The events in this chapter are synced with events in the movie Thor: Dark world
6 months later...
His ship, large, looming, imposing, drifted through the space between the stars, on the prowl, on the hunt. His mission was a holy one, no matter how much blood had to be spilled to see its fruition. Even more would be necessary to buy the salvation of this universe he haunted.
His current objective was finding the necessary tools to make his task easier; small, shiny bits of power that seemed innocuous at first glance, but would make him a god untouchable by all.
A god of death.
A god of justice.
A god of... balance.
Stones, they were called, the Infinity Stones, and they'd been scattered across the cosmos protected or hidden or lost.
But he would find them.
And now, thanks to a convenient little "ally" who's mind he'd found most advantage to search through, he had a promising lead on one of these stones.
Though this one did not call itself that.
It called itself... a jewel.
A Jewel of Souls.
Perhaps the universe was smiling on him, and the Soul Stone would be his at last.
———————
Another damn party. Another celebration of victory she was skipping entirely. Instead, Kagome curled up in her usual spot in the bifrost gate with a cushion under her legs and a blanket drawn up over her head. A book lay open in her lap and her eyes roved over the page, but she didn't really see or take in any of the words. She felt too tired, too wilted... too angry.
She couldn't believe the one being on this rock that was supposed to be her biggest ally, her best friend, her brother would agree to leave her in the dark over not only Loki's life, but his return to Asgard.
'As if I wouldn't figure it out. Seems I'm still being underestimated.'
She huffed out a sigh and Heimdall chuckled a deep, husky chuckle. His amusement pricked at her volatile temper, and she jumped a little faster than she liked for a new target to turn it toward.
"What is so funny?"
"You are angry at our prince for his willingness to keep secrets, yet, you still gift me with the privilege of your company despite also keeping secrets. I knew what he knew. I also did not tell you. You have no ire for me. The whims of your will are perplexing even for one who can see so much."
She snorted and flipped back a few pages in her book, needing to backtrack and reread. Her distraction was deep today.
"Yeah well, you know everything and say almost nothing. It's just part of your job. I can't blame you for that."
"Hm." He contemplated for a moment, staring out over the vastness of the night over the land he protected with his every breath.
"Is it not the 'job' of an heir to keep his father's council?"
"Is a husband not also the council of his wife?"
"Duty has been previously skirted and trust is still tenuous. You would advise him to subvert his role again so soon?"
Kagome hesitated for a moment, remembering the guilt and agony that Thor unmistakably felt when she'd found out about his betrayal. He'd felt awful about it, and Heimdall had a point, she would grudgingly admit. He was still in a bit of hot water after the frost giant thing and his banishment.
But she wasn't done being angry. Discovering Loki was alive had burst that deep, unending well of grief inside her and drained it so fast it was dizzying. And then it had abruptly filled with rage so consuming to know her so called family would keep her ignorantly suspended in that grief. While she had managed to float up through the waters of loss and sadness some over the last two years of Loki's absence, she'd been roughly plunged right back to bottom again, and anger burned much hotter than grief. Swimming back up again seemed futile and exhausting.
She cut a look toward Heimdall, and she knew he could see despite having his back turned. He could see everything, after all.
"Are you meddling Heimdall? That's not really fair, you know. You know too much to meddle impartially."
"Meddling is never impartial." He sighed and the sound of it was so ancient and sad Kagome's heart constricted. "I know too intimately all the times of strife ahead. I like to inspire some peace in the interim."
She rolled her eyes and readjusted her blanket.
"Heimdall: sees all. Keeps the gate. Meddles, but only in peace."
He chuckled again and Kagome would bet his eyes were shining. It was better than that awful, lonely sound he'd made before.
"A nice revision of my job description little queen."
"Ugh, are you ever going to stop calling me that? I was queen for like five minutes."
"Once a queen of Asgard, always a queen of Asgard."
She couldn't help her laughter. Being connected to the nine realms meant Heimdall knew pop culture. It was something that never failed to tickle her, hearing such a powerful, somber man reference something popular or silly from her home planet. No one else understood them, so she knew he did it just to cheer her up.
"Asgard is not Narnia."
"Nevertheless, I am here to serve you."
"Thanks for always trying to make me feel better. There are many who wouldn't believe this, but you're a very thoughtful friend, Heimdall. Can I... can I have just one secret?"
He took a moment to consider all the ramifications, knowing exactly which question she would ask already, but there was always an opportunity to teach someone to look deeper into their own thoughts and motives.
"That would depend on which secret you would like."
There were a lot of secrets she would like, truth be told, but she wouldn't be greedy, and she would not take advantage of Heimdall's gifts or his kindness.
"Did he... did he at least want to tell me?"
"I could answer your question... or he could. He comes."
Sure enough, if she reached out far enough, she could feel Thor's presence coming down the bifrost.
'He's leaving his party? He's still sad. He's going through a lot, too... Maybe I'm being selfish?' Guilt gnawed around the edges of her conscience but she ignored it resolutely. This was still so fresh, there was no harm in holding on to her sour feelings just a little bit longer.
Thor paused and eyed her nervously when he entered the bifrost gate, and she clutched her blanket more snuggly around her shoulders, tears already stinging hotly in her eyes.
"Kagome, I-"
She turned her back to him abruptly, shutting him out and ignoring him.
"Alright. If you won't talk, at least listen. I wanted to tell you we'd found him. Under any other circumstances I would have. But I'm in no position to go against my father right now, my trustworthiness is tenuous at best. Believe me, leaving you in that state of grief... I never wanted that for you. I wanted so badly to tell you the one thing I knew would banish it from you. I am... I am sorry, and I only hope that you'll know my sincerity and forgive me. That you will not hate me forever."
Her tears fell then, tears of resentment and hurt scorching down her cheeks, burning like acid, and she knew. She would forgive him. She was too damn forgiving.
She sighed, closed her eyes, and hugged her arms around herself.
"I could never hate you. And I will forgive you just... not now. Not yet."
If she cared to look, he would have glowed with relief, but she ducked her head and walked past him. Feeling his relief was enough, and she didn't care for it yet.
"Little queen."
She stopped and turned back, meeting Heimdall's endless eyes as he stared so intently into her, silently pleading with her to listen. She could feel his urgency and her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Yes Heimdall?"
"It's dangerous to go alone."
More pop culture, but this time his intent wasn't to cheer her up, but to get her attention.
'What is he saying?'
She searched his face, tired of secrets and puzzled and riddles, but nodded with a small smile anyway.
Before she'd made it all they way back up the bifrost, the gate activated and opened, and Thor was gone.
———————
Another crop of new prisoners paraded in, some ugly things, probably from somewhere just as ugly. They were crowded into a cell all together, left to mill around and try not to bump into each other. He glanced around his own cell. Situated on a corner, it was a bit bigger then the others, and he'd been provided some things for comfort. And most importantly, he was alone. No sharing for the disgraced prince of Asgard.
It was... something, if not a comfort.
"The books I sent, do they not interest you?"
'Mother?'
The image of her stood regal and lovely in his little cell, and he longed to go to her, but his pride kept him away.
"Is that how I am to while away eternity? Reading?"
"I've done everything in my power to make you comfortable, Loki."
"Have you? Does Odin share your concern? Does Thor? It must be so inconvenient, them asking after me day and night."
Cheap shots, childish taunts, apparently he wasn't done lashing out. It disgusted him to still be so affected by it all.
"You know full well it was your actions that brought you here."
"My actions." He stared off as memory of the tearing, searing pain of that scepter ripping through his mind came back. He shuddered and stared down at his feet, his boots black against the pure white floor.
Pure...
His father and brother may not care about his wellbeing down here, but there was someone...
"And Kagome?"
His mother sighed and his heart stilled for a moment. It was possible even she didn't care anymore. No doubt she'd learned of his most recent actions since discovering he was still alive, she would probably be-
"She has not inquired after your well being, but then, she will not speak to any of us. She was very hurt by what she saw as our betrayal."
He felt foolish for ever doubting her, and a tiny bit of warmth curled through him that he still had someone's caring.
"Was it not betrayal? Did she have no right to know of my survival?"
"You know your father always has a purpose for what he-"
"Yes yes, a purpose. Always has a purpose. But what purpose other than cruelty could there be to keep her shrouded in grief?"
"Your father thought it best-"
"He is not my father! And it is not best to keep us apart!"
She stared into his soul, reading him in ways only she as his mother could.
"And am I not your mother."
Old hurt flared up again and made him defiant, belligerent. Would he ever be done lashing out?
"You are not."
"Always so perceptive about everyone but yourself."
She held out her hands to him, and immediately he felt guilty. He reached out for her, but he passed right through her. He watched her shimmer away, and went back to being alone.