Scene 60
Breka has left, breaking the veil in the process, and Loki stares after him for an eternity. He knows the queen meant well. He knows it's his own fault. And he knows he can't stay. He sends an illusion to the queen's private chambers telling her as much, and then he leaves the palace and shifts to wolf form. The golden halls have never really felt like home, and now they have lost every appeal they might have had.
Scene 61, montage
Loki roams the woods as a wolf and shifts to bird form from time to time, completely avoiding his human form. He sees Fenris from afar once but keeps his distance. When he finally brings himself to check in on Angrboda their daughter is born, as a raven, like Angrboda predicted, and already fledged. Angrboda would like him to stay for a while but he declines.
"I will be back, but it's not time yet."
"What are you waiting for?"
Loki doesn't know, or he doesn't say. Angrboda is worried about him because even though he looks physically fine, his eyes are empty. Lost. She tells him once more that he's welcome under her roof but he just nods and takes off again.
Scene 62
The next time Loki shows up at Angrboda's house she sits him down in her kitchen.
"I have a message for you."
"You do?"
"Yes. Breka was here two days ago."
"A message from the queen again?"
"No. I think it's more—personal."
Loki's head snaps up.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Angrboda grins.
"It was kind of cryptic but I'm almost certain—anyway. Apparently you two talked about that horse of his?"
"Yes?"
"Breka said he's still not healing properly. The horse, that is."
Loki's heart starts beating so fast he's getting dizzy.
"Any idea what he means?" Angrboda asks, but she's still grinning.
Loki gets up and kisses her.
"Thank you," he whispers, and a moment later he's gone.
Scene 63
Loki stops at the doors to the queen's chambers.
"Is the queen present?" he asks the guards.
One of them nods.
"Yes, my lord. Shall I announce you?"
"Yes."
The guard nods again and enters.
"My queen, Prince Loki is here to see you."
Frigga looks up from the papers on her desk and starts smiling.
"Let him in!"
The moment Loki enters the room she throws her arms around him.
"Loki! Oh I've missed you so much, my beautiful son."
He goes stiff for a moment, but eventually he relaxes into the embrace, pulling her close.
"I missed you too," he murmurs and kisses the top of her head. "Is the all-father still..."
Frigga steps back and nods.
"Yes. The healers are beginning to think that he might not wake up."
"I'm sorry," Loki says softly.
"Thank you."
For a moment there's silence between them, and then Frigga offers her son a seat. He sits down and looks at her.
"I need to understand what you did to me. How you made me Asgardian. It was you, wasn't it?"
Frigga looks pained, but she nods.
"Yes. It was. Your father and I—Odin and I decided you needed a disguise, so I changed your magical core. Jotun to Asgardian."
Loki steels himself.
"And you must have altered my memories."
Frigga closes her eyes and nods again.
"How many times?"
"A few times. When we feared you'd find out."
"You could have just told me."
"Yes. We should have. I'm sorry, Loki."
Loki takes a few deep breaths.
"Show me. I need to know everything you've kept from me."
When Frigga is done she gently touches his cheek.
"I don't know if you can ever forgive what we've done to you, Loki, but please believe me that I love you. Did you come back for this conversation only? Or is there anything else?"
Loki looks at her pensively. After a moment he straightens.
"Yes, there is something else."
He sinks to one knee, his fist on his heart.
"My queen, should you still wish to have me as a counsellor at your court, I'd be happy to accept your offer."
It takes her a moment, but then she smiles widely.
"Yes! Yes of course I still want that."
She takes his hands and pulls him up. Looking up at him, still smiling, she says:
"I'm glad you came home, son. And I can really use your help."
Scene 64, the stables
"Is it really the horse that needs me?"
Loki steps through the stable door with a smile that almost hides his nerves. Breka looks up, and for a long moment they just look at each other.
"I got your message," Loki says softly, moving a little closer to the horse, his eyes never leaving Breka's.
"Careful, he—"
"—doesn't trust easily, I know."
Breka swallows.
"Thank you for coming back. I know it must have been tough."
"Especially since someone made it very clear he didn't want me here."
Breka blushes.
"I'm sorry for that. In fact I'm sorry for a lot of things I said to you. I was rash, and unfair."
"You were hurt."
Breka looks down for a moment, but then he nods.
"Yes. I was. Which was the point, right? Hurt me enough to push me away."
"Before you find out the truth and push me away, yes. Hurt or be hurt. I'm sorry, Breka. You didn't deserve that. I should have given you some credit. Tell you the truth and trust you."
Breka takes a step closer.
"I can see why that was difficult. I mean right after—maybe you were right to assume I would have reacted badly."
"Still. I had no right to make that decision for you, and I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to earn your forgiveness?"
"No."
When he sees the look on Loki's face Breka hurries to explain:
"I mean there's no need. For compensation I mean. Just—please stop lying to me, all right?"
Loki nods.
"All right."
"I've missed you," Breka says, "I need you in my life. I was an idiot to tell you otherwise. Will you stay?"
Loki starts to smile. He nods again.
"I just talked to the queen. I accepted her offer. This is home after all."
Breka closes the distance. After a moment's hesitation he opens his arms and Loki falls into his embrace.
"I love you," Loki murmurs right into Breka's ear.
"You've never said that before."
"I know. I had it on the tip of my tongue so many times, but I always swallowed it. And then I hurt you so badly and now I don't know if you even want to hear it any more but it's still true. I love you."
Breka pulls back.
"What about Angrboda?"
"What I have with her has nothing to do with you and me, Breka."
"Do you love her?"
"Yes. It's different from the way I love you, but I do. Her and our children."
Breka looks at him for a few heartbeats. Loki gently traces Breka's jawline.
"What about you? Can you handle the fact that I have other obligations? I might still have to get married some day."
Breka lets go and takes a step back.
"Right. Sigyn. Do you love her?"
"That was never about love. If it ever happens it will be a political marriage. You should see the paperwork..."
Breka thinks about it for a while. And then he reaches out and caresses Loki's face.
"But you do love me."
"With all my heart."
"Until Ragnarok."
Loki's throat closes, so he just nods. Breka leans in and kisses Loki, pulling him close, and tears of relief run down both their faces.
"I love you," Breka whispers between kisses. "I love you so much."