains. "Something he doesn't have to know, though."
"Why would they believe me?" Thor argues.
"Because it is you," she replies simply.
"What does that mean now?" the thunderer grimaces.
"You give them your word as the Prince of Asgard," Loki says in a soft voice.
"So what?" Thor frowns. He still doesn't get her point here.
"But far more importantly, you give them your word as a nobleman," she tells him simply. "Your greatest power lies in your heroism, Thor, it lies in your integrity, your honesty, your sense of honor. You radiate it, let me tell you. That is what makes you the future King of Asgard and that is what makes people follow you blindly into battle and beyond. That is the one thing Odin can't strip you of, the one thing he cannot take from you or forbid you to do. You just have to use your strengths to your advantage, or rather... to that of Asgard entirely."
She suddenly finds herself being pulled forward. Thor grasped her by the wrist to make her stand in front of him. He runs his thumb over the back of her hand.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" she huffs.
"I'm just... taken aback... at what you see in me," Thor admits.
"You are a man of honor, there is no point in arguing," Loki shrugs, her voice soft.
"I thought that you'd mean to object, for I am not that much of a good man as I may appear to other people," Thor chuckles sadly. No, he wasn't always a good man. He feels more like one now that he is with her, but there was a time in his life, a quite long time actually, in which he played the nobleman, while he was not a noble man. In a sense, it was Loki, who, by corrupting them, in the eyes of Aesir rule, purified him and made him noble again.
"You are a good person, Thor. You shouldn't let others make you believe that the case is another," Loki argues.
"I honestly thought that you didn't consider me that," Thor shakes his head.
"What? I always told you that this is what you are," Loki grimaces.
"You rather accused me of it," Thor chuckles.
"So what?" she shrugs.
"I thought it was something bad to you, that I pondered on those values so much," Thor explains.
"And I still detest it most of the time, but you are a good man. That is nothing I or anyone else will ever take from you. It is in your very nature, just as the mischief is part of mine," she smirks.
"I missed you," he then says. He really did, for saying these things, for lending him hope when he didn't know where to step, where to go.
"That is kind of you, but not really relating to the much more obvious trouble of Odin threatening to bring all realms to war with Asgard," Loki scolds. He pulls her closer another time.
"Thor, you have to focus," she rolls her eyes at him.
"I do," he insists.
"But not on the right thing, you idiot," she snorts.
"I don't want to think about this now, at least not tonight," Thor then says.
"Which is beside the point, in the eyes of the trouble ahead of us," Loki argues.
"For tonight, I just want to be with you, and only have those eyes on me and have those eyes on you," Thor insists, now more firmly. He needs to be around her, be with her.
"Oh, please, you are being dramatic again," she sighs.
"I am not. I felt lost without you, Loki. You cannot even imagine," Thor shakes his head.
"Obviously you were lost, or else you would have come up with a strategy yourself," she huffs.
"It is good to know that some things just never change," he chuckles, flashing his white teeth at her.
"And what would that be?" she smirks.
"Even now you fight," he grins.
"Of course, that is my very nature," she smiles.
"Exactly," he replies.
"So what? Are you growing yet tired of my constant bickering?" she asks playfully.
"Never," he smirks. "For I am the same."
"Good," she grins. Thor lets himself fall back on the bed, pulling Loki with him.
"You dull oaf," she curses him, but Thor is unimpressed and instead kisses her palm another time.
"Really needy, aren't we?" she snorts.
"I said it, I missed you," he smiles.
"... I missed you also," she admits with a grin. "A bit."
Thor chuckles, letting their entwined hands rest on his chest. Loki smirks that he seemingly unconsciously understands to offer her comfort when he doesn't even know that he does, or how he does. To feel his beating heart beneath her fingertips grew to be one of the most reassuring things Loki has ever known. It's not just the mere reassurance that Thor is still alive, after she almost lost him, it's this unspoken promise that it also beats for her, and that there are times when it beats only just for her. Even if the chant she performed came with risk and sacrifice, Loki considers this part of the deal a true gain, to have a place in another person's heart like that... it's something that Loki will treasure till her last day.
She is home within that chest, within that heart. And it is warm there.
Loki pulls herself a little closer to him, closing her eyes.
"So you agree?" he smiles, his voice no more than a whisper.
"That the world can wait until morning? Yes, I think so," she replies before allowing herself to drift to sleep, and finally, finally, she sees warm colors behind her eyelids again.
She dreams of a tomorrow, and so does he.
Thor glances at Loki's still sleeping form, the white sheets messily draped around her thin frame. He can't help but marvel not only at her sheer beauty, but also the peacefulness Loki can seemingly only express when still asleep, because Loki always seems weighted with concern, worry, anger, all those emotions that make her restless. And even if he does his best to cut it, it seems an almost impossible task. Even this moment of peace, where it is just them, proves that those lines of worry that mark her pale skin come from him, from the world she was banished from while keeping him as its Prince. He really wished he were human, with Loki together, away from Asgard and its political troubles, from Odin and his moods. He could build a future that would be safe for Loki, for himself, build up a home, make sure no harm is done to her. And then he would see that glorious peacefulness all day long.
If only they both could be who they are, and who they are alone, be stripped of what they are. Be it Aesir or Jotun or human. To be simply... them.
Ever since he was called back to Asgard to execute the dreadful duty of declaring all ties nullified with the other realms, Thor can't help but dream about those options, about those sweet little escapes. What if he and Loki simply went another place? Where even Odin wouldn't go looking for them? Where Asgard could be secluded and alone all it wanted, or Odin wanted, while they'd lie in bed and be peaceful? What if they hid as humans and lived the simple extraordinary life of a human soul? Of two souls working and living as one?
Thor would love to run away with her. With Loki, he'd run to anywhere and beyond, but... but they both have ties that bind them, not only to Asgard, but also to this planet here. They have friends, a new kind of family, another family beside the one that waits in the Great Halls. Even if Loki may deny it at some point, the trickster is fond of the Avengers. They are her friends, the first ties she allowed herself to bind her. Other binds were oppressed on her, but not these. She chose to be with these human beings. She bound her life to theirs and made them part of her happiness. And that means running away seems to be no longer an option, if it ever was. Loki wants to stay with her friends, and it would be selfish and ridiculous to demand from her to run away from what kept her alive when in fact it was not him.
Thor starts to understand how a cage feels like, and he still has any intention to get out. If only he knew how.
He brushes a loose strand out of her face, flashing an affectionate smile. Truly, he would love to just stay like that, if only for a day or two. Just to have that feeling, just to have that bit of peace for her and him. It saddens him, from deep within, that he can't secure a future for his partner, his soulmate. All he can do, seemingly, is to watch the world collapsing.
"Will you just keep looking at me?" Loki's voice suddenly rings in his ears. Thor has to blink twice before he sees the two emeralds looking at him. He chuckles softly, "Would you want me to?"
"Oh, you know I love it when I'm adored and hailed, but... watching someone in its sleep seems to be more of my thing," she says, her voice still lazy from sleep.
"So you watch me in my sleep?" he grins.
"Oh, all the while," she sighs into the bed sheets.
"Why?" he frowns, drawing nonsense patterns on her upper arm.
"I don't know, sleeping people have something peaceful about them that they otherwise often lack," she shrugs. Thor hides the grin that he was actually marveling about the same thing.
"How late is it? Do we have to be up already?" she sighs.
"It's still in the early morning hours," he assures her. "So we don't have to get up just yet."
"Good, I have no intention to yet," she sighs, easing back into the pillow a little more. "This is far too comfortable."
"I agree," he smirks.
It's simple perfection.
"I had a dream, a few nights back," she hums after a while, her eyes no more than narrow slits.
"Yeah? About what?" Thor smirks, his voice soft and warm.
"It was funny, really. All was... fine... for a moment," Loki goes on to explain.
"Yeah? Tell me more about it," the thunderer smiles.
"Please, it was only just a dream," Loki rolls her eyes.
"But a nice dream after all," he argues. "So why not share?"
"You mean it?" she furrows her eyebrows at him.
"Of course," he shrugs. Loki contemplates for a moment... why not, right?
Why not linger in an illusion? If only for a minute?
Isn't that what she did and still does at some point?
After all, it's all too comforting to live a dream.
"Well, there was obviously no such thing as exclusion or other worrisome businesses. At first... We were here, on Midgard, we fought an enemy alongside the Avengers... of course we won. And after that we were suddenly in Asgard and had tea with Mother... and Odin was not as much of a 'jerk', to say it in Stark's words, and violins played in the background... and then we were gone some other place again...," she mumbles sleepily.
"What place did we go to?" Thor asks bemused.
"I don't know what it was. I have never seen it before, so it was very likely just the product of my foolish imagination," she shrugs.
"What did it look like?" he questions curiously.
"It was a garden made of ice and snow, beautiful figures carved out by the wind. Silent, but through the layers of ice one could hear a strange kind of melody as the wind brushed across the smooth surface. Whistling. Humming. Hushing. The snow was not cold, it was warm instead, and under the ice bloomed flowers in all different colors, against any law of biology. And in the center was a small pond with the clearest water I have ever seen. It was hundreds of meters deep, but still you could see the bottom as though it was just beneath the surface. White fishes swam in it in the most graceful manner I have ever seen. And then... we dove into that water and swam all the way to the bottom. There was a small opening, a crack. We swam into it and suddenly there was just white light and... I don't know, I woke up then, but... I liked that dream," she breathes.
"Maybe we should do just that," Thor then says, making her frown, "Do what? Go dive in imagined ice ponds?"
"No, escape," Thor says, now more seriously. Loki's eyes open fully at that, "You can't be sincere."
"Think about it," Thor argues. "We could just do what you did before, travel, not to Asgard or any of those places, but somewhere where no one was before."
"Oh yes, and while we enjoy our time alone, roaming around the realms, Odin goes ahead and gets everyone killed. That sounds truly magnificent," she snorts. "And even if he did not go to such extremes, don't you think he'd come to get you again? And let us not forget that I am banished to here. The moment I set foot upon another realm but Midgard, I'm done for."
"I just can't stop thinking about it. I would just love to tell him to go to Hel," Thor shakes his head. "I saw it back in Asgard, I don't see it in the same light anymore. I barely recognize its people, or him, or even myself while in it."
"Then I corrupted your picture of it after all," she chuckles drily.
"You made me see it clearly," Thor argues sincerely.
"Thor, this is your home," Loki insists.
"It doesn't feel like it," Thor tells her.
"But that is a circumstance you can actually affect. And that is the thing. That I don't feel at home here... it's something I cannot change, not that I wanted to either. But it's in fact that this is... not my home, not my heritage, but Asgard... is your heritage, Thor," Loki replies, her voice soft but strong.
"I would send them all their ways if only that meant I could stay with you," Thor says with determination in his voice.
"Now you're being dramatic again," she scolds him. "Thor, you have responsibilities towards your people. Asgard is lost without you. They'll be at Odin's mercy if you don't intervene."
"I wonder that you actually encourage me to serve Asgard," Thor shakes his head. Because he honestly fails to understand that Loki, after everything that was done to her, still bothers about this place in any way.
"I long since accepted that it is actually your birthright, and far more importantly your duty by birth. And we both know whose reign would be the better one, if one had to pick between you and Odin," Loki argues.
"So what? You actually want Asgard to continue to exist?" he questions.
"... maybe," she replies meekly.
"Why?" he asks.
"I would not like to see Mother get killed, for instance. And anyways, I see it rather selfishly after all, Thor. If Odin has you back in Asgard before it goes up in flames... then you go up in flames along with it. And even if not, it means that I shall never see you again," Loki argues.
"Again, if we ran away...," Thor means to say, but the trickster stops him, holding up her hand.
"You can't run from your blood. Trust me, I tried, it does not work. We can't move around the circumstance that you are what you are and that I am what I am. You are Aesir. I am Jotun. And we both want Midgard and Asgard to continue to exist peacefully, co-exist peacefully. That will not be the case for as long as Odin rages the way he does. You are the only one capable of stopping him – so you will," she tells him, sitting up. "And now... I'm getting up."
"What? I thought you wanted to sleep a little longer," Thor frowns, honestly a little disappointed that their little bubble burst so soon. He wished it would continue a while longer.
"That stopped the moment we talked about politics. It reminded me that we have much more urgent business," Loki tells him, straightening up. Thor can't help but chuckle. Still as moody.
"Pity, I would have liked to steal the night," he grins.
"And you did, but let's not steal the day either. We have to think of a strategy," Loki scolds him. "Furthermore, we have to warn the Avengers and the SHIELD of the perhaps threat coming their way now, too."
"Threat?" he grimaces.
"Well, yes. Even if Odin did not yet say that he will ambush Earth, he still might. Or he might attack Midgard to get to you, or me. I don't know. But think about it. They should have at least a chance to protect themselves from our business," Loki argues.
"Our business?" Thor grins.
"Now don't get weird about it," she rolls her eyes at him, making him frown, "What?"
"... I spend too much time with Stark," Loki snorts. She already takes on the mannerisms and vocabulary of a human, which is of course good to fit in, but... she would rather not take on those things, for instance, but still... it happens, more often than she'd like to admit.
She is one of them after all.
"Then let's greet them," Thor says, now pulling on a fresh shirt also to get ready.
"We should indeed," she agrees. They get up and dressed before leaving Loki's room. The rest of the Avengers soon joins them in the conference room, alongside Coulson and Fury. There is a warm-hearted greeting for the Aesir, but the others have to realize early on that there seems to be urgent business, and urgent business means... problems.
Happiness is no easy thing to achieve.
"... so okay, to sum it up, Odin wants to shut the gates to Asgard slowly but surely. He may or may not save Earth for last to make a giant firework as the grand finale, he may or may not be a case for the nuthouse... and since you are actually living in a totalitarian state there, there is nothing you can do about it," Tony grimaces once Thor finished his report.
"Well, Loki already suggested something that may work," Thor tells him, arms crossed over his chest.
"It bears a risk, but I think it's at least worth the effort," Loki shrugs.
"What would that be?" Natasha asks.
"Thor is Commander-in-chief of Asgard. This allows him certain liberties according to Asgard's Constitution," Loki explains.
"Does Odin give a damn on that lately? I mean... if he does what he does?" Tony makes a face.
"Well, what he does is by no means a violation," Loki shrugs. "What he does is according to the Constitution. He has those rights, but actually... a few things have changed ever since Odin began his reign. Apparently, there was a time when he was much more open to the idea of inclusion and brought about political change, within the limits of tradition, of course. He held counsels, had a brain trust, and gave political and military powers to his heir or those men he could trust. It was this spirit that brought about the arrangement that Thor was left in the position as Commander-in-chief, even though he was not yet given the Throne. So yes, Odin actually acts within the boundaries of the Constitution in any way I see so far... taking aside that he does so... while being insane."
"And what does it bring you now that Thor is Commander-in-chief?" Bruce frowns. "I mean, what does it matter in connection with Odin sticking to the Constitution?"
"The Constitution gives Odin the right to have Thor in that position, and that position comes with certain liberties that are put down in this set of documents," Loki explains.
"What do they involve?" Clint asks.
"Well, Asgard's rules are not always very sharp. That is the one advantage we have. If one takes it as a loose reading, the Commander-in-chief has a right to address military and political leaders to agree to peace negotiations in times of crisis, and that without having had counsel with the Allfather before, for it is seen as the highest directive by the Constitution to achieve peace," Loki explains.
"The problem I personally see with Loki's idea is that we are technically not at times of war, still," Thor argues. "And that means that I would make such a plea at a time when it is not really my right."
"That is the loose reading," Loki shrugs.
"Well, what would be if you did that? And moved behind Odin's back to hold up those treaties?" Natasha asks.
"He would suffer his rage, but given that he still acts according to the Constitution, the worst Thor would have to fear is to be disbanded as the Commander-in-chief. However, taking away his title or banishing him would not be a punishment agreeable. That is the premise I build on, if a loose one, admittedly," Loki explains. "However, the other premise is that Odin does not discover it anyways. It is not an official plea Thor would make to those leaders. It would only be an honest plea from one nobleman to the other. Thor would by no means try to nullify the Allfather's words, he would just utter a personal wish. If they stick to it is up to them."
"But that means you'd have to put a lot of faith in their... faith in Thor," Steve grimaces.
"Well, Thor worked with them before to agree on those treaties. And it had advantages for them to join, or else they never would have agreed in the first place. They know him and they know he is a man of honor. In those realms, this actually matters," Loki shrugs. "He moved them before, why not again?"
"Well, that sounds at least like something, even if it's a risky bargain," Steve grimaces.
"Obviously, another problem is the destiny of... Earth... in that equation," Loki goes on, her face suddenly a lot darker as she bows forward, making her hair fall in her face.
"Why now?" Bruce knits his eyebrows.
"Thor let me know that most of Odin's action of exclusion are... blamed on me, to put it nicely," Loki says, her voice suddenly very faint.
"What's that supposed to mean now?" the doctor frowns.
"My Father says that he seeks to exclude everyone else after he included one of another realm into his very clan, as his child," Thor says bitterly.
"That's low," Tony mutters.
"I agree," Thor nods solemnly.
"So he's using Loki's... breakout... as an excuse for his politics," Tony grimaces, obviously not pleased with this. Loki brushes a hand over her face, but she does so to actually hide her smile.
Everyone believes in the good of her.
Just how funny those human beings are.
Even now that their lives might be at stake... they believe in her, and not in Odin, whom they have never met, whom they have never been face-to-face with, who has never done harm to them the way she once has.
"Exactly," Thor agrees, now in a stronger voice. He is glad that everyone sees it the way he does, and secretly hopes that Loki will finally get it, too. It is not her fault that the Allfather does what he does.
"Either way, this means of course greater risks for your realm, for I am here," Loki then says. "I do not know what Odin is up to with his plans. However, the fact that he says I'm the reason for his new politics may lead to him rearranging my banishment, if not to all your disadvantage. However, that is something only time will reveal."
"And until then we will wait and see," Fury then says. "For as long as Odin has you banished to here, you should be safe, as far as I'm concerned."
"It's not necessarily my safety that I'm concerned about, Master Fury," Loki argues.
"But we are," Bruce scolds her, and the others nod in agreement.
"Until Odin makes a move against Earth, we treat this as politics that are out of our reach. We do not interfere with Asgard's business, or that of any other planet if we can help it. Up until now they did not approach us or affect us, so we will leave it at that," Fury declares.
"Sounds reasonable," Loki shrugs.
"I wonder why he let you get back to Earth, though. I mean, not that I mind, but according to your description, it was not exactly what he wanted, right?" Steve grimaces.
"And it is not, but... well, let's just say that I can be very stubborn, too," Thor shrugs.
"Who could've guessed, huh?" Bruce chuckles softly.
"... uhm, I'm sorry to interrupt, but taking Asgard's affairs aside for a second... we have a problem the Avengers have to solve," Coulson suddenly speaks up.
"What is it?" Clint asks.
"Vincente," the agent replies.
"Who is that?" Natasha grimaces.
"A mutant aligning with Emplate's Hellions. He is extremely dangerous... and attacking South New York as we speak," Coulson explains.
"What do we know about his abilities?" Clint questions.
"He can shift into all states of matter. As far as we know from the reports, he can mix with surrounding substances once he's touched them and thus take on their form when he is in his liquid or gaseous state. However, he honed his abilities so that he can be poisonous in his gaseous state... and now he tries to spread his toxins," the other agent lets them know.
"Okay, let's move out," Steve grimaces, not wanting to waste any more time. The others get ready as fast as they can before heading to the scene.
"Okay, guys. Clint, Natasha and I will get the people away from here. The rest of you, try to bring him down. Make sure you don't inhale... him, we don't know what the toxins will do to you," Steve orders. The others nod before heading to the task.
"What's the tactic?" Tony grimaces.
"Attack him in the solid form, or bring him back to it," Loki suggests. "In the other states, we hardly stand a chance."
"How do we bring him back to it?" Thor frowns.
"That is what we have to figure out," Loki shrugs. They start to attack the villain, but Vincente dissolves into gas before any of the attacks can hit him, if he does not liquify himself. Thor strikes with lightning in the hope to cause some kind of reaction, but Vincente is obviously unimpressed. They won't get to him by brute force, that much is for sure.
"Careful!" Thor's voice rings out as he sees Steve and Natasha trying to get a child to safety as the gaseous villain makes his way to them. He swings Mjölnir to create a kind of whirlwind which actually seems to work to hold Vincente back in some way. However, the gas-man still manages to approach the two humans. Loki jumps into action upon seeing this and transports herself in front of the two and the child, creating a protective shield around them.
"Walk on, the shield will follow you," Loki tells them hurriedly. Steve and Natasha rush away.
"Thor! Stop the whirlwind or else you'll inhale...," Loki yells, but already sees the gas only inches from Thor's face. She rolls her eyes and produces a shield around his head, which looks like a small helmet made of green light.
"We definitely need helmets such as these for the next toxic villain," she shakes her head.
"Empress!" Tony's voice rings out. Only now she realizes she is already covered in the thin layer of gas. She holds her breath, already working on a helmet for herself, she should have thought about that sooner, really. However, it takes her a moment longer because she has to control Thor's and that of Natasha and Clint also, plus, she has to get the gas out of that helmet. Much to her surprise, she finds herself whipped out of the mist by Tony. She manages to create the protective shield around her head, finally, allowing oxygen to fill her lungs again.
"You okay there?" Tony asks with concern in his voice.
"I'm good. Thank you," she says, still catching her breath. "I still think this won't have effect on me. I'm immune to most chemicals and hazards."
"Let's not chance it, shall we?" the Iron Man argues.
"Are you alright?" she asks now instead.
"I'm on independent oxygen supply thanks to the suit, so I should be fine," Tony tells her.
"Remind me that we build such things for everyone in the future. This is too boring to hold up for each of them," Loki says, nodding at the magical helmets.
"Noted," the mechanic agrees. He puts her down. Loki assesses the situation another time. Thor still holds up the whirlwind to keep Vincente from escaping, but that won't bring them anywhere.
"Anyone having an idea?" she sighs.
"Well, first would be to have him... in one place," Tony grimaces.
"Maybe I can help with that," Loki says before flinging her hands in the air, starting to create a giant power shield around the now gaseous Vincente.
"Thor, you have to step away," Loki grunts, only now realizing that the dull oaf is still wielding Mjölnir. However, the thunderer does not yet listen. Maybe the comms are interrupted because of the gas.
"Okay, let's think this through from the physical perspective. Gas becomes liquid when under freezing temperatures. And then may turn solid. Or it's deposition, which would allow us to change it from gaseous to solid instantly," Tony grimaces.
"For that we have to remove heat or thermal energy," Loki nods.
"Exothermic reaction," the Hulk grunts.
"How do we do that?!" Tony frowns.
"Snow would be good now," Loki huffs.
"In September? I don't think we'll be that lucky," Tony snorts.
"You won't get to me. I will get to you," Vincente speaks up, his voice hollow.
"Oh, shut the hell up, Cloudy!" Tony cries out, but the focuses back on the task. "Okay, can we somehow create a second shield around it and then suck out the thermal energy to make him cool down?"
"Oh, sure, nothing easier than that," Loki snorts. "But for that someone has to remove Thor. Or else he'll end up as a popsicle."
"Which reminds me that this is what we'll have for lunch," Tony muses before flying ahead. Loki weakens the shield in one place so that Tony can break through without much effort. He makes his way over to Thor and gestures at him to stop with Mjölnir. The thunderer nods and he and Tony leave the green orb.
"I hope you had some good small-talk," she grunts before beginning to create a second shield around Vincente.
"Now stay where you are," she grunts, strengthening the shields a bit more.
"Okay, now we just have to somehow... suck out the thermal energy out of the smaller ring. That should be easier than from the entire atmosphere," Tony grimaces.
"Stark, come here," Loki barks.
"What now?" he frowns.
"Don't argue, just come. I don't have the energy to spend it on such trivialities," Loki hisses. Tony makes his way over to Loki. She grasps him by the back.
"I have to say I haven't tried this before," she admits.
"... now you're scaring me," Tony makes a face.
"You know that I can convert energy. But right now I don't have enough energy to convert within me," Loki begins to explain.
"Okay," Tony nods.
"I want you to shoot at the second ring with all your might," Loki then says.
"But that will most likely lead to heat-up and not cool-down," the Iron Man objects.
"That is what I'll try to make happen," Loki argues sternly.
"... you can do that?" Tony makes a face.
"As I said, I never tried it in that way, but I can lend my energy to other people, so now. Shoot, before I lose control over the shields," Loki urges him.
"So really with all I have?" Tony wants to make sure another time.
"All you have," she nods.
"Okay, you do the countdown," Tony shrugs, getting into position.
"One," Loki cries out, not bothering about a countdown, really. Tony starts to fire with his full power, which, thanks to the amplifiers, is such a strong beam that the building behind them shake from the sheer intensity. However, Loki's plan really seems to be fruitful because Vincente screams as he shrinks together. The ice cold winds blow back as a recoil, making small ice particles fly through the air.
"Snow in September!" he hollers.
"Shut. Up," Loki hisses. Finally the villain is reduced to his solid form.
"I will now lessen the shields. Then Thor and Bruce can take him down, hopefully," Loki exhales. Thor already jumps ahead back into the green light and the Hulk follows suit. Thunder and lightning rolls from the sky as the ice particles continue to fall... like snow.
"Empress? You okay back there?" Tony questions.
"I told you to shut up," she grunts.
Thor brings Mjölnir down on the man's head, smashing Vincente to the ground.
"The question is now how we... store him," Thor grimaces.
"Guys? SHIELD just got us a delivery," Clint's voice rings out over the comms. He and Natasha approach with a kind of metal casket.
"Big Guys?! Think you can fit Cloudy in there?!" Tony asks. The two nod at each other, then at Tony.
"Okay, open the casket, but then leave," Loki instructs them. The agents agree and do so. Thor and the Hulk soon follow and literally beat the toxic man into the casket, shutting it with a thud. The mechanisms start to work, locking the casket tight. The casket still rattles, but it seems not to budge. That is the moment Loki lets go of the shields and Tony stops firing. Both go to their knees.
"Wow, that was... nice teamwork. We should do that more often. You are... a good asset to my suit," Tony grins.
"In your dreams alone," she retorts.
"Loki? Tony? Are you guys okay?" Steve asks over the comms.
"We are good... or aren't we?" Tony asks, turning to the trickster, who approves, "I'm fine."
"We're good," Tony says again..
"Okay, stay where you are, guys. SHIELD will quarantine all of us," Steve grimaces.
"What?" Tony cries out.
"We don't know if the toxin didn't get to us. You guys were even brought into contact with it directly," Clint supplies, which makes Tony cry out, "I hate it when they give me shots. I hate those needles!"
"... you are alright getting hurt by aliens and monsters, but you fear needles?" Loki cocks an eyebrow at him, so Tony replies, "... that's human."
"Then humans are very odd at times," Loki sighs. "And by that I mean always."
As promised, SHIELD soon has an entire quarantine camp going. Those guys are busy as beavers, really. Each Avenger is led into a separate tent to be tended to, even if one can hear some mild cursing coming from Thor because he would rather make sure that Loki is alright. Yep, boyfriend through and through.
"I can only tell you again that I am fine. I am immune to such things," Loki argues as one of the SHIELD members checks her over.
"We just want to make sure, Ma'am," the female SHIELD member tells her. Loki rolls her eyes.
"Okay, we prepared a shower that should wash off all remaining gases or side products," the woman tells her. Loki rolls her eyes once again before stepping into the small cubicle which is then filled with a strange-smelling liquid.
"You'd have to undress, Ma'am," the woman informs her.
"I already am," she argues, tossing a single cloth over the rim. "Shapeshifter, you see."
She rinses off all the dust and particles she can detect. The woman then hands her a towel. Loki takes it and drapes it around herself, using her magic to dry off the rest of her body instantly. She can hear Tony shrieking from the tent next to her about the needles. The trickster rolls her eyes as she steps out of the cubicle. She steps over to the woman in the overall.
"We need to give you a few injections, if that's alright," the woman says nervously. Loki is almost amused at how much 'respect' she has for her. After all, she is a God, if a fallen one, but still.
"Would you be so kind to let me do that myself? I know where to inject myself better than you do," Loki tells her in a soft voice.
"If that... is your wish," the woman nods frantically. Loki smiles at her, "Thank you."
The woman holds out the tray to her. Loki takes the syringes one by one and injects herself near the wrist.
"That is just a matter of precaution, Ma'am," she says apologetically, and Loki agrees "Of course."
"Good, then... okay, would you step on the platform? We want to run a quick scan," the woman asks.
Loki steps on the circular platform and spreads out her arms to the sides.
"Please hold it for a few seconds," she says. "Okay, we got it, thank you. You may now step back down."
"Thank you," Loki replies politely.
"Alright, SHIELD will give you an overall for the trip back, then you can change into your own clothes once you are back at the Mansion," the woman says.
"That towels should be sufficient, thank you," Loki winks at her before changing its shape into that of her casual wear. The woman looks impressed for a second, but knows better than to stare at her. Loki steps over to the set-up screens and glances at the results.
"Uhm, well, it look like the poison didn't affect you," the woman says uncertainly. "But... the thing is that the results seem different from the first check-up."
Loki blinks twice, biting her lower lip, but then flashes a soft smile, "That is normal. It is part of my physiology that it changes according to... season, to put it very simple. That has nothing to do with the hazard we were exposed to today."
"Oh, okay," the other woman grimaces, even if not too convinced, seemingly.
"Do you write the report?" Loki asks. The woman frowns at her, "Yes?"
"Then would you put down what I just said? I would rather not have someone asking questions about that, you see," Loki tells her in a sweet voice.
"Well...," she grimaces, but Loki interrupts her, "I can assure you that I know best about my own physiology. So why confuse the others with it, right?"
"... right," the woman frowns.
"Tremendous. Thank you. Then... can I go?" Loki asks.
"Yes, yes," she nods.
"Thanks a lot for the help... and the new clothes," Loki smiles.
"We have to thank you, Ma'am, for... for saving our lives," the SHIELD agent argues.
"The daily business of an Avenger, no?" Loki shrugs.
"Seemingly," the woman agrees.
"Then I shall see you around, but please remember to treat this with discretion," Loki reminds her.
"Yes, Ma'am," the woman nods.
"Good day," Loki says. With that she leaves the tent, letting out a deep breath.
That was the last thing she needed.
The last thing they needed.
Why now?
Why now of all times?
"Loki? Is everything alright?" Thor's voice rings out from beside her. She finds the Aesir in one of the jumpsuits by the SHIELD next to her, his hair still plastered to his face.
"You look absolutely ridiculous in this jumpsuit," she snickers, making a face.
"... I did not choose it," Thor grumbles. Loki taps her index finger against his chest to change the overall into his casual red tunic and trousers with boots.
"Now you look at least more like yourself again," she smiles softly.
"You didn't answer my question," Thor argues.
"I think that I'm out of here is proof enough that I am alright, or else SHIELD never would let me roam around, no?" Loki retorts.
"You look concerned," Thor then says, almost making Loki's mask fall for a second, but only for the fraction of a moment.
"I don't look concerned, Thor," she scolds him. "I just want to get back to the Mansion, that is all."
"And you are sure?" Thor argues, not really buying it.
"Absolutely," Loki says now in a stronger voice. She starts to walk ahead wordlessly. Thor trots after her as she makes her way to the helicopter. The trickster rubs her arms, suddenly feeling the cold spread throughout her.
Really, why now?
Why. Now?