Chapter 52
ASGARD
Loki stood by himself in the training yard, leaning back against the fencing of the arena that could easily fit a few hundred warriors. The warriors came in warily, many of them freshly trained without true battle experience but the rest accomplished and seasoned, noble because of their accomplishments and the titles earned, not because of their family.
Mentally he marked each one that had turned their backs. They wouldn't act that way once Thor arrived. Which is why he got here first. Letting his voice carry, drawing their attention. "You are all here at the All-Father's behest, but he is not here right now. Nor is Prince Thor. I am. A simple order first. Form ranks to the left."
The seasoned warriors would know because he was facing them it meant their right. Some moved immediately, questions in their eyes but following orders because a prince of Asgard delivered them. That was where order began and ended. The twelve hesitated in following his orders, which caused severe hesitation in the green warriors just because they weren't sure where to go. That was what he'd been afraid of.
"Brother?"
Loki grinned over his shoulder at Thor. "You're just in time, brother-mine."
Thor was quietly delighted every time his brother used that particular name for him. "What have I arrived on time for?"
Pointing as the Bi-Frost activated. "Our guests are going to use them as chew toys."
Thor tipped his head back to laugh loudly as one by one, figures disembarked from the gate and slowly approached. The closer they drew, the more restless the warriors once they realized it was a group of at least a dozen frost giants. Thor snarled at the warriors. "Stand fast."
That snarled order halted even a hint of rebellion, the warriors staying within their ranks. The Jötunn entered the arena, forming a single row while Helblindi completed the distance between himself and the two princes.
Nodding to the Jötunn king. "King Helblindi."
Helblindi returned the nod. "Prince Loki."
Loki smiled pleasantly, his tone conversational. "I trust the Bi-Frost travel was not difficult."
"Not at all, I find the reception more disconcerting than the journey." Helblindi glanced at the jumble of nervous and/or hostile warriors.
Loki nodded his head towards the dozen Jötunn, one of them impressively broad shoulder in addition to being the tallest. "And these are your captains that command the remainder of your legion?"
Helblindi nodded, but knew this wasn't about training the Jötunn to fight. "They are. Are these the finest warriors of Asgard?"
"Not all of them, some are the most prominent who are in need of a…re-education." Pointing and smirking when the twelve warriors turned a bright pink. "These particular warriors need to understand the importance of following orders, whether it is from pink or blue lips."
"Hey, Locks-whoa…those dudes are tall." Tony look up at the Jötunn in awe before looking at Thor. "Man, and I thought you were a giant, Pointe Break."
Thor gave Tony an amused look. "They are called Frost Giants with reason, man of iron."
Nodding with exaggeration. "Well yeah but DAMN."
Loki frowned at the inventor. Not that he didn't enjoy the man's quips but he hadn't invited him. "Tony, what do you want?"
Steve shrugged slightly as the rest of the Avengers lined up next to Tony on the opposite side of the fence. "We wanted to observe fighting styles."
Tony snorted. "Yeah, well I'm here to watch the blue dudes kick their butts." A few of the Jötunn smirked and stood straighter. A few of the AEsir growled in displeasure.
Clint glanced at him. "Watch?"
Lip quirking as he hedged a bit. "Okay, there might be a few comments. Maybe a small wager. Kinda like football so yeah…watch."
Natasha rolled her eyes silently.
Bruce was frowning in confusion. "Why are they…pink?"
Tony mock scowled at Bruce. "Hey, nothing wrong with a little gay pride." Glancing at one particularly rough looking AEsir and pointing at him. "Although, observation, pink is not your color."
"Prince Thor-…"
Thor strode away from Loki, the warriors parting for him. He wasn't there to witness these warriors turn their backs on his brother but he'd heard about it. That was never happening again.
He walked with determination up to the warrior who looked particularly appalled at the way he was being treated. He kept his face hard and emotionless. "You will receive no sympathy from me or mine. Do you think yourselves wiser than the All-Father?" The warrior was taken aback. "Nay, you will pay the price for your impunity this day for disrespecting my brother who is in fact your prince and perhaps you will be wiser in the future." The tallest Jotunn nodded slowly, forming an ice sword and the others following suit. Thor didn't even glance their way. "You are now with but one choice. You and the others will learn to follow commands or my first act as King of Asgard will be to exile you." Standing taller, glaring. "Do you wish your honor to be stripped, to return to your home to await the outcome of this war?"
Blinking rapidly before getting ahold of himself, standing tall. "No, sire."
Thor nodded once. "Then you will submit to learning humility today."
The warrior bowed immediately. "Yes, sire."
Tony grinned conspiringly at Loki. "Served."
Loki's lip twitched but didn't comment.
The little drama didn't go unnoticed but Helblindi was smiling slightly in approval. Discipline in the ranks was crucial, especially with as many different races that would be converging together against this evil. As Thor moved his blue eyes to wait for the other eleven to also swallow their objections, Helblindi turned his attention back to Loki. "Are there any specific rules that are required to be honored?"
Smirking with a shrug. "As long as you do not kill them wounded pride will hardly hurt them. Humility is good for everyone, a lesson my father is fond of teaching his sons." Loki rolled his eyes with that last part, sounding a little annoyed. Thor's lip twitched in amusement, agreeing with his brother as he came back to his side. "The marked warriors will return to their natural colors when they stop hesitating in following orders."
The tallest Jötunn seemed to be the most seasoned. His voice sounded like grating glass and he threw them into drills. As the Jötunn adapted to the heat which didn't take a terribly long time, they were soon moving faster and more efficiently than the AEsir in their midst. It galled the warriors into picking up their own paces.
Thor nudged Loki who glanced at him curiously.
"Yes?"
"Father wishes a word with you when convenient." Thor kept his voice low to not attract attention but he caught the grin that was a little too pleased that spread across his brother's face. Not in an evil or even mischievous way, but as if the thought of father wanting to speak with him gave him pleasure. "Loki?"
"It's just-…nothing." Loki seemed to be about to say something before swiftly changing his mind. When Thor refused to veer his gaze Loki lightly glared at him. "Not here."
Inclining his blond head in the warriors' direction. "They are hardly paying attention to us, brother."
Loki sighed softly, arms crossing over his chest. "I find it satisfying he seeks my opinion. Shut up."
"Loki-…"
Loki cut him off with a word and a sharp jerk of his head. "No." Sometimes eloquence was less preferred than a simple word that spoke volumes. Loki was done with this particular regret between them. He knew things were changing, both between them and Asgard in general. It was enough.
Thor nodded a little to himself and smiled. He wouldn't bring it up again unless Loki did, but he wouldn't forget. Instead he nudged Loki with his shoulder, eyes on the warriors being put in their place. Green eyes flicked in his direction before nudging him back.
HELHEIM
Hela studied herself in the mirror. No disguises now. There was little point to it. Now she was the young AEsir about to order war on the realms. Their time was up, Thanos' forces preparing to move. By sunrise tomorrow they would be at Asgard's door. Now was the time to move her army. Her green eyes flashed before there was a sharp knock at her door. "Enter."
An AEsir entered, typical in appearance of blond hair and blue eyes, a citizen of Helheim who in life ran from battle like a coward and died. In death he became what he hadn't been in life: a fearless warrior and the general of her soldiers. He wore the armor he died in, a wound from back to front displaying clearly but not gruesomely how he'd died. He bowed to her with respect, reverence in his tone. "My queen, you sent for me."
Nodding slowly, sheathing her twin swords and walking past the general who told no one his name. "Assemble my legions. War is upon us."
If he was surprised by her appearance it didn't show on his face. Instead his question was practical as he followed her through the palace. "From where?"
Glancing up as if she could see Asgard. "We will be going to it. War converges on Asgard…and we will be joining the ranks."
The general stiffened, purpose in his eyes. "Ragnarok, my queen?"
Stopping at the entrance to Helheim. "What do you know of Ragnarok?"
He was by no means a scholar, he only knew the most basic elements of the concept. "It will be brought to the nine realms by the Sly One."
Smirking in delight at that particular nickname for Loki. "I always loved that nickname for him." She continued what the prophet had foretold, equal parts prediction and poetry. "So the realms will burn and topple but because it is Ragnarok it is also the rebirth of the universe again, to repeat in an endless cycle of life and death. Life ends, but what are we without it? It is two halves to complete a whole. The sun and the moon. Day and night. Life and death need each other, for what kind of eternity could we have if we never lived…or how empty would our lives be if we never died?" Hela's lip curled further in amusement, asking one question. "But there is a misunderstanding that I believe should be clarified: what is a prophecy?"
"A foretelling of events destined by the fates." It was one of the few things he remembered his tutors teaching him.
Hela's lips twisted in a mockery of a smile. "Ah yes, those evil blond bitches…love them so much. So tell me this. Can someone who is no longer tied to fate satisfy a prophecy?"
The general frowned slightly, considering the question. Prophecy and fate were intertwined. "No, my queen, but Loki-…"
"Shares a mate bond with a human." Any other race and it wouldn't have made a difference. But humans were the exception to that rule. His fate was now joined with another's, which breaks all hold on destiny and prophecy that the fates had planned for him.
Paling as he realized the significance. "…the prophecy is void."
Hela nodded slowly. "A paradox since the prophecy is true, yet it cannot be true." Time. Space. Truth. Magic. It was all the same. Unravel one and it ripples, unravelling the fabric of everything. "We only have this life. This cycle. If the end of all things comes, we end. Thanos brings not Ragnarok, he simply brings The End." They walked past Garm to a nook within a cavern. It wasn't just the entrance to Helheim that he guarded and she pointed the way. "Follow the passage through, Prince Loki will meet you on the other side and order your positions. Do not break rank. Follow his orders to the letter…or face both of our wraths."
"We fight to save Asgard?" There was pride in his eyes, hoping to do in death what he hadn't the strength to do in life.
Her dark green eyes met his gaze. "The nine realms must remain intact to keep Yggdrasil strong." Smirking with satisfaction that they could make the difference. "Just this once, we fight for them."
ASGARD
Sunset was fast approaching, the Bi-Frost standing by to send back the civilians of Midgard. Heimdall stood silently at the controls, watching with his unnaturally golden eyes. Some were there to see them off, although no one could figure out why Hogun the Grim was there. He stood next to Loki, who had accompanied Jane.
"You should come with us, Jane." Erik's tone had a touch of a plea to it, his worry palatable.
Her lip twitched in amusement. "You're not going to have any more success in convincing me than Loki has."
Erik was a little surprised the trickster had even tried. But he was begrudgingly realizing the man that he'd know was not the man he was now. He frowned at Jane. "You would be safer on earth."
Jane shook her head. "If this doesn't work no one is safe. I'm staying."
There were so many things he wanted to say that he couldn't. Either it wasn't his place to say them or they might come off condescending when it wasn't his intention. He was worried about her. He was proud of her. So much more, but instead he said what he hoped was true. "I'll see you soon."
Jane grinned brightly, a gentle hand on his arm. "Of course you will."
Darcy shook her head, leaning against the entrance. Asgard was pretty nifty, even if their idea of clothing was absolutely ridiculous but she couldn't wait to throw on a pair of jeans and drink a gallon of coffee. "The sooner we leave, the sooner I can catch up on my emails." She paused with a small frown to herself before standing up on her tiptoes to kiss Loki's cheek. "Later, cutie." Loki scowled and stepped back from her. Jane bit her bottom lip hard to keep from laughing. She kissed Hogun on the cheek as she passed by. "Gun, raincheck on the boat ride."
Loki slowly lifted an eyebrow at Hogun who didn't so much as twitch even though his skin darkened. He'd been wondering why the silent warrior had decided to walk with him to see the mortals back to Midgard.
Pepper had eyes only for Tony, her lips pressed together and blinking a little too quickly. Her hands rested on his chest. "Come get me soon, Mr. Stark."
His lip twitched upward in amusement. "Is that a request from my fiancé, Miss Potts?"
"Yes." She pulled in a slow breath, glancing up at his brown eyes. "But I'm not the only one making the request."
He flashed her a pearly smile. "Swedish twin, perhaps? Yes, please!"
Loki narrowed his eyes, paying attention to the little signs that she was giving off that most humans would have a difficult time identifying. The slight trembling of her lip, as if she wanted to say something. A flicker of fear lay hidden in her eyes. Her fingers twitched the slightest amount as if to reach towards him while pushing him away at the same time. Add to that the faintest of scents that only a mage could detect and it left but one conclusion.
Pepper lifted her head a little, tone no nonsense. "You'd better stay in one piece, Tony."
Tony gave her a cocky smile even though his eyes were sincere. "I'll do my best, Pep." He leaned in and gave her a kiss that made her toes curl, smiling smugly as he pulled back to see she was flushed.
She nodded once curtly before turning her head enough to glare at Loki. "He better come back to me in one piece."
Loki tilted his head slightly. "Are you still under the illusion that I fear your wrath?"
Loki watched Jane give Darcy a hug, Pepper's retort distracting him. "Of course not. Only intelligent men fear me."
Lifting an eyebrow. "Well said. It must be why Anthony is willing to stand near your presence."
Her eyes narrowed as she judged the two distances, Tony throwing up his hands and retreating to the entrance. "Hey, you two flirt when I'm not around at least."
Both Loki and Pepper started sputtering, Jane grinning as she hugged Pepper before moving quickly to Loki's side. Darcy waved. "See ya soon, boss lady."
A last grin to Darcy as she nodded, a second reassuring glance to Erik, and a wiggle of her fingers to Pepper as a goodbye. Loki was giving Jane a thoughtful look even as the Bi-Frost activated with Heimdall in control and sent them home.
Jane didn't turn, making the last adjustments to the armor she was wearing, a dagger sheathed to her thigh. It was made specifically for her and it fit her well. A combination of practical protection and feminine beauty. Loki had been disturbingly quiet the walk back from the Bi-Frost. She knew by now he was plotting something. He watched her fiddle with the gauntlets on her wrists, her brown eyes narrowing at him in the mirror. "No."
His lip twitched, pushing himself away from the wall. "No?"
Her arms dropped to her sides, turning around and amber flashing in her eyes. "No." The same word was offered, and yet a different emphasis to it.
He slowly started walking forward, protest on his tongue. "Jane-…"
She stormed the difference between them, already knowing what he was going to say. She could see the cogs in his mind turning. It was understood what she was saying, but she wanted to express herself clearly. "I'm not going back with them. This is my home-our home. I'm staying. We're staying." She gestured outward with her arm, including the children in that last statement. At the moment they were in her quarters, putting on their own armor. They wouldn't be fighting obviously, but they would be here where she could keep a protective eye on them.
She was a vision. She was still Jane, but her mortal trappings were slowly being cast aside. His father would be proud to make her a princess of Asgard because her words and actions in this moment were Asgardian. But then she was always her fiercest when she was angry.
Loki nodded slowly to himself as if in acceptance. "And I can't convince you otherwise."
Jane sighed softly, hands smoothing over the lapels of his armor. He should know her better than this by now. "I'm your shield maiden."
There was no convincing her. He'd help make her his equal, but he hadn't had to do all that much to accomplish it. Her determination, her intelligence, her temper; they were all assets in that equality. He brushed his thumb lightly against her chin. "Yes. You are." His beautiful, fiery little mate. He purred softly and the tension between them melted as another tension heated quietly.
She leaned into his touch, sighing softly as she suddenly felt so content. Alarms were going off in her mind but they were quiet and distant, easily ignored. "I belong at your side…"
His second hand came up to lightly stroke her neck. "Yes. For all time."
Her eyes slowly started to close as she leaned a little more heavily into him. Breathing in his scent. Feeling his warm lips against her forehead. She breathed the word. "Forever…"
"You should be safe in Helheim."
He smiled and reached out to cup her cheek with one hand. She paused to smile up at him. "Not a chance…" At the last second her brain seemed to be aware of what was going on, a frown drowsily forming. "Loki-…"
He caught her when she swayed before collapsing against him, asleep. He picked her up, turning as three of his doubles came in, each one holding a sleeping passenger. "With me, my love, there is always a chance."
HELHEIM
Amora stormed as much as her ghostly form would allow through the throne room, stopping just short of the steps before Hela's throne. "Those bastards won't let me through."
Hela gave her a lazy look. "You can't follow orders. You stay."
The Enchantress' jaw dropped open, her tone wheedling after a stunned moment. "Be reasonable, Hel-Queen Hela." She was quick to correct herself when Hela frowned at her. "This will be my last chance to see Asgard."
Not even if she were deaf, dumb, and blind. "Nope, not buying it."
Like a pouting child Amora threw herself into a chair.
"My Queen-..."
Hela held up a hand to forestall Farbauti's objections who had followed at a more dignified gait but seemed just as perturbed. "Helblindi will be joining Asgard in this battle, as is Loki. No." The two ladies shared a similar look and Hela slowly stood, slinking down the steps. "There is a reason the living do not comingle with the dead."
Amora gestured to her. "You're living."
Dark green eyes flashing, teeth sharpening. "You think I am here by choice." It wasn't a question.
Amora treated it like one anyway, clearly not understanding. "Why wouldn't you be? You're a Queen. The Queen. You are a law unto yourself."
"You think I truly coveted such things at 350?" What amounted to a twelve year old child. A child cast out of her home and forced to run where she couldn't be caught. Amora blinked in surprise, just now realizing how young Hela really had been. "I wanted to live and no other option afforded that. I refused to hide and pretend I had died and Asgard's reach was too great. Here was the only option. Forever exiled from Asgard but at least I had the illusion of living." Hela picked up a goblet and hurled it at the far wall, the wine staining the surface and the glass shattering. It was a display of temper that Hela didn't often indulge in and wariness crossed both their faces as ice spread across the floor, deadly magic curling around her as her expression darkened. "I had the cold comfort of the dead for company…and I had rage." Rage that demanded that Asgard would pay dearly for destroying her life. A wish; backed by a young mage's rage, that created events over 700 years in the making. "You have no conception of the living thing a mage's rage can become. A rage that burned so bright in a young heart that not even I can stop the chain of events…I can only attempt to temper the fallout-…"
Hela cut herself off sharply as she watched Loki walked down a side corridor with Jane in his arms. She blinked again in surprise as three more of Loki followed, each one carrying a child. NO. Amora and Farbauti bowed as Hela swept past them to see what Loki was up to.
Hela watched from the doorway as Loki move from one to the other with a thoroughly irritated look on her face. Slowly she shook her head. "She is going to rip your spine out when she wakes up." She hadn't anticipated this. She should have but she hadn't. This was going to ruin everything if she couldn't send them back to Asgard. Jane at Loki's side was the only way this would work.
Only once he was satisfied that everyone was tucked in did he turn to look at Hela fully. "Your word that you won't wake her nor send her back to Asgard."
"Forget it." She crossed her arms in an obvious snit.
He sighed softly at her. "Either here or Midgard, Hela. Choose." And Heimdall would refuse to use the Bi-Frost to retrieve them until after the war.
Hela narrowed her eyes at him, growling softly. "You are such an unbelievable bastard."
Snarling. "Hela, I do not have time-…"
"I vow it." She snapped off the retort to cut him off. When he continued to just stare at her she rolled her eyes. "I will not wake her nor send her back to Asgard."
"Or them."
Rolling her eyes again with more emphasis. "Or them."
Loki reached out to lightly caress Jane's cheek with his fingertips. He'd mapped and memorized every inch of her. But then that had been the point of Vanaheim, only not just for himself. He'd wanted to give her a memory to last for a lifetime, even if he couldn't spend it at her side.
He did a little bit more fussing, adjusting covers and just soaking in their scent and the sight of them. He knew he wasn't going to survive this battle, so he was taking every precaution that what mattered most to him did. He could almost feel her vibrating with tension.
He focused his attention before it occurred to him why she was so restless. Loki smirked and pulled Hela into a hug, which she returned instantly. Hela pressed her lips together, refusing to acknowledge the sting in her eyes, the trembling of her chin. Once she had managed to get ahold of herself she pushed him back. "Go. Go stop Thanos and retrieve your irritated mate."
His eyes narrowed. "Hela?"
She crossed her arms and glared at him. He didn't bother to question her further. She wouldn't tell him what she was plotting, no matter what he threatened. A last touch to each of them. Fingers tracing delicate ears. He lightly squeezed the back of Mischief's neck in silent farewell before slowly walking away.
Just before he reached the door her voice paused him. "It seems like an awful lot of trouble, doesn't it? Why did Thanos waste his time saving Malekith?"
He gave her a thoughtful look before turning. "Do you know why?"
She shrugged loosely and there was no lie in her eyes. "No. I'm just saying out loud what you're thinking. This is the type of creature who would go to great lengths to give himself pleasure so it could all be just to torment you…but what if he had another purpose?"
Malekith was a mage after all. Loki nodded slowly to himself.
Only once he had gone did she pull out her own grimoire and flip to the section that she wanted. Snapping her fingers, one of her servants bowed to her as she appeared. The dead were mostly useless when it came to magic. Ones who had recently died, like Amora, had a small amount at their disposable but it soon fled them to leave them as ordinary as the rest. But they absorbed it quite well when a spell was required. "Go retrieve Morgana le Fey from Niflheim. Tell her I will arrange for a lesser punishment for her eternity for a swap of favors."
ASGARD
Loki had joined the ladies in the healing rooms. He had one more stop to make before he caught a couple of hours of sleep. Right now he could really do without her silent reprimand. G'dath's glare could have stripped meat from bone. Loki didn't even flinch, unsurprised she knew he'd taken Jane to safety. "Unless you want to join her, move on. I have my reasons."
Muttering under her breath. "Doesn't everybody?" Talking a little louder, glancing at the other healers. "Eir and the most seasoned of the healers will remain here, the healing rooms our central location. We will be posting healing teams at these locations." She pointed to various positions within the city surrounding the palace, the most traveled roads. "There isn't enough of us to cover the initial battlefield."
Sigyn nodded. "I will have a selection of our healers here within the hour."
Loki nodded, his arms crossed. "Expect attack at first light." That brought a somber silence to them all. It made it more real. War. War on Asgardian soil after so many centuries of peace, and it would start at sunrise.
Eir, the oldest of the healers and the most skilled, who had healed on the front lines of many of King Odin's wars. "Healers on the initial battlefield will be tricky."
Loki was slowly shaking his head. Having healers mixed in with the ranks during this first onslaught would be wasteful and pointless. "Don't expect Thanos' forces to restrain themselves. Everyone on this planet is a target."
Sigyn lifted her head a little higher, well used to matching protective elven steel with healing need. "If any healers are brave enough to volunteer, they will be escorted."
"Did all of the humans return to Midgard?"
Loki slowly turned and raised an eyebrow at Sigyn who didn't flinch, her face carefully blank. "Not all of them."
Her lip twitched after a moment, realizing it was pointless to deflect. He knew of her interest in the mortal called Wolverine. Shrugging lightly, her tone careful. "I find his courage…intriguing."
"He's chosen to fight among the mortal Avengers." His finger moved to a section of the field, indicating where Logan would be fighting.
A small elf smile graced her features. "Then I would like to lend my support with participation."
Loki nodded slowly in agreement, both of them ignoring the bustle of healers moving and preparing field kits and supplies. He shared with her what not many knew, because there was no point in most knowing. "The initial forces will target the field. At Thor's command, we fall back to the palace."
"At day's break, then."
He bowed to her in farewell. "Lady Sigyn."
She nodded to him slightly in return. "Prince Loki."
MIDGARD
Fury sat behind his desk, staring out at nothing with his fingertips touching. He hadn't heard a damn thing so he supposed that was a good indication that they had more time but he hated being out of the loop. He didn't like the entire world in the hands of someone else, particularly if he didn't overtly trust that somebody.
When the Bi-Frost or whatever the hell Thor called it sent him a group of people, SHIELD had done a respectful but thorough debriefing. They still knew next to nothing, other than 'soon' which wasn't helping his blood pressure any.
He didn't even jump when Loki appeared in the chair opposite him. Turning to glare at him. "Either the war is over or it's about to start. Anything else and I don't want to hear it."
Loki smirked but decided to get right to the point. "The morning by first light Asgard should be under attack."
Fury's scowl eased that Loki wasn't toying with him for once as he nodded in understanding. "And when could this become my problem?"
Shrugging lightly, stretching out a little in the chair as if to appear casual. "At earliest by late afternoon. If I know my daughter she will be here by the time Thanos arrives on Asgard. If the tables turn, she'll inform you of an impending attack."
"Great." It was all he needed. But he got to the heart of the matter of why he disliked the demi-god as much as he did. "I want your damn word that what happened in New York with my people isn't happening again."
Raising an eyebrow, green eyes dancing. "In what regard, Nicholas? I can hardly protect all of them in a fight."
Tone flat. "Cannon fodder, which is what they were to you. They're worth more than that. A damn sight more than you are, in fact."
Loki just continued to smirk and chuckle softly, nodding his head. Not in agreement but that he would expect nothing less from Nick. He'd fooled him, and the director didn't like that. In Nick's perfect little word his first assessment was the correct one. The man was a spy and one of the best. He didn't like not being able to anticipate Loki.
Opening his right hand, a small green serpent of magic curling in his palm. He pet it with a fingertip. "They've signed up for the fight of the ages. They won't be on the front lines but they will be battling Thanos directly."
After a considering moment Fury nodded and opened a drawer, pulling out two glasses and filling them just enough to take the edge off. The hell with animosity. It wasn't practical right now. "What kind of casualties are you anticipating?"
Loki took the glass, the serpent disappearing, a little surprised at the gesture. But a gesture that opened him to being more forthcoming with the director. "At least 25% of the front lines."
Fury sipped slowly from his glass, not normally indulging until after a well-earned celebration. But he had a feeling unless this became his problem he wouldn't know the outcome immediately. "And the Avengers?"
Loki moved the glass slowly back and forth, gently swishing the liquid. "Thanos is the one most difficult to anticipate. If he enters the throne room, which I suspect he will, not everyone who follows will survive."
"Who?"
Now Loki chuckled, giving Nick an amused glance. "In spite of popular opinion I cannot see the future. I don't know who."
But Loki knew something, Nick was sure of that. He slowly narrowed his eye, studying him, before it occurred to him that he knew that look of resignation. Loki was taking a moment to just stand still. "You're going into this knowing you'll die."
Loki didn't even flinch, not surprised Fury had figured it out. "It happens to all of us eventually. I like the idea of my death having some meaning."
"Do you?"
"By Hel no." Loki gave him a patronizing look before sighing softly. He had a lot to live for, but at least his death would leave behind someone to protect who he held most dear. "Barton isn't coming back."
"What makes you say that?"
He could mention how helpful Clint was during the invasion, but it seemed a little too petty. "The elves have taken a liking to him. He'll be going back to Alfheim, assuming he survives, with 5,000 years ahead of him." Loki stared at the liquid in the glass, slightly mesmerized as he watch it move. "I'm still not certain if the little spider will be accompanying him or not."
Steve was the most vulnerable, even though he was also the most advanced, save perhaps Wolverine but Fury wasn't interested in hearing about him. Tony was the most reckless, his intelligence making him the most likely to survive and his impulsive need to fight the most likely reason he will die. Bruce was the wild card, simply because it wasn't known if he could even die as the Hulk.
"To victory, then." Fury raised his glass slightly.
Loki just made a face. "Nicholas, if we must toast at least make it a true statement and not something so vague and disappointing."
Shrugging and gesturing with his free hand. "By all means."
Loki considered what the AEsir would find an appropriate toast before raising his glass. "May our strength never fade; may our might never fail…and may we fight on until we meet once more in the great feasting hall of Valhalla."
Fury's lip twitched, thinking of his years before this. Like Natasha, he had a lot of red on his ledger. "Do you really think either one of us is destined for that?"
Loki contemplated the glass, drinking slowly and enjoying the flavor since the burn was nonexistent to him. He wasn't one for offering the private side of himself to anyone not family. But just this once he gave into the temptation. "My mother never once faltered in believing the impossible." She'd never given up on him, even when he'd given her very good reason to do exactly that. She loved him for who he'd been, no matter what he'd chosen to be. He still craved his father's love and pride, but if he had to choose between the two of them for who he wanted to be like then it was an easy choice. "She is the person I aspire to emulate."
ASGARD
THE PLAN
They all hunched over the plans, maps of Asgard showing not just the structures but the topography of the land. They were all focused on the vulnerable point Loki had just pointed out. An unmarked dark passage, that would spew out Thanos' forces from one point in space to the training fields closest to the forest. The current argument circulating was a debate of the merits and feasibility of somehow closing the dark passage and delaying attack indefinitely.
Loki had his arms crossed over his chest, eyebrows raised and giving the warrior a condescending expression. "There is no way to close a dark passage."
"That you know of, you mean to say."
Not turning, pointing outward. "Obliterate that sun."
Reflexively the other warriors looked to where he pointed while the warrior addressed just slowly frowned. "What?"
Loki didn't even twitch, explaining. "If your task was to obliterate that sun how would you do so?"
The warrior gave the distant star a few moments of contemplation before slowly nodding. "An explosive force I should think." The other warriors started nodding in agreement.
It was obvious Loki was unimpressed. "And what do you do when the implosion turns inward and consumes the remaining planets into an ever expanding black hole?"
"But you said-…"
Loki cut him off with a decisive gesture and a clipped tone. "I am making a point. To an action of that magnitude reacts. Any attempt to rupture a dark passage will turn that benign passage into a malignant one. Our realm may not be consumed but all of us would. Do step back and allow someone else to communicate something useful."
Thor ignored the back and forth, frowning at the maps. "If we cannot close the passage, could we coral them?"
Loki grinned slowly and nodded. "That is part of my plan."
"Having all of us here leaves the citizens vulnerable." Thor was pointing to the fields and Loki felt like applauding.
"That's already taken care of." The two brothers stared at one another, Thor's eyes widening when he realized that his brother had invited the dead to guard the citizens. "She may not enter but her army can. They will act as the perimeter wall."
The warriors all paled, one of them asking in horror without thinking. "You would trust the dead to protect the living…prince?" He was hasty to add a title to the end of that sentence.
Loki grinned maliciously. "I trust they are unwilling to anger my daughter and I."
It was fortuitous the dark passage spilled out onto this field. The numbers that had gathered were impressive. Impressive enough that you would believe all of Asgard was here. The front ranks were thick with AEsir warriors on foot and Vanir warriors either standing or on horseback. The middle ranks held the Alfheim archers, mixed with elves wielding hilted swords. The last rows were filled with Jötunn and trolls controlled by Vanir spell casters on unicorns.
Thor. Sif. The warriors three. Loki. They all stood side by side as the dividing line between the front and middle ranks.
Fandral bounced lightly with energy. "Just like old times."
Loki glanced at him. "Even if we all live, no, you cannot court my daughter."
Sif muttered under her breath. "They've done more than court."
Thor scowled at her. "Sif."
"I saw nothing. It was Vanaheim, after all." Rolling her eyes. "No one would believe me anyway."
Fandral looked particularly crushed. "Be reasonable, my prince."
Volstagg just grinned fondly, remembering the growling and grumbling when he'd been courting his own wife. Her father had been predictably hostile until it was clear his intent had been to marry her. The fact that Fandral was alive and intact just proved it was an expected response of male family members protecting an unmarried female of their house.
Sigyn stared straight ahead, anticipation in her eyes. It had been centuries since she'd last joined the ranks and she was ready to make blood flow. Wolverine glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't think a queen would be here."
She wore standard elvish armor, sword at her belt. "Before the light elves were scholars we were warriors. I learned the art and pleasure of war well from my mother."
Logan nodded slightly but he couldn't deny he was curious. He'd seen some of the elves in action and he was impressed. "But you don't live with elves, right?"
A small elf smile tugged at her lips. "Ambition is my vice. There is no true need for a queen on Alfheim, save for Et'ana. But I knew with patience I would hold rule over a territory on Vanaheim." She gave him a less than subtle head to toe glance and obviously liked what she saw. "After our victory I will be returning to Vanaheim. I would like you to accompany me."
Wolverine blinked in surprise before his lip curled. "Forward, aren't you?"
She shrugged one shoulder. "I am an elf. Many of us prefer candor."
"Didn't think you elves liked humans."
Her blue eyes swept over the Avengers, tone even. "We have a low tolerance for prey…but then you don't read as prey to me."
"Then what do you see?"
She reached out a gloved hand, rubbing the lapel of his jacket between two fingers before meeting his gaze evenly. "Consort." The Vanir didn't recognize dual leadership because the ruling power of a territory was an elected position. However, what on earth or Asgard would be called 'spouse', the Vanir called 'consort'.
Wolverine bared his teeth, getting her meaning. Not all of it, but enough to say that he was definitely interested.
The Avengers were on the oppose side of the row, closest to the city so they'd have the ability to fall back when needed. Tony had his HUD down, running tests with JARVIS. It had been a bitch to upload him but it had worked. Glancing at one of his screens and shuddering. "The wall of the dead is creepy as hell, just saying." He also had the comms open, hearing the conversations around him. Especially when he had money riding on the interactions between Wolverine and the Vanir Queen. "Hawk, that's a hundred bucks you owe me."
Clint scowled, bow resting over his shoulder with his quivers. "He didn't agree to anything, Stark."
Tony rolled his eyes. "He's as good as married to Arwen."
Bruce snorted. "A Lord of the Rings character?"
Sniffing and not sure if he should feel offended or not. "What? I'm well versed in pop culture, Brucey, get with the times."
Natasha rolled her eyes. "Then the correct reference would be Galadriel."
Heads whipped around to stare at the red-haired assassin who didn't even twitch in their direction. Tony raised his HUD, voice low. "I knew it." Natasha slowly turned and raised an eyebrow at the inventor. "Aragorn and Arwen or Aragorn and Έowyn?"
Something wicked sparked in her eyes before she answered. "Aragorn and Legolas."
"I may be replacing my best friend."
Loki's double appeared in front of them, first scowling at Tony who grinned weakly and lowered his HUD, then addressing the others. "Get ready."
He disappeared as the first of the ships emerged slowly. There was only so much room that a dark passage can accommodate, after all. Narrow in design, black as pitch, they hovered before moving to line up side by side. As the ships docked, they formed two rows half as wide as Asgard's forces. It might have bolstered confidence in some but most were patient enough to wait and see just what was going to come tearing out of those vessels.
HELHEIM
Jane wrung her hands as she paced. Hela silently watched her with an amused tilt of the lip. She'd begged and pleaded with Hela but the trickster queen didn't break promises to Loki, her hands tied. She'd already tried to hail Heimdall but the Gatekeeper ignored her calls, exactly as Hela predicted. It just pissed her off more. "I am going to kill him."
Hela sighed. "I imagine he is well aware of that."
"Oh, he has no idea what I am going to do to him…" Amber flashing in her eyes as she paused in her pacing. "And you just let him go?"
Throwing Jane a quelling look over her shoulder. "In spite of popular opinion Loki and I are fairly evenly matched when it comes to raw power. We would do considerable damage to one another and our surroundings… and wouldn't that just be convenient for Thanos?"
Tossing her arms into the air. "How the hell am I supposed to help him from here?" Tone insistent. "He needs me, even if the stubborn jackass won't admit it."
Hela couldn't agree more but she kept it to herself. Mischief was holding Talia in his arms, the girl's face pressed into his neck.
After a thoughtful assessment she turned to the small boy watching Jane pace. "Indel, have you been studying your runes?"
The little boy looked down and pouted. "Runes are stupid."
A knowing smirk curled Hela's lip. "Your father hated runes as a child, too, but he still learned them. Did you know that you can make spells out of runes?" She looked at Mischief in just the right way that his eyes widened in understanding.
"Really?" Indel chirped the question, curious.
Talia lifted her head, listening. Hela's voice was a little too casual. "Yes, in fact, I have some runes over here you might like to see. Careful." She paused for just a second too long. "Remember, when reading runes you always stay to the outside. Standing inside the shape of the runes activates them."
"Oh."
She showed him a set of runes carved into the stone in a circular pattern. "Can you tell what it says?"
Frowning, tilting his head from side to side before shrugging. "It doesn't mean anything, it's just a bunch of letters."
That knowing grin was back on her face. Creating a few cards, one each with an English letter on them and putting them in a circular pattern. "What do they say?" He looked this way and that before shrugging in confusion but Jane blinked in understanding. Hela moved the letters so they lined up. "And now?"
"Home. Oh." Indel looked over the runes again before grinning. "It spells Asgard."
Hela knelt down and tilted her head slightly at the clever boy. "And what do you think will happen if you stand in the center?"
Hopping on the balls of his feet as Mischief started grinning. "We go back home."
Hela stood and lifted her hands up in a supplicant pose. "I kept my word, I didn't wake you and I didn't send you to Asgard." Winking at Jane as Mischief laughed. "Loki should have been more careful in the wording of my promises, be sure to tell him that for me."
Jane stared at her for several seconds before shaking her head a little in confusion. They'd been here for hours. "You planned to send us back. All this time and…"
Hela smiled slightly. "Remember who you're dealing with, Jane. We're tricksters with our own ethics and our own rules…timing is everything." Jane's brow furrowed. "Thanos is on Asgard right now. Any moment he will breach the palace."
Jane gasped. "Loki-…"
Hela nodded slowly. "Go." Jane glanced at the children but Hela shook her head. "Nowhere is safe anymore. Take them and go."
MIDGARD
Charles Xavier and Nicholas Fury were next to one another, one man sitting while the other stood. There was nothing from the command center that they could see or do, not until an attack became apparent, but it was time. SHIELD personnel were on high alert, waiting for the slightest indication to mobilize. The Xmen were out, as were all the other fighters for humanity. Strange was keeping his mystical eye peeled for when he would need to react.
Hela appeared in a flash of green, arms crossed over her chest and wearing a very old set of armor, her cloak obscuring it from view. When neither man reacted to her presence, the agents put away their guns and focused back on their screens.
Jane was on her way but this was about as close as she could get to Asgard. Still, she was a queen to two of the nine realms, she wasn't powerless. She could feel Asgard's anger. She could sense the brave warriors that died and were sent swiftly to Valhalla. She could feel the gates of Niflheim opening to admit the creatures that Thanos had persuaded to fight for his cause.
Hela turned her eyes towards the skies. "Thanos has arrived."
ASGARD
THE PLAN
Loki moved the discussion along. This plan worked in stages. The first assault was something anyone could anticipate. Thanos was counting on no one here being able to anticipate another. "With so much focus on the battlefield, we'll be ill prepared for the second wave which will attack by air."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know Thanos." Loki's tone was flat, almost daring anyone to ask how. Thor had stiffened in anticipation of that question being asked but no one did and the discussion moved along. Word had spread quietly among the warriors of his scars. No one would ever ask that question. "Turrets and air ships will be vital."
"But if the men are in the field-…"
Loki turned his head towards Azni who had been silently watching. "Et'ana Azni, how many female warriors make up Alfheim ranks?" The other warriors looked absolutely horrified at the prospect of females being responsible for their weapons and the air defense surrounding the palace. Loki snapped at them impatiently. "If you have difficulty with feminine might I would be happy to arrange an audience with the king on the matter…I am sure he would be eager to respond."
They all lost eye contact with him. Most females of Asgard didn't aspire to be warriors but Frigga had been well known to be the exception to that rule. Her training and status among the warriors had been fully backed by Odin.
A small smile curled Azni's lip as she responded. "A third of them."
"And how flexible is their knowledge?"
Her shrug was dismissive, unconcerned. "They will learn."
Loki nodded and pointed to various places. "Then this is where I need them…the dragons will do their part. Do tell your ladies not to shoot them, it will only create problems."
Thor blinked at his brother. "Dragons?"
Two crystal dragons, to be precise, flew over the great city. Their large wings kept them in the air, moving lazily in a powerful circle and ready to swat down the enemy like annoying flies.
Out on the field it was a writhing mass of conflict. Of victory and defeat. Bodies of all the races from both sides lay on the ground. Loki had been right, the numbers were in the hundreds of thousands. A bipedal species had raced out of the ships that had multiple mechanical limbs and each one of them deadly. There were no generals. No commanders. The Phalanx. A hive mind species enhanced with Thanos' technological genius. It was a mass of numbers that were hoping to overwhelm the opposition.
Trolls roared, stomping and hitting anything within reach.
A Vanir spellcaster charged forward, the white unicorn under him running and spearing obstacles in his way with his spiraled horn.
Hulk was launching himself up into the stratosphere, crashing down with fists and a very pleased grin on his face.
The warriors three had been working together as opposed to splitting up individually. Loki sent a small burst of power forward, stopping his target's heart and grinning maliciously when its screech was cut off short as it fell over, dead. He frowned at the AEsir that seemed to be hovering in one location before scowling at Thor who hadn't ventured far. "Was it you or father that put them on babysitting detail?"
Thor hid a guilty expression, swinging Mjolnir at the creature in front of him and sending him sailing away with a scream. "I know not what you mean, brother."
"Lie." Pointing a finger in his direction. "Thor, you and I are having a detailed conversation after this war."
Swinging to the left. "Concerning what, Loki?"
Distractedly tossing a throwing knife to the right, hitting his target in the eye. "Concerning your irritating and incessant need to coddle me like I was three hundred again."
Thor threw his hammer to the left, the weapon plowing through an entire grouping of Phalanx as he walked up to Loki. "I will not take you for granted again."
Raising an eyebrow at his brother. "Then you would not be opposed to my sending them to dog your every step during your next adventure?"
Thor raised his hand without looking and caught his hammer. "You followed me on adventures for seven hundred years, Loki, even though you lost your taste for them a long time ago." Putting his hand on Loki's shoulder. "You did so because you are my shield brother as well as my brother." Shaking his shoulder slightly. "I will do no less."
Loki tilted his head slightly. "Fine. Guard my back. That doesn't mean-…" Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and Loki turned to see a small craft shoot out of the dark passage. It flew over the battlefield, screaming past Tony who pulled up short in surprise, and headed for the palace. Loki murmured softly. "The second wave." The dragons roared as the small, single pilot airship made a beeline for the palace. Instead of breathing fire, they destroyed the ship with icy blasts of frost crystals. Snarling at Thor as he teleported. "GO."
Steve wasn't comfortable with a sword but he could use a gun. Between it and his shield, he was making excellent headway. He glanced up, Tony doing a somersault in the air because he could. He shook his head silently before stopping short.
Loki's shadow flashed in front of Steve. "Fall back!"
Steve nodded, using his shield as a battering ram and started running. "Avengers, fall back."
Natasha was already right behind him, gun in her left hand and keeping up very well. Clint caught up, running while turning to watch their back as they ran for the palace.
Hulk paused when Loki's shadow appeared in front of him, arms crossed with a bored expression. "If you really want to smash something there's someone perfectly evil in my father's throne room." Hulk bared his teeth in a savage grin and decided to do exactly that.
Wolverine roared, his claws sinking into flesh and the Phalanx falling to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Thor and some of the others running past the dead army that were keeping the Phalanx out and into the city. He nodded. Time for the showdown.
Tony stayed airborne, keeping an eye on the streets to make sure the path was clear. He blinked in shock to realize Loki was floating next to him. "The hell…?"
Loki rolled his eyes. "Thor likes to think he's the only one who can fly. I allow him his delusions on occasion." He turned invisible and teleported just as Thor went whizzing by with Mjolnir firmly in his grip.
Tony grunted. "So happy I was an only child."
He scowled when Clint immediately snarked over the comm.
"You and the rest of the universe is thankful, Stark."
Maintaining his scowl, seeing the Avengers getting close to the palace gate where Thor had already landed next to Loki. "Shut up, Tweety, or JARVIS is forgetting how to make your arrows."
"Sir, I am incapable-…"
Snapping at his AI. "JARVIS."
Steve's calm voice regained control over the others. "Let's not announce ourselves before we're ready. Stark, do a perimeter sweep, north to south."
Tony changed course sharply, watching the others group together before running swiftly and silently for the throne room. "Yep. On it."
Jane froze as she stepped away from the runes by Loki's worktable to see a horse-sized baby crystal dragon. The little dragon trilled and wagged its tail like an enthusiastic dog. Fenris was growling lowly at the creature, hiding under Loki's writing table.
Indel jumped on the balls of his feet, pointing. "I want-…"
Picking him up. "No. Now I need you to-…"
Mischief snarled in protest. "NO!"
Jane blinked in surprise at his vehemence, just as the doors to Loki's suite opened with Azni on the other side. The smell and sound of battle was heavy in the air, the screams of angry dragons, but the elf seemed so calm as she pointed. "Bring them this way."
Her eyes widened. "Bring-…"
"Trust us." Us? Jane's brow furrowed in confusion but Azni seemed almost desperate. As if there weren't even seconds to spare. "Bring them. He's in the throne room with that monster of a creature." The woman Loki trusted as much as his mother. There was something going on, but Jane did trust her. Azni held out a waiting finger and with an unhappy bleat the little dragon didn't follow as the door closed.
They moved very quickly through the corridor, entering the wing that spilled out into a series of balconies. Down below in the gardens she could see Anya with dagger in one and sword in the other fighting back a ghastly looking, multi-appendaged, mechanical creature and holding her own.
Jane matched Azni's pace, Mischief right behind her with a hand holding each child. "Thor? The Avengers?"
"They're all there, dear-…"
Azni went flying back with a gasp as a heat wave of magic brushed over them, Jane screaming and throwing herself back as Mischief dove and flattened his siblings protectively. Jane stopped screaming abruptly, her body half covering Mischief's and her head raising as a very familiar figure stepped out of the shadow of a column. Her heart jumped into her throat, whispering hoarsely. "Malekith."
Azni was suddenly in front of them, drawing a long sword from its sheathe. The light elf narrowed her eyes, normally gentle expression set in a hard line. "You should have stayed asleep."
"So I have often told myself." Dark magic swirled in his palm but she reacted before he could, lunging. His spell was disturbed but he batted her sword to one side effortlessly.
It had been thousands of years, but she still remembered how to use a sword. "You will be shown no mercy for the crimes you've committed."
Malekith studied her for a moment. "Hmm..now this does seem familiar." Instead of searching for a weapon he conjured one and matched Azni thrust for thrust. Mischief picked up both Talia and Indel and dragged them out of the way as Jane stood. Malekith was amused, almost whimsical in memory. "Oh, yes, and I remember my response." A blast of power disarmed her and he didn't hesitate, running her through the heart to the hilt.
"NO!"
Azni made no sound, staring at Malekith with utter peace on her face. He let go of the magic created sword, it disappearing as the elven queen slipped to the ground. Jane caught her and eased her down, watching those gentle eyes close.
Jane stilled, staring at the dark elf who stared right back. Amber sparked in her eyes and a wave of gold circled around her sharply as she stood and conjured her own sword. He sounded nothing more than amused. "Do you truly believe you have the ability to defeat me, sorceress?" Indel stepped away from the pillar, green eyes watching Malekith. The ears made it obvious he wasn't a true dark elf, which made the identity of this little one obvious. "Do not worry, little ungit. Your death will be swift compared to hers."
Malekith flung his hand out towards Indel and there was no telling what sort of awful spell he had planned. Thankfully Mischief had other plans. Nothing was produced forward, Malekith's own power sending him flying back.
Malekith snarled from the floor, pushing himself back up, while Mischief just smirked. "Too bad, so sad."
Indel's face had no expression, something dark and knowing in his normally joyful eyes. "You hurt my dada." He'd been little but he remembered his dada screaming. He remembered a name.
The dark elf sounded deeply amused. "Hurt him? No…I did so much more than merely hurt him, ungit."
Indel frowned thoughtfully, unafraid. "What does that word mean?" Talia stepped up next to him, whispering in his ear. "M'not a bastard. My mama and dada love me."
Malekith snapped at Indel in irritation. "I am your sire, little fool. The weakling you call father is your mother." He stepped closer to Indel but Jane moved quickly to intercept him.
"You won't touch-…"
He backhanded Jane and sent her falling to her hands and knees, picking up Indel around the waist who twisted and hit at the arm holding him. "You are spirited." Indel stilled, his green eyes flashing as he bared his teeth. His suddenly sharp teeth. "You do resemble him."
Bad man. A very, very bad man.
Hissing. "I bite like him, too." Indel bit down on his arm hard enough to draw blood and with an enraged howl Malekith dropped him. Like a little nymph Indel hopped and rolled out of the way. Gritting his teeth, Malekith gripped his dagger in one hand, flipped the blade and tossed it to strike the closest target which happened to be Talia's heart.
Mischief deftly caught the dagger blade between his palms, flipped the blade and released it back as he spun. Malekith howled, the dagger sinking deeply into his shoulder. He stumbled into the far wall, gathering himself and freezing in shock as the blade of Azni's long sword sunk into his abdomen. Jane had her teeth bared, using all of her weight to make sure he couldn't simply pull the sword out.
He locked eyes with Jane whose own were glowing a fiery amber. "I might say something clichéd that this was for Frigga or Loki or Azni…but that was really for me."
Mischief crossed his arms over his chest. "Indel." The little boy looked up at his big brother who was smirking dangerously. "Now would be a good time to say your spell backwards."
Indel screamed the words and a blood red portal exploded behind Malekith. Jane's eyes widened, tethering herself to a whip chord of amber magic looped around a column and holding onto the hilt of the long sword. Malekith groaned as inch by inch the steel withdrew as he was pulled back and up.
Lifted off his feet, Malekith reached out for anything and found Talia's hair. The little girl screamed and whipped around, teeth sinking into the hand holding her. Malekith howled and moved to strike her, Jane catching the hand moving for her face. She didn't think, the hunting knife that had been on her thigh in her hand, slicing cleanly through skin and bone and scooping Talia out of harm's way.
He howled as his hand was separated from his body. He screamed as the portal seemed to eat him feet first. Mischief snagged the end of his white braid, keeping him from actual death just long enough to hiss almost idly. "I wonder what delights await you in Niflheim. I'll be certain to give Lady Death a few ideas that will please Loki." He opened his hand and with a blood curdling scream Malekith was gone.
Jane curled her nose, grabbing the hand and quickly throwing it into the vortex. Indel softly spoke and the portal snapped shut, Mischief holding out a hand for the boy to slap.
Talia looked up with tears in her eyes, hand resting lightly on Azni's forehead. "She wants to go." They all silently gathered around Azni, falling to their knees. Tears slowly dripped down her cheeks. "She says she's lived a long time but it's time for her to rest in Valhalla. But-…I don't wanna let her go, mother."
Jane frowned softly, her fingers running through the light elf's hair. A woman and a mother, who had been just as responsible if not more so for Loki finding his way back to who he used to be. She pressed her lips together firmly to keep from crying. Soon was all she could promise herself. Once they were safe and the war was over they would grieve.
Pulling Talia close, kissing her temple. "It's too late to save her, sweetie. You have to let her go."
The little elf frowned, not looking back at her brothers as she reluctantly took her palm off of Azni's forehead and felt her slip away. She whispered farewell in a teeny, tiny voice to the woman she would have called mother if not for Jane. "Bye."
ASGARD
THE PLAN
Steve was frowning thoughtfully at the maps. "And you need us in the field?"
Loki was already nodding, arms crossed. "Only in the beginning. Thanos is too smart to lead them into battle. His only goal is the gauntlet. We have to stop him from gaining access to the vault. He can't go further than the throne room." Glancing at the thunderer and knowing he was going to protest. "Thor, as the second wave arrives you need to fall back with them."
"Loki?"
No other protest, just a question of why in his eyes. Interesting.
"Defeated, they won't fight without him." Thor still didn't look convinced but his gaze hadn't shifted. Loki felt himself perk up, realizing his brother wanted the explanation of why he needed to fall back to the palace but he wasn't going to fight him if the reason made sense. "Father will have the vault sealed tightly but even all of us together may not be enough to stop him." Perhaps not stop him but Odin will never release the vault, the magic surrounding it strengthened by Asgard's heart. Thanos would have to destroy Asgard to open the vault. Unfortunately that was not something the titan would be opposed to doing but it would take time. "Even with all of us dead, she is keeping the reality gem so Thanos can never have it. He will never be able to complete the gauntlet, but he could devastate the universe with the number of gems in easy access." They were all needed, to be the wall that hopefully Thanos couldn't tear down to get the gauntlet.
"We fall back?"
Loki nodded once sharply. "Yes, I have a plan."
"Your magic." Thor tried to keep the grimace off his face but it was hidden in his voice.
Giving the thunderer an exasperated sigh. "What else were you expecting?"
"Bro-…"
Cutting Thor off with a sharp motion of his hand. "Your might and steel may not be enough." It probably wouldn't be. "This is a creature that not even she is willing to kill, simply because he is too powerful dead. To obliterate not just his body but his soul is the only choice and only magic can accomplish it."
"Is that possible?"
He had no idea but he was going to try. Shrugging as if he had every confidence. "Of course. Anything is possible."
Thanos smiled brightly as he walked the empty corridors. It had been pitifully easy to gain access to the mighty castle but he wasn't terribly surprised. These AEsir were a rather predictable breed. He chuckled, raising his arm and hitting the double doors with his fist. The ancient wood shattered, the metal hinges splintered, and the remains of both sides went flying inward.
Raising his eyes, his chuckle carried to see Odin sitting proudly on his throne, Gungnir in his hand. "You are not welcome here, Thanos."
Pausing to shake his head in amusement at the aged monarch. "I certainly was not anticipating a welcoming gesture, Odin All-Fool."
Odin slowly stood. "You will never have the gauntlet."
Slowly walking down the carpet towards the throne. "You are hardly in a position to deny me."
Thanos paused as the Avengers moved out of the shadows on one side and Odin's sons on the other. His amusement grew, glancing back to see Logan and Sigyn boxing him in. He narrowed his eyes a little, feeling almost disappointed that his telepathic abilities rattled within their cage but couldn't project outward.
Thanos glanced back at Odin who looked particularly satisfied. "I am, perhaps, more aware of the situation than you are." Odin couldn't take the credit for this particular defense. The throne room was the only place in Asgard designed to ward off such abilities. Because what good was a king of Asgard if he were being controlled by another?
Thanos made a scoffing noise. "This is what you have brought forward to defeat me? A group of children. A she-elf…and a Jötunn runt…how desperate you must be."
Odin's voice rumbled with authority and power. "You threaten the existen-…"
Thanos' weapons were built into his metallic suit and he used it to fire a pulse of energy at Odin. The All-Father deflected it with Gungnir easily, Thor narrowing his eyes. Thanos shrugged dismissively. "I grow weary of your sanctimony."
The king of Asgard nodded slowly, gesturing with his free hand. "Then I will give you a taste of steel."
Nodding slowly as Odin stepped the rest of the way down his throne. "I might enjoy that flavor."
They all circled around him, weapons in hand, all but Loki who knelt while holding his scepter. He was pulling together as much magic as possible. Had to. This had to work.
The others soon discovered Thanos was very well prepared. Bullets had no effect but Natasha was not one to give up easily, continuing to reload and fire. The explosive rocket that Tony had aimed for him, Thanos electronically overrode in a nanosecond and sent it hurling into Hulk. The green giant was sent flying back, lying unconscious by one of the pillars.
"SHIT."
Thanos clamped down on Tony's wrist, preparing to hurl him a second before Mjolnir batted his hand away. Tony immediately used his thrusters to leap out of range. That was one mistake he wasn't repeating. Mjolnir turned in an arc back to Thanos but it never reached its target. The titan grinned suddenly and pressed a button. Like a lead weight the war hammer dropped to the ground, cracking the marble.
Chuckling deeply at Thor who couldn't hide his surprise. "Uru is not nearly as impressive once the harmonics of the chemical composition have been analyzed."
Tony lifted himself into the air. "Incoming."
Over the balconies and through the entrances Phalanx converged. Steve sent his disc flying, gun in his hand with Natasha at his flank. These creatures weren't nearly as hardy as Thanos.
Wolverine roared and ate up the distance, twin claws extended and ready to shred.
CLANG.
Thanos used his forearm to deflect the adamantium weapons that normally cut through anything.
Sigyn flowed the distance like water, her speed and agility keeping her out of Thanos' grasp but her sword was useless. She and Logan worked in concert to distract the titan, Hawkeye lining up for the perfect shot with his left eye. The arrow sung through the air, as easily caught by the titan as it had been for Loki. But unlike the trickster Thanos immediately threw the exploding arrow at Steve who suffered the brunt of the blast and went flying back through the entrance.
Volstagg ran in through the entrance moments later, his battle axe in hand. "Sorry for the delay, lads." He put it to good use, cutting through the Phalanx ranks with ease and clearly enjoying himself.
Tony frowned and lifted his HUD. "Let me guess. Parking."
Fandral spun, sword in hand. "Twas a very large dragon barring our entrance. She seemed to think we intended harm on her little one."
Sif huffed, sword and shield being put to good use. "It was Loki's brilliant idea to invite the dragons."
Hogun just shook his head and hefted his mace with deadly skill.
Volstagg frowned. "To be fair they have been doing a fair amount of good."
Steve came back in, powder burns on his uniform but not looking the worse for wear. He lifted his shield and hurled it.
Thor hefted Mjolnir, the hammer still working, it just was incapable of its more magical properties. But it was still a hammer and he used it. Thanos grunted, the hit to his chest solid enough to back him up a step. He formed twin fists and when Thor hit a second time electricity shot up his arm and brought him to his knees. Thanos lifted a boot, bringing it down hard and the thunderer agilely twisted out of the way, the marble cracking when his boot landed.
Natasha reloaded her gun, hand to her ear. "This isn't working."
Tony was concentrating on the remaining Phalanx, spinning in the air and blasting them when they pursued. "Yeah, noticed that."
Thanos turned his attention to walking forward, catching the bladed scepter aimed for his midsection. Grinning at Odin who was glaring. "I was wondering if you were going to join this battle."
Odin grit his teeth to keep a hold of Gungnir. "You will never succeed in this madness Thanos."
"And it is so amusing that you believe you can stop me." Thor came up to his father's left, hammer in hand. "You truly believe you and your simpering son have the power?" Loki stood up, his magic swirling and crackling around him. Thanos turned his eyes enough to see him. "Ah…Loki."
"This ends." Loki's eyes were narrowed, focused.
"Yes, I suppose it does. A pity, really." Giving Odin an amused look. "Did you enjoy his screams, Odin?" Odin's face lost what little color it had but he didn't flinch and Thanos continued to goad. "The whimpering boy crying for the father he loves who cares not for him. I sensed your gaze, did you enjoy his suffering? Watching as that hope that anyone in Asgard cared enough to rescue him fade. Watching him turn traitor to beg and plead-…"
Thor roared in fury, hitting his face with the hammer. The titan didn't even flinch.
Loki hadn't paid him any attention, knowing the things Thanos would say. He was tuned to the moment; soundless words crossing his tongue as he slowly raised his arms. The ground beneath their feet shook, the warriors 3 sharing grim smiles and working in concert to subdue these creatures. Thanos turned to see the green sparks seemed to ignite the trickster, green flames of magic licking at the air surrounding him, swirling around the scepter in his hand.
Loki muttered under his breath as if a soft prayer. "Please let this work."
With a snarl he threw everything that he had forward, the heat of the blast scorching enough that everyone flinched back. Thanos didn't even blink, lobbing a small metallic globe from under his glove at the magical storm. Enough magic to eviscerate a planet. Certainly enough to rend flesh from bone. Magic versus technology, the two met and collided. The sound was deafening and causing eyes to close or duck behind hands.
Loki stared in surprise, mouth open as the light faded. The metallic globe stopped humming and sealed, returning to Thanos' waiting palm. The trickster felt his knees buckle as his glamour shattered and caught himself on his hands. Thanos didn't even suffer a mark on his armor, so pleased.
"Malekith did have his uses, Jötunn runt. After all, I would never have been able to devise a defense against your parlor tricks were it not for him." Casually backhanding Steve who went flying, he pressed two buttons and hurled the globe at Loki who didn't even have the strength to block it.
But Odin took that opportunity out of his hands, standing in front of Loki.
The explosion was enough to singe stone, Odin flying back in one direction while the backlash toppled over the throne. Thor roared, hitting with an unrelenting volley. Thanos snickered even as Loki dragged himself the distance. "How pathetically predictable…say your farewells to your master, runt."
His glee turned into a glare as ice snaked out along the marble floor. It made traction difficult for the fighters, but the ice had a purpose. Thanos snarled as it grabbed at him, slowing him down to freeze his legs to the spot. The ice stopped sharply, spent. But it would buy time and that had been the purpose of the instinctive response.
An angry grunt caused heads to turn as Hulk lumbered to his feet and roared, his fists hitting the marble floor and leaving holes before charging forward.
Loki wasn't even aware of the ice or anyone else, focused on his father. The cuts and burns were superficial and not life threatening. Shakily he put his palms on the armor covering his father's chest. He could feel the internal damage, organs torn and bleeding. Loki felt something stick in his throat. Thanos had used his own magic to kill his father.
He should get up and help Thor but he was useless and he knew it. No strength. Just enough magic to survive. He should fight and protect what mattered most to him.
Love. Love mattered more than anything. Love is what brought him back home. It was his weakness, but it's what also made him strong. Doing nothing, he would watch his father die and his brother fail. Fight and he would die with them and Thanos would still win. He couldn't choose between the two, which gave him but one choice.
Swallowing thickly, tightening his right hand on his scepter, with his left he stretched outward to place his palm on his father's weakly moving chest.
A tear slipped free and he smiled as he closed his eyes. This was his purpose. This was what he was supposed to do. There wasn't enough magic left in him for anything except healing. Hopefully his father would succeed with might where he knew he would fail. Golden warmth glowed around him, sparkling against his palm as it spread to gently engulf the All-Father. Centuries flowed through that golden path, enough time to heal all wounds. There was no pain. No fear. Just peace and he gave it without regret.
Sif knelt down next to the king and prince. "Prince?"
The gold faded and Odin took a strong breath as the wounds faded and healed as if there had never been an injury. Her mouth slowly opened in wonder as Odin opened his eye to stare up at his son. "Loki…what have you done?"
Blinking, eyes opening, Loki smiled again and shrugged. "Saved you."
Face crumpling in regret. "Why?"
More tears fell but Loki didn't even notice. "Because I love you." Green eyes moving to Sif, not caring what he said anymore. All that mattered is that what was most important was said. "Be certain to tell Thor I love him."
He fell bonelessly back as his strength failed, caught by the warrioress and eased down. Sif looked back from one to the other. "What is it-what's happening?"
Odin sat up, fairly scrambled forward to take Loki's hand. "He gave me his magic."
Cold ice rushed through Sif's veins. "WHAT?"
It wasn't just magic that Loki had given him, but Odin wouldn't know the difference. It was the magic that all creatures carried inside of them to keep their souls anchored to their body. It wasn't something Odin would be able to give back, even if he knew how.
Taking in a breath. "Go assist Thor. Kill Thanos for Asgard…and Loki."
Gritting her teeth, with a growl she raced back into the fray but Odin only had eyes for his son who was looking at him with a curious little smile on his face. "Uh oh. I remember that look. I might be worried were I going to live past today."
Odin struggled to rumble. He struggled to do anything but weep. But his boy needed him to be strong so he would be. "My time to Valhalla will come soon enough, my son, and a sound reprimand will be waiting for you." He shook his head and gently moved an errant hair out of his face, tucking the ebony lock behind an ear.
Loki didn't want to see his father so sad. Lips pressed in a thin line to keep emotions at bay. A permanent furrow of his eyebrows. The slight tremble at the corner of his mouth. It was nice he would be mourned and remembered but he'd been responsible for enough of those lines. Sighing softly. "I suppose now is as good a time as ever to tell you it was my fault."
That soft confession distracted Odin. Frowning lightly. "What was your fault?"
His lip twitched just a little, not in memory because this particular moment had been one of his favorites, but to see a slight lightening in his father's features. "Thor and Fandral were brushing up on their sword work in the formal throne room. They were throwing one another against the pillars and a torch dislodged…"
Odin nodded slowly. "It caught the red runner on fire…"
"And scorched more than half of the golden throne." He tried to chuckle but it sounded like a sad cough. "You screamed at both of them for over an hour and confined Thor to his quarters for months."
"I recall it took months to see to the repairs but how is their rough housing your fault?"
Grinning weakly at his father. "I was working on my invisibility spells. They'd been ignoring me so I threw the torch." Loki grimaced suddenly, blue racing across his face briefly but he clenched his eyes and forced it back. He accepted and embraced his Jötunn side but of the two this was still his preferred appearance. Feeling Odin's palm brush his cheek startled him into opening his eyes.
"You needn't hide from me, Loki. My Jötunn son is a prince of Asgard and I am very proud of that fact." The tension melted away and his father didn't really even react to the cool blue skin against his palm, not even will able to keep his body from returning to its true state. "Oh, the songs they will write about you, Loki. The stories that I will tell your sons."
Swallowing thickly. "You'll look after them? All of them?"
One more time, was all he could think. He wanted to see them just that one last time.
One last smile.
One last laugh.
Odin nodded gravely, his words a vow he would not break. Words that he knew Thor would echo. "I swear on my life, Loki, your mate will never want for anything. Indel and Mischief will grow up brave and strong, both cunning and intelligent mages. Your little Talia will be the most glorious goddess in all of Asgard. They will make me almost as proud as I am of their father."
Whispering softly, slowly. It wasn't difficult to breathe…he was just so tired. "Look forward to it. Cannot wait to see mother…"
Odin wanted to close his eye and bow his head. He didn't. He couldn't. He'd missed so much already. Leaning forward as Loki slowly closed his eyes, pressing a kiss to his temple and whispering words he should have spent a lifetime giving. "You are loved, my son. I only wish I had told you more often."
Loki forgave him.
There was no point in the anger anymore. His father loved him. It was enough.
He heard the distant sound of a pair of shears snipping through thread, and of three voices weeping.
He was floating now, no longer able to feel his body as he took that last, slow breath before softly exhaling. As he did one word passed his lips. The most important word. "…fader…"
Sound faded.
Light faded.
Stillness.
The quicksilver prince slipped away.
MIDGARD
A hush had fallen over the command center that no one was willing to break. No one knew when it had started but it had stretched into a strange tension. No one could see or hear what was happening on a distant planet in an entirely different realm but mortal eyes glanced at one another as if feeling it.
Charles leaned back in his chair, elbows on the arm rests and the backs of the fingers of one hand touching his lips, staring off in the distance. His skill was tied to the thoughts of others, not nearly as sensitive to emotions. It wasn't to say that he couldn't feel them. Particularly when such a sharp emotion as anguish tore at the barriers of his mind.
Fury stood, his arms hanging at his sides. He took it all in but he said nothing. His thoughts were on his Avengers but there wasn't a damn thing he could do to help them. Their fate lay in their own hands and the lying hands of a man he wished he'd never met. And in a quiet, private part of his mind, the part that he never acknowledged because he was too old to believe in such shit…he hoped. He hoped the trickster was wrong about his fate.
Hela hadn't moved from her position, her eyes affixed upward as if she could see Asgard, millions of miles away. Neither man could tell how the battle was progressing by the lack of expression on her face. She was frozen in a moment of time that had lasted hours.
So when a single tear slipped down her face, Fury went to pour himself a drink.
ASGARD
"NO!"
Jane ran the distance, heedless of the danger. She skidded across the cracked marble, cradling Loki's head in her lap even as Odin silently stood with Gungnir in his hand and strode back into the fight with battle-edged determination. Tony had eyes only for his target, but he'd had JARVIS keep one eye on Loki at all times. He knew. He kept it out of his voice and his focus on the now, but hell spawn Barney was going to pay.
The last of the Phalanx were dead, every single one of them focused on Thanos.
Thanos laughed with glee, breaking free of the last of the ice as it melted. "And so the Jötunn runt is no longer favored by my beloved."
He shifted and his fist met Thor's hammer.
What is the name?
Jane kissed his forehead and carded through his dark hair, putting it all back in its proper place. Talia frowned and leaned forward, her ear resting over where his heart should be beating. Indel stood at her side, teeth bared in a snarl while the heroes of nine realms circled an impossible enemy. Mischief came up behind Indel, wrapping a protective arm around him and glaring viciously.
Jane batted at her ear as if to ward off a gnat, face crumbling in misery. He'd known. Somehow he'd known this was going to happen. Pulling in a shaky breath, tears dripping down her cheeks and off the edge of her trembling chin, muttering. "Stupid…stubborn…prince…"
Her finger traced along the circular marking along his forehead, a sob wrenching at her insides and pain tearing at her chest.
Jane remembered something but it was on the edge of her mind.
What is the name?
Her body started to rock rhythmically but even as she moved she felt like she was dividing within herself. Part of her wanted to scream and rage against death but another part of her mind was still turning.
Slowly she frowned. She was supposed to do something. Something important.
But all that she wanted to do was sit and weep and pretend that the universe wouldn't move on without him.
What is the name, Jane?
Talia looked up. "What is the name, mother?"
Indel and Mischief knelt down, staring up at her. "What is the name?"
Frowning and looking down at Loki, muttering softly as a question from what felt like a lifetime before suddenly slipped into her mind. "…what once was whole, strong and fair…" She brushed her fingers against his skin that whether it was pale or blue had never mattered to her. "…halved cleanly…" How can a whole be halved and yet still be whole? It was impossible…it wasn't geometry. It was a riddle. It was a name she would know. "…yet two walk away whole…" Hadn't she spent weeks and months and years studying Norse Mythology. And hadn't Loki told her time and again that only a fraction of those stories were real. And even the ones that were real only had a grain of truth to them. "What is the name of that who is daughter, yet birthed by none?"
Why was a name important?
Who cares?
Because the person was important. Someone powerful. Someone vital who knew this was going to happen. Someone who would save his life because he was needed and loved, not by her, but by them.
WHAT IS THE NAME?
What did it matter, saying a name?
Because it was the person who was needed here the most who had been locked out. Breathing slowly as it occurred to her the one person in the universe who was as powerful as Loki was, because she was a part of him.
She was mated to Loki, which made her as Asgardian as he was by bond, but she had no title or place yet and so no exile could be applied. She was the exception Hela had been waiting and planning for 704 years. She could feel magical weight against her tongue, warning her in speaking the name but she ignored it as she looked up. "Hela. Your name is Lady Hela, Queen of Hel and Goddess of the Underworld. Ruler of Helheim and Niflheim."
A sound filled the air, like a key clicking a lock open. Sif paused to look up before her head jerked around to stare.
The edict had been specific. No AEsir may say Hela's name on Asgardian soil, but only an Asgardian had the power to break the spell.
The figure knelt down over him, smiling that trickster smile as she did. "And as I call him father, you are worthy to be mother." Hela touched Jane's tearstained cheek lightly with her palm.
An unfelt wind blows the folds of her black cloak aside as she stood back up, revealing Asgardian armor black from the blood of thousands. The armor she'd worn to defeat the hoard of demons overrunning Helheim with Loki at her side. The scepter at Loki's side flew into her hand and a perplexed expression crosses Hela's face. She pushed her confusion to one side for now, concentrating on her target. Rolling her eyes, she reversed the staff and felt the pulse of power flow.
She jerked the staff down and Thanos' footing was lost, falling to the ground. Eyes turned to her, Tony's widening in delight but Hela was focused. With staff and arms outstretched she tossed him around like a ragdoll, Hulk grinning toothily. With a grunt of effort she sent a punch of power into his chest, Thanos tumbling back before rising to his feet. Inclining her head towards the remains of the metallic globe. "I might be willing to wager you don't have two of those." She grinned toothily. "Let's find out."
She hurled a volley of magic, her path unimpeded as she ripped a section of his suit off his body. He howled in pain, gripping at the raw section of skin left behind and her grin widened. She didn't say anything, repeating the process in removing the panels of his armor as painfully as possible, enjoying the chorus of his screams. The others just stood back to watch, looks of satisfaction on their faces.
Thanos collapsed to his knees, reduced to a loin cloth and nothing else, his technological masterpiece nothing more than a pile of useless scrap thrown about the room with the remains of his army. "Who are you, pitiful creature?"
Hela raised an eyebrow. "I believe I'm the one who just kicked your ass…who's the pitiful one?"
Tony smirked. "Oh yeah, you just got served."
The citrine Gem of Reality around her neck flashed and Thanos' eyes widened. "You had it!"
Grinning toothily. "If it makes you feel better it was his note."
A gesture and a wall of energy appeared on the right, denying the heroes access but also keeping Thanos from striking out. It firmed into the carefully constructed cage she'd made for him in Niflheim. Another gesture and the left was contained. Each gesture, another wall of the cage. Thanos turned his gaze, eyes blazing on her just as the last wall confined him in a cube on all sides.
"WHO ARE YOU?"
Smirking slightly as she walked slowly forward. "I shall tell you who you are. My slave. I will give you some company of course, Malekith would be so terribly bored if he didn't get to suffer with you. You are to be the permanent guest of my court in Hel, I am certain they will delight in your screams."
She spoke carefully, a long forgotten dialect of a moon called Titan and his face showed his horror as he understood her. "I am Hela of Helheim and Niflheim, Queen of the dead…and your beloved Lady Death. For I know you delighted in my father's screams and there are severe penalties for bringing suffering to my house."
His scream of rage and fear ended as soon as it started, cut off and lost as the shadows consumed him and he was sent to Hel.
ELSEWHERE
Loki opened his eyes and sat up before taking a look around. Light. Gold. It wasn't the throne room and he pulled himself to his feet. There was no feeling of weakness and he looked down at his hands. He'd never felt so light…dead. He was dead. His green eyes roamed around the vast emptiness. Where was he?
"Always the hard way, my son."
"Mother!" Whipping around with a bright smile, as soon as he saw that familiar golden hair he ran into her arms. Frigga tilted her head to the side a little as she laughed in joy. His hold was strong, as was her own, his head ducked down towards her shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
Shaking her head as her eyes danced, one hand moving to thread through his hair. "Foolishness."
"But what I said-…"
Sighing a laugh that was that comforting, indulgent sound he had often heard. "You think I listened to anything you said?" Kissing his cheek to calm him. "I know better than to listen to your words. You were still my son in your heart. You still loved me…I died knowing that. Never doubt love, Loki. You will always be my son because I love you."
Loki sighed softly in contentment and an eternity passed in an instant.
Lifting his head curiously, looking around. "Is this Valhalla?"
Amused laughter filled the air again. "No, this is merely a…hmm, there is a Midgardian term for it. Ah, a waiting room."
Frowning a little, not familiar of such a thing. Nothing that had ever been said about Valhalla or any of the other realms for the dead ever spoke of it. "Then what do we wait for?"
She pulled back now, a palm touching his cheek. "For Jane."
"Oh." Loki's eyes saddened, thinking about Jane, Mischief, Talia, and Indel standing on the shoreline, left behind to grieve. But it was a strangely distant sadness, because with death it was only a matter of time before they would be reunited.
Frigga turned and held out her arm. "Come meet him, precious one." Loki blinked in surprise, looking down at a little girl who stepped towards him and hesitantly smiled. He found himself echoing her. "This little one is called Freyja."
Loki gave his mother a curious look. "It means 'lady', does it not?"
The girl giggled and ducked behind Frigga, peeking out to glance at Loki. "I believe Hela chose her name wisely." His confusion deepened. "I am certain she can give you more details but just know that I will look after her for the whole of eternity."
"But…"
"Can I have a hug?" Little Freyja asked her question softly, a hint of longing in her voice.
He knelt down, Freyja wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She giggled and kissed his cheek before running to hide behind another figure. Loki's eyes widened as Azni smiled to him gently, lovingly, before both of them faded.
His mother's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Besides, this was the only way we could speak before you leave."
His smile fell as he shoved himself back to his feet. "Leave?" After all that, he was still going to Helheim?
Her grin turned impish. "If all goes according to our design, Jane will gain your life back and Thanos will find himself in a great deal of suffering until the end of time."
Protesting that he wouldn't get to stay. He was finally, finally at peace. "But I want to stay with you-…"
Frigga touched his cheek lightly with her palm. "Loki, you have an entire lifetime ahead of you with your family."
"Whose design?" He slowly frowned in thought. Hela's involvement in much of this he'd known and allowed but who else was involved?"
Impish grin growing. "You have some very powerful women in your corner, my son, are you surprised we've talked?"
Blinking. "You knew G'dath."
Laughing and shaking her head fondly. "Yes, but she is not the one I speak of. I knew Azni. And Hela."
Squeaking, horrified he'd underestimated her so badly. "You planned this?"
Brushing his jaw with her thumb. "It was your choice to make, but I had faith in you. We just wanted to be sure the reward was worth the work."
A plan that was involved enough and encompassing enough that it could drag him back from the brink of being eternally lost to hatred. A family of his own, as well as the family he thought he'd lost. A title. A home. Speaking of.
Looking pensively at her. "Do you know how long father can lecture when he's angry?"
Frigga threw her head back to laugh. "Well, do you not deserve it?"
"No." His expression was sour.
She raised a single eyebrow. "Loki?"
"No." He didn't even twitch.
She smiled and adjusted his collar. "Well, your father lectures because he loves you."
Sighing softly and rolling his eyes. Considering how long some of his lectures were his father must love him an awful lot. "I know…" Looking up. "I don't want to leave you."
Reaching up to kiss his temple. "You're not leaving me. I watched you on Alfheim. I watched your courage on Midgard. I watched your sacrifice on Asgard." Smiling. "Now I will get to watch you at peace, happy with my daughter-in-law. I will get to watch over my grandchildren. You will advise Thor as he reigns and your father steps down. I will live as you live and wreak mischief and one day in the far distant future you will join me here."
He wrapped his arms around her again and hugged her tightly for as long as he could, eyes closed.
ASGARD
The Avengers started shakily grinning but the AEsir all eyed Hela warily. She gave them a cold look before turning to the picture before her. Jane was sobbing softly, her fingers running through Loki's hair over and over again. Mortal grins slipped and the AEsir tentatively approached. Three little heads were resting on his chest, whimpering and crying.
Thor turned from where Thanos had been an instant before and dropped Mjolnir. "Loki!" He ran the distance, skidding across the cracked marble to a knee and immediately taking his hand, searching Jane's face. "What happened?"
Odin hesitantly laid a hand on his son's shoulder, his voice betraying him when it cracked. "I am sorry, my son…he granted me his life to save mine." Thor kept himself from flinching from his father's touch, his brow furrowing before tears slipped free and he silently wept without shame.
Tony tossed his helmet roughly to the side, running a hand through his hair. He did not sign up for five thousand years that didn't include the God of Mischief.
On reflex Fandral's head jerked down to the necklace around his neck, his face crumpling to see that the glass was empty. Sif pursed her lips to keep the burn in her eyes at bay while somber expressions slipped over Volstagg and Hogun.
Hulk frowned before shrinking suddenly, Natasha and Clint standing grimly next to one another. Steve put away his gun and bowed his head in silent pray. Sigyn sheathed her sword as Logan put away his claws, both of them as somber as the rest. In the distance, a roar of celebration and victory could be heard but no one had the heart to join in.
Hela reached into her dimensional storage and pulled out the spool of golden thread she'd borrowed from the Norns. Odin had averted his heartbroken gaze enough to see her and his blue eye widened. She turned over her empty hand and the end of a cut thread appeared in her palm. Several feet of the thread rested easily but there was no other end to it, as if it was connected to something on the opposite side.
She froze and locked eyes with him, no one but he hearing her. "Why should I give him back to you?"
He replied immediately, no one hearing his response to her. "His family needs him."
A single shoulder shrugged, her eyes staring into his soul. "Without doubt, but I can merely return him to Alfheim or Vanaheim and they can settle quite happily into a house there. That isn't my question. You had him for a thousand years and you failed miserably. How can you guarantee to me that this time he will be happy if I give him back to you?"
A million thoughts crashed together and yet none of it was proof. No matter what he said, he knew it wouldn't be good enough for Hela. She knew that as much as he wanted to, he didn't completely understand his son. And then the answer came to him. "I will ask him."
Her lip twitched in amusement, proud he'd finally figured it out. "Remember that, grandfather. No one knows Loki as well as he knows himself…save perhaps Jane." Hope bloomed on Odin's face and Hela winked, smoothing some of her stolen thread to the golden yarn cut short. The two sides fused together before it all vanished. It would all be absorbed back into the world tree, but because he chose death the knot had been circumvented, his fate irrevocably changed. Maybe in the far distant future fate will manage Ragnarok but it won't be through Loki or his line. It never can be again.
She was the queen of Niflheim and Helheim, not Valhalla. She couldn't order his return… but thankfully his body wasn't mortally damaged and Frigga was keeping his soul safe. Hela moved fluidly and knelt down, even as the mourning started, the tears and wishes that friendship and reconciliation could have happened sooner.
Their movements slowed, all but Jane's and his children since a visit from Lady Death was not witnessed lightly. Her porcelain white hands cupped his jaw, face now an expressionless mask. She studied his still features before leaning down and touching her lips to his, breathing life giving magic back into him.
Magic coiled in his form, nestling into his mind and heart and reaching outward to reclaim his soul. He gasped and bodily jerked as his markings faded back to smooth pale with a little bit of her help, green eyes flying open as Hela smirked just a little. Smiling wickedly while speaking softly. "It appears, father, you will be alive to hear that lecture after all."
Loki groaned weakly and three sets of eyes jumped to his face.
"Papa…" "Dada!" "Father."
They were gentle with him, afraid to hurt him, but covered him with some much needed hugs. Hela smiled gently at Jane who couldn't seem to get over the shock, holding Loki but her eyes moving back and forth between the pair of them.
Fear not, mother, he will only need rest but I have restored to him every single day that was sacrificed to heal grandfather.
Jane gasped and covered his face with kisses, her tears now from joy instead of sorrow while Hela returned the staff to his side. "Does he always hold it like this?" Loki shook his head slightly 'no' while Jane nodded a tired 'yes'. Narrowing her eyes at Loki. "You were holding it upside down, father." Jane laughed softly while Loki's eyes fluttered close, his sleep more peaceful than it had been in centuries.
With her hand through their hair, Jane gentled their distress and worry until the tears slowly dried on their young faces. Time reasserted itself as Hela stood back up, no one else aware of what had transpired except Odin. Indel tugged lightly on Jane's bracer. "Dada doesn't like cold floors, they make his cranky."
Jane sniffed and nodded, unwilling to take a hand off of Loki to wipe away her tears. "You're right." Her brown eyes flicked in Thor's direction. "Thor, can you help me move him?"
Thor looked up slowly before nodding as he swallowed hard, tears dripping and tangling in his beard. "Of course. There are…preparations…"
Frowning slightly, not really understanding the significance and not really caring. Bed and bath were currently very high on her priority list. "Well, you can prepare for a feast after you move him to bed, I really want to get him out of those dirty clothes…that didn't sound nearly as bad in my head."
Natasha frowned, not the first to realize the disconnect but the one unafraid to ask. "Jane…you do realize he's dead?"
Indel nodded, sniffing and wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "Yep, and then big, big sister came and kissed him…which was weird, but it brought him back."
Clint and Steve cried in unison. "What?"
"Was it hot?"
We all know who asked that.
Thor's hands shook, reaching out to stroke Loki's temple. It registered that his brother's skin had warmed. "He's alive?"
Understanding broke across Jane's face. "Yes." She smiled gently at the trickster queen. "Hela said he just needs rest but he'll be just fine."
Cries of relief echoed through the throne room, Sif letting out a whoosh of breath and leaning forward with hands on her knees. A brief contest of wills ensued over who would carry him and Odin won by default with Jane's approval.
Fandral met Hela's eyes an instant before she gave him a weak smile and vanished.
NOTES:
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I'm going to enjoy my day off, hope everyone does as well.
NEXT:
I think we need a wedding as I tie up the last of the loose ends.
