Book 3: Fate's Design, Fate's Decay

*250 years later, Kagome has been on Asgard roughly 500 years

Loki paced outside the family sitting room listening to Kagome try to reason with his brother. She could "call him on his shit," as she referred to it, much more bluntly than any of the rest of them could, so if someone was going to get through to him it would be her.

But by the sound of things, it wasn't going well. There was yelling, there was stomping, though he wasn't worried for Kagome's safety. While his brother was impulsive and certainly enjoyed resorting to violence, he loved Kagome and would never harm her. If anyone in that room was in physical danger it was certainly Thor. Kagome may not have been as naturally physically strong as they were, but he'd seen what happened to those who underestimated her for any reason.

He shuddered at a memory before he resumed his eavesdropping.

Though eavesdropping wasn't a very good term, they knew he was out there, especially Kagome.

Supervising. He was supervising.

"I will always do what is necessary to keep Asgard safe from all harm as is my right as king. I will not be questioned!"

"Well you aren't king yet, buster, and if you think I'm just going to suddenly keep my mouth shut because you get a fancy crown then I don't know what to tell you. Prepare to be disappointed!"

Loki smirked. His wife certainly had a lot of nerve. It had been endlessly entertaining in their years together. The longer she'd been on Asgard with them, the less reverence for them as gods she had, and the more "in their place" she was willing to put people who looked down on her, not that there were many. Mostly people visiting from elsewhere. But it never ceased to make him proud that she was his.

"You have no idea what it takes to rule and protect something like this Kagome. I will fight to keep our homeland safe!"

"EXCUSE ME?!"

Loki winced. Nothing good ever came from Kagome taking that tone with anyone. He may end up an only child after all.

"Have you forgotten where I came from? Why I'm even here in the first place?! I know exactly what it means to give everything for your homeland! I lost everything fighting to keep my home and family safe! Don't you ever tell me-"

"Kagome I'm sorry, I-"

"And another thing! No one is trying to tell you never to fight. We're trying to tell you that rushing straight to war over every little slight is dangerous. Maybe you aren't the only one who knows things, Thor. Maybe!"

"GGRRRRAAAHH!" Thor growled, and then something slammed down on a table.

"Kagome you are so-!"

"I'm so what?! Helpful?! I'm trying to help you!"

"No! You sound just like him! You've been speaking with father, haven't you? He put you up to this!"

Kagome snorted and Loki could just see her crossing her arms, rolling her eyes...

"Your father doesn't put me up to shit. I do what I want!"

Loki smirked with pride.

'She got that from me.'

"I don't have time to deal with this anymore. I've got a meeting with father."

The sitting room door slammed open and Thor stomped out, not sparing him even a passing glance. Kagome drifted out, wilted and sad, tired tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.

She stared at him and shrugged, and he opened his arms. She ran into him, hunkering down in his embrace, sniffling against his clothes.

"That went well."

She glared up at him, and though his own thoughts were darkening, he couldn't help but smile down at her.

"I could try to convince father to postpone things again, but he writes me off as the jealous younger brother and refuses to listen."

Her frown deepened again and she sighed, relaxing bonelessly against him, trusting him to hold her up.

"He really could be a good king, if he'd learn to listen. I know he loves Asgard, and all of us... he really does want to do what's best.

But he also wants the glory of war. War is... not something you do for glory. I'm worried about him. I'm worried about... I'm just worried."

He tilted her face up, meeting her eyes, and she felt breathless at the depth of sincerity in them. No flickers or swirls of mischief, only endless fathoms of love and honesty.

"Remember what you told me before, we're in this together. I will never let any harm come to you, no matter what."

The faintest hint of rose bloomed across the bridge of her nose, and she wordlessly rested her cheek back over his heart, closing her eyes with a tired sigh.

She'd told him once that she liked listening to it drumming away, proof of his life. He scratched at her scalp and he felt some of her tension wither away.

He heard the servants begin preparing the family dining hall for the next meal, which meant another family table meeting about the upcoming coronation. The last few had been wrought with tension since Thor's last disagreement with their father over how to handle a slight from another kingdom. Odin wanted to maintain peace at all costs, Thor wanted to set an example... it had all been a mess ever since.

And it was made ever more clear to Loki that he'd never truly had his father's respect, as any and every suggestion that Thor was not ready was swiftly and harshly shut down.

"Thank you, Loki. I love you."

Determination hardened in his heart.

Something had to be done. Soon.

He would make his father see, he would prove himself.

He would keep them safe.

He would keep her safe.

Something had to be done.