In the evening Sif was honestly exhausted.
There were so many new experiences to take in, everything had gone so quick.
She had been walking the wilderness of Vanaheim while fuming and cursing Lokis name. Swearing that she was going to kill him the next time she saw him.
That was obviously not what happened… Not for a lack of trying though. Sif had managed to chase Loki a good half kilometre before finally he had managed to shout.
"THOR IS IN DIRE NEED OF YOUR HELP!"
Finally Sif had calmed down and agreed to enter Ygdrasils branches with Loki. As it turned out though Loki didn't really appreciate being chased for half a kilometer and she was dropped into the snow of Jotunnheim.
"The Jotunn warriors has agreed to help us, just follow their lead. See ya!" Had been Lokis last words as he vanished and Sif had hopelessly thrown herself at him though he was already gone.
Things were different now… The battle at Asgard. It was burned into Sif's mind. Thors bloodied body on the ground with the Titans foot on top of it. Sif couldn't move, if she attacked Thanos would just step down and squash Thors head.
The horror in Lokis eyes had been real and then… Loki had shattered the Tesserect and picked up the stone inside of it with his bare hands.
She had seen it, the blue light spreading across his body as a spiderweb and Loki had been screaming, it looked like it hurt him. Hurt a lot, but he didn't let go. Even as he screamed he summoned that power and took them all to safety.
Loki had known what would happen. Sif had seen that in his eyes as he shattered the Tesserect, he knew where it would lead.
And then at the camp Sif heard the stories.
How Loki had personally gone to Asgard to find hiding Asgardians and bring them home one by one, each travel was one where he risked his own life.
She was told by Hogunn how they had blown up the bridge Bifrost and how close they had been to death while Loki insisted that they held on instead of running.
Even Jotunns seemed to acknowledge Lokis bravery, and as Sif finally sat down with the cold blue giants she started to realize… Jotunns really weren't that bad at all.
Here they were alone in a strange and foreign land, in a camp surrounded by their own enemies and yet they kept their own heads high. They didn't ask for anything, just kept to themselves and minded their own business.
And when Sif approached them, they let her….
Everything was so confusing, nothing was the same.
Odin was dead and Thor was king now, this time it was for real. No Odin who could step in when Thor was out of his depth, no Frigga to calm Thor down.
Sif sympatized, never had she realized what Thors position actually meant… Finally she started to realize. And realized they had been lucky that Thor himself had started to realize some years ago and had started to grow accordingly. He was not the same man he ones had been.
Looking at him it was obvious, long gone was that bright youthful man with not a single scar on his perfect face.
He had become rugged, war torn from countless battles. The arrogance he could no longer afford was long since left behind. One eye was missing, covered in an eyepatch and there were many other scars marring his body.
The beforehand beautiful shining armour that had been Thor was now dirty and dented, scratched up and caked in blood and yet… Sif had never felt a stronger desire to just be there for him.
Her own desires had changed as well. In the past, she had desired for him to see her. To shower her with compliments and give her his undivided attention.
And Sif could not deny jealousy had filled her when all he seemed to do was boasting about himself and talking about anyone else than her. Mostly Loki…
Now that didn't matter. Sif just wanted to help this man, to support him in what ever way she could.
If he would never see her, it didn't even matter. Her duty was to help him and she was glad she was given that privilege.
"So I was wrong about you." A sophisticated voice came and Sif twirled around to see a young god of mischief in green.
Sif's eyes widened. "Prince Loki."
"I was convinced." Loki began. "That you would be forever stuck pining for Thors attention like a little bird strodding its feathers for any attention. But not realizing that Thors gaze would never turn to you…"
Sif stood still, her body rigid.
"I was wrong…" Loki commented. "The little bird stopped its strodding and showed its true colours. Now it is satisfied just being nearby and able to aid the big brute, settled with the knowledge he may never see but choosing to be there anyway. And what do you know, in return the big oaf finally took a glance didn't he?" he asked. "After all these years."
Sif swallowed, her body shaking and then she fell to her knee with bowed head. "My prince!" she said.
Loki stood still in front of Sif… Well, it was his projection but things were the same. There was silence as Sif was on the ground and Loki standing in front of him.
"Forgive me!" Sif stated. "I wronged you. I thought you would be the end of Asgard, but you saved it! Over and over. You gambled your own life to safe Thors! I saw it with my own eyes. I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Loki sighed deeply. "We've all been forced to grow up in recent years haven't we?" he asked.
Slowly Sif dared to look up, proving her eyes were misty. And as she saw Loki, she saw it on him to. Even if this was only a projection of Lokis true self the signs were obvious. Loki looked exhausted, burned out from countless of trials and battles. There was a shadow in his eyes, a shadow of exhaution and sorrow. His thin pale face looked almost sickly and his shoulders heavy as if he was carriying an inhuman burden.
Another soul who had ones been bright and carefree was long gone, and this man had taken its place.
"With the all father and all mother gone. Now we are the adults, whether we like it or not." Loki said. "And this is no time to allow old grudges to get in the way. Please stand up Lady Sif, I have no quarrel with you."
Sif rose up as she faced Loki. "Then why are you here?" she finally asked.
"I have a request." Loki said.
Sif nodded.
"It is not an easy one." Loki said.
"It is my duty to aid." Sif said. "As long as it's not to hurt any Asgardian or goes against King Thors orders. Whatever you request is my duty to adhere."
Loki smirked. "Always so formal Sif."he commented.
"It is a royal request is it not?" Sif asked.
"In a way." Loki commented then sighed deeply. "Sif… I do not know if I will be able to recover."
And Sif's eyes widened. "What?" she asked.
"Believe me, I'll do what I can. But I do not know. And the more I work, the more unlikely I find it." Loki sighed. "It looks like… I will be crippled for life. This means… I will no longer be able to help protect Thor. Thanos will arrive soon, and I will be confined to that infernal bed! Then there is Thanos, and it is uncertain if he is finished with me at all. I am not convinced he is satiesfied with this punishment for me."
"What are you saying?" Sif asked.
"I am saying…" Loki said. "Odin and Frigga are both dead. Thor no longer has any parents. His only brother is chained to a bed. I am no support, not any more. I am asking you… To be there for him." he said.
Sif's eyes widened.
"I am asking you to be there." Loki said. "Protect him. Even from his own foolishness. There are no one left. So you must be his family now."
Sif swallowed as she stood.
"Do you accept this task?" Loki asked.
Sif took in a deep breath then looked up. "No." she said.
Loki blinked clearly surprised by her answer, he almost fell back. Then he frowned. "Care to explain?"
"It is my duty to follow your orders as long as it doesn't hurt any Asgardian." Sif stated. "You are trying to give yourself an out, a way so it would be okay for you to leave Thor behind. Thor is an Asgardian. No." she said. "The truth is simple Prince Loki. I would never be able to replace you in Thors heart. No one in the entire universe would!" she said. "You want me to be the one to jump in and fill his void thus fulfil my own desires?" she asked. "No! You got me wrong. I desire to see Thor happy not broken and in despair! I've seen him, when you fell from the bridge. He became a broken man. I don't ever want to see that happen again." Sif sucked in a breath. "And I will even admit, I resented you for it back then. I hated to see you hurt Thor like you did. I for the life of me could never understand why he kept protecting you regardless." Sif sighed deeply. "It is obvious now though. Thors love for you is real. He always believed you could be someone great. I didn't believe it myself... As it turned out. Thor was right. Asgard owes you its life, over and over. Not only does Thor need you. We need you! Asgard needs you. Damned with personal feelings and slights in the past. So… Prince Loki that means. I will not allow you to die!" she stated. "Or wither away. You will regain your former strength, you will survive and walk again. Or so help me I shall chase you all the way to Helheim myself to drag your sorry ass back to the world of the living. You want an easy way out?" she asked. "I am not giving it to you. No!"
Loki blinked clearly astounded.
"You are Loki Silver Tongue!" Sif stated sternly pointing at him. "Prince of Asgard! The greatest sorcerer of his own generation! Giant slayer. Monster tamer. Illusionist master! Shapeshifter supreme. World walker. Creator of wonders. And you will make this little thing stop you?" she asked. "Did I think to much of you?" she asked in a dry tone. "Are you that Prince, or are you that pathetic little whelp I accused you of being all those years?"
Loki looked at Sif, his face stern, his lip twitching and then suddenly an chuckle escaped his lip, and then he laughed.
Sif held her ground, her eyes stern.
"I had you wrong, by the norns I had you wrong Sif!" Loki laughed. "Baiting me now are we? To force me to stay around? Taunt me so I will fight back? I see, it is also what you did in the hospital. You are willing to use dirty tricks to get me back in line. To make me raise up."
"I'm willing to do whatever I can." Sif stated. "For Asgard!"
"And if I recover, you would be competing with me for Thors heart. Forever." Loki pointed out.
"Thors heart belongs to only him, he decides who he wants to give to." Sif stated. "More so… Thors heart is large. Very large, he has room for more than one. After all, seems like his heart belongs to all of Asgard, all of Midgard. He has even given a piece of his heart to Jotunnheim. And so many others. If you are a person whom cannot share, Thor really isn't the man you should fall in love with. Beside he is king, his duty is to the people first. Any lover can only ever be second, that is the nature of a king. If one cannot accept that, one should not fall in love with Thor." she smiled. "Though admittedly, it is hard not to. I think exactly because his heart is so very large."
"Hmm." Loki smirked amused. "Aye, there's something about that." he admitted. "You got a point." then he shook his head. "Forgive me Sif, I suppose I allowed my fear to guide my actions."
"You're scared…" Sif breathed. "It is… unlike you to admit such a thing."
"Thanos terrifies me." Loki admitted in a whisper. "The idea of being stuck to that bed with a Titan looming over me… It haunts my mind. Yes, I am terrified." he said. "However you words has given me vigour." he said. "Thank you Lady Sif."
Sif fell to her knee her head bowed. "I am pleased I could be of service my Prince."
"Please protect the dumb oaf." Loki asked. "I can't be around to protect him from acting before thinking these days. You must think for him. I know you can, you have always been smarter than many gave you credit for."
And Sif smirked as she looked up. "Thank you my Prince. That I promise you I will do!"
Loki smirked as he at last vanished from the spot leaving Sif alone, now determined to full fill her duty.
