Thor… Could not help it, his eyes were constantly on Loki.
He recognized this, he had seen it before.
Loki's anger, burning deep inside of him, hate showing in his eyes, a desire to spite and get back at those who had wronged him.
This time though, the anger was not turned towards Thor himself, this time… Odin had the undivided honor of it.
And Loki didn't even know half of it yet.
Thor only hoped Loki would remain rational, now that he fully well knew what Loki was capable of.
Loki's anger had blinded him before, he had given into his burning desire for revenge, just to spite those he hated.
He had tried to take over Midgard just to spite Thor and Odin!
Or… perhaps not. Thor with a shudder remembered what Nebula had told him, Loki had initially refused Thanos, once again out of spite.
It had taken an Infinity Stone to bend him, the Mind gem. What had happened though was that the spite he already had had been fed some more it seemed.
Thor could not forget the pure hate in Loki's eyes. How he had stood in chains in front of Odin, but he hadn't looked the least bit sorrowful. Remorse might as well have been a foreign concept to him. He had been defiant and spiteful. He was not going to apologize nor excuse his actions on Midgard, he just wanted to hurt Odin and Thor in whatever way he could.
Thor had no doubt that if Odin had come close enough, Loki would have spit him in the face!
And it looked like Loki wasn't totally above that right now either as they moved across the old ancient catacombs placed on an uninhabited desolate planet.
In Loki's hand was a golden cylinder, Thor had informed Loki about the Aether, how it was indeed the Reality Stone but in a liquefied state. Almost sludge-like.
It was obvious that for it to be safe to carry Infinity Stones around, they needed containers. So Loki had built one which he was now holding, then finally they were there, in front of the obelisk with the energy swirling around.
"So that's it?" Loki asked. "The dark elves' greatest treasure and weapon which King Bor of Asgard stole from them and hid here?" he asked. "Has a familiar ring to it, does it not?" he asked.
"Are you referring to.. .The casket of ancient winters?" Thor asked.
Loki smirked. "So which race do you intend to fight Thor?" he asked. "It seems to be a family tradition, pick a race, wage war, take their big treasure secret weapon thing and hide it away."
"I… I'd rather not do that," Thor informed. "Honestly, all these old wars have done is leaving messes behind we are forced to deal with."
"But you won't have to deal with it obviously, just your children or grandchildren," Loki pointed out innocently.
"All the more reason not to," Thor sighed. "We ought to deal with our own messes, leaving it to others is not right."
"Indeed." Loki nodded as the black-red like substance swirled around, then suddenly it came, like a long tentacle going directly for Loki.
Thor's eyes widened. "LOKI!" he shouted.
But Loki held up a hand and out came a green force field pushing the thing away. "Feisty one, isn't it?" the god of mischief asked.
"Loki, please. Be careful," Thor asked, honestly frightened. Remembering only all too well what that thing had done to Jane! And nearly had done.
"Worry not, brother." Loki commented, holding out his cylinder. "We came prepared."
And he dropped the force field only to hold forward the cylinder and shouted, then the substance was sucked inside. It was struggling, it didn't want to go in but Loki was grinning, his eyes shining as his own green magic pushed it inside. "Come on then, in you go," he said as the last bit of Aether went inside and he put a lid on it, then turned to Thor. "Done."
"Thank the Norns." Thor sighed deeply. "Loki, we should get going. Quick."
"Why?" Loki asked. "Now we have such fine company."
Thor blinked then Loki pointed behind him and Thor turned around to see… Odin himself standing with the Einherjars.
"Thor..." Odin breathed. "Loki…. What have you done?" he asked, looking honestly mortified.
"Dunno, Father," Loki commented, stepping forward. "I think the real question here is, what have you done?" he asked.
"Loki." Thor closed his eyes. "Why?"
"Odin was notified the second we stepped in here, what did you think would happen?" Loki asked.
"Loki! This is neither the time or place to have this fight!" Thor exclaimed.
Loki scowled. "Why ever not?" he asked, clearly it was anger rather than reason controlling him at the moment.
"Loki," Odin spoke in a firm voice. "Put that back," he demanded. "Just put it back, we'll go to Asgard and I will overlook this transgression."
"Oh let me think about that for a second. How about no?" Loki asked.
"LOKI!" Odin shouted.
"Father!" Thor stepped between them. "This is not what it seems! I swear to you. We are not out to do harm!"
"Speak for yourself," Loki snorted.
"LOKI THAT IS NOT HELPING!" Thor shouted.
"Oh, does it hurt, Father?" Loki asked in a mocking tone. "Your precious sons no longer acting like mindless slaves?" he asked.
Thor groaned, closing his eyes. Loki, why?
"Loki! I am your father and your king!" Odin stated. "Stop this madness!" he demanded.
"Why?" Loki asked. "So you can keep manipulating us?!" he asked. "String us along in your grand lie and illusion?!" he asked. "You thought we would never figure it out?" he asked. "How stupid did you think we were?"
Odin paled. Though, then his eyes turned hard, his mouth in a frown, his hand tightened around Gungnir. "I do not know how you found out," he admitted. "I hope you will tell me. Who told you?" he asked.
"I'm not telling you," Loki snorted, it was clearly a mockery. "Afraid you have to deal with me!" he stated.
"Loki, if you think your frost giant blood makes your current actions permissible I am afraid to tell you, it does not!" Odin exclaimed.
Thor's eyes widened, Loki's did as well, there was stunned silence.
Oh… Norns.
Loki was honestly shocked as he looked at Odin. "What?" he asked.
"No-NOTHING!" Thor stepped forward waving his hands in front of Loki. "Father is just, it's just an old saying you know! Like… erhm, boy that Fandral has frost giant…. blood." He turned to Odin and it seemed that Odin too had realized his mistake as he had grown considerably paler.
Thor did not feel good, he didn't dare but he slowly turned back and was faced with Loki's burning anger… Directed right at him.
"What?!" Loki asked.
Thor was lost for words. "Erhm," he swallowed. "Well… You-you see," he stammered. "The-there might be a slight chance that..." he was quiet, there was no way to say it probably especially not now. "Is there a chance we can forget about this and move on?" he asked.
Only for Loki's hands to shoot forward and grab Thor's collar, dragging him down so now Loki's sneering face was inches away from his. "You are going to tell me, right now!"
Thor's eyes were wide. "Loki," he breathed.
"NO ONE IS LEAVING THIS PLACE UNTIL SOMEONE SPEAKS TRUTH!" Loki roared.
"I found you on Jotunheim," Odin said.
Loki quieted, he let go of Thor whom stumbled back, then turned to Odin.
"You were less than a day old," Odin informed. "A baby, small for a jotunn, left all alone on a frozen altar. I claimed that baby as my own and took him home, to raise him as my own youngest."
Loki's eyes were wide. "What?" he asked.
Odin's eyes were determined. "I gave you the appearance of an Aesir, I gave you a place as a prince. I made you my son. Blood doesn't change facts, you are a prince of Asgard. You are my son! What you do reflects on all of Asgard," he stated. "Put it back."
Loki looked down, his anger was burning, his face twisting. "No," he spoke as green sparks escaped him.
Thor was panicking, there was no way this was going to end well. Loki was about to do something stupid, something really, really stupid!
Thor barely even thought, he only acted, with a hand wave he pulled out the Tesseract from his pocket dimension.
Loki was too busy aiming his anger at Odin, his hands on his cylinder and the black started to swirl, then Thor grabbed Loki and called on the Tesseract, the next moment… They were gone, and now stood on a grassy field in front of a roaring ocean.
Loki blinked, confused, as he looked around, then he turned to Thor and saw… The Tesseract. It finally clicked and his anger rose. "GET US BACK THERE!" he roared.
Thor shook his head, putting the Tesseract back. "Loki, your issues with Odin are but a distraction right now."
"Perhaps," Loki seethed then came straight for Thor. "YOU KNEW AS WELL!" he shouted, grabbing for him.
"LOKI!" Thor grabbed him, now holding Loki tight to stop the attack. "Loki, calm down!"
"NO!" Loki screamed as he wriggled. "Did you have fun, Thor?! Fun laughing at the Jotnar idiot beside you?! Stringing him along on an adventure, huh?!"
"NO!" Thor shouted. "That's not it!"
"All your talk of Jotunheim, so that was it, huh?!" Loki asked. "Mockery?! LAUGHING inside! You may have things in common with the Jotnar, Loki," he quoted Thor in a mocking tone. "How FUN was it for you in your head?!" he asked. " I hope it was a good laugh!"
"That's not true, Loki!" Thor exclaimed. "Aye, I knew, I found out in the other timeline. But it never mattered to me. Don't you understand?!" he asked.
Loki hissed as he grabbed Thor's arm and twisted him around, forcing Thor to drop him, then he came running with a dagger.
Thor managed to grab Loki's arms so they were held in position in front of each other. "Loki, stop this!" he exclaimed. "I don't want to fight you!"
"We were enemies in the other timeline, weren't we? That's what you kept saying," Loki seethed. "So what's so different now?"
"I NEVER WANTED US TO BE ENEMIES!" Thor cried. "You were inside my mind! You saw how I hurt when we fought. I didn't like it, not any of the times. Loki, please!" he begged.
Loki quieted, finally he grew more limp and finally Thor let go, letting Loki stagger back a few steps, his eyes though were wet and he hissed, tears starting to emerge.
"Did he have fun?" Loki then asked in a quiet voice, but then it started to grow "The high and mighty Odin, mocking his little frost giant runt! Playing him for an utter fool?!" he asked as suddenly his face twisted. And around him, an icy wind started to blow, the waves seemed to raise. "You know, Thor, all I wanted… All I desired, was to be your equal in his eyes! But it was never enough!" he seethed and the wind continued. "All the wonders I created for him! All the missions I accomplished to perfection! Working day and night to learn the tricks, to beat you! But it was never enough! NEVER! You were always favored without even trying! I kept asking, I kept thinking, why? Why is NOTHING I do ever enough?!" he shouted. "So that's it?! A stupid little Jotnar too stupid to figure it out?! How much was he laughing behind closed doors?! How much did he enjoy making me a fool?!" he asked.
"Loki… It is not like that," Thor tried to reason.
"Then what is it like, Thor?!" Loki asked.
"I..." Thor swallowed. "I honestly don't know, I have no idea what Odin was thinking. I'm sorry I..."
"I do not need your pity, Thor!" Loki seethed.
"Loki… I didn't know either," Thor spoke sadly. "Not before Odin had no choice but to tell me… When it was too late. He lied to the both of us! This is just one more lie, he also lied about Hela, about his past. We both lived the same lie."
"EXCEPT YOU WERE NOT A CHILD TAKEN IN OUT OF PURE PITY AND THEN MOCKED!" Loki shouted.
"No," Thor spoke sadly. "I am just the stupid fool who was just as fooled as everyone else and thus truly deserve mockery," he informed, his eyes wet, his voice breaking. "I am just the stupid fool, who can't do anything without his brother with him."
"We are not even brothers, though!" Loki exclaimed. "If I am… I am..." he sniffed.
"Loki, you're the only brother I ever wanted or needed," Thor stated, then he stepped forward, and embraced Loki in a tight hug, and Loki let out a big cry as Thor held him tight.
"I am not a Jotnar!" Loki proclaimed. "The Aesir are the mightiest of all! I am Aesir! Aesir!"
Thor didn't reply, he didn't want to lie so he just held Loki tight.
"Pr-Prince of Asgard," Loki sniffed. "Son of Odin and..." his eyes widened. And then his voice broke with the last name. "Frigga." And he burst out crying into Thor's chest.
Thor closed his eyes, Loki's relationship with their father had mostly been distant, but their mother... Loki loved their mother so very much, they had spent so many days and nights practicing their magic together.
"She loves you no more or less because of your blood," Thor assured "Neither do I."
"She lied too!" Loki bawled.
"Aye… I'm sorry," Thor breathed.
"Is anything either of them told us true?!" Loki asked.
"I... Loki, I know you won't believe this right now but..." Thor wet his lips. "Whenever they said that they love us, I really think they meant it. Even Odin… And definitely Frigga, she loves you so much. I was honestly always a little bit jealous. I mean, you were obviously her favorite."
"Don't patronize me, Thor," Loki seethed.
"It's the truth," Thor informed in a sad voice. "Loki… We should find a place to rest. Okay?" he asked. "And I'm sorry, but I am not going to leave you alone. Not now."
"What, because you need me?!" Loki asked. "So you can save your stupid universe?!"
Defeated, Thor looked at him. "I do need you so I can save the universe, that is true," he informed. "But right now, I am worried about you," he informed. "Come on." He put an arm around Loki then he halted, looking towards the waves.
"What is this place anyway?" Loki asked.
"Norway," Thor said. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" he asked.
Loki shrugged. "It's fine, I suppose."
"This is where the few remaining Asgardians live in my original timeline," Thor breathed. "About two hundred left… Two hundred and thirty three exactly. Myself and Valkyrie included. That is all. Scrambling to survive on Norway's coast. It's all there is left."
Loki quieted.
"It's not many but... they are alive thanks to you," Thor admitted.
Loki blinked. "What?" he asked.
"When Hela was busy with her slaughter of all of Asgard, you were the one who came, in their hour of need, with transportation," Thor informed. "If you had not come, there would have been nowhere to flee. All would have died."
"Only two hundred though?" Loki asked.
"Eight," Thor corrected him. "I do not know the exact number when we left Asgard, there was no time to count. Thanos killed half when he took the spaceship... Also, he killed you. Then half of what remained were killed again when Thanos had gathered all the Stones and did the Snap... So only a quarter. A quarter of the people you saved made it here to Norway."
Loki was quiet, stunned quiet, clearly trying to wrap his head around it but failing.
"Honestly, when you stand with that in front of you... all of those previous squabbles seem unimportant," Thor breathed. "All the times we fought each other, got on each other's nerves... Our rivalry for father's attention. It felt so important when we were kids, like it was all that mattered. Now... With so much death, it doesn't seem to matter at all. I could only long for the days where my greatest concern was such petty squabbles. All I really desired… Was for things to go back the way they were. For you to be there with me. I wanted it so badly… So badly it actually happened. I still can't wrap my head around it."
Loki's eyes were misty, his head was bowed as he squinted his eyes, his shoulders trembling. "I hate all of this!" he exclaimed. "Why do I have to save this stupid universe?! Why did you suddenly have to be so different?!" he asked. "Why did things have to change, huh?!" he asked. "Save the universe, Loki! Be reasonable, Loki. What if I don't want to?!" he asked. "Why couldn't things just stay the same!" he exclaimed. "You do something stupid, I make a stupid prank for revenge. We fight and then we are okay! That's how it goes! The stupid universe isn't at stake! Not like this!" he exclaimed.
All Thor could do was look so sorrowfully at him.
"I want it to be the same!" Loki stated. "I want things to be like they were before! Like they've always been!"
"So do I," Thor sighed. "I'm afraid though, that just isn't possible."
"I HATE YOU!" Loki exclaimed, though then he halted and sniffed.
"I... I'm sorry, Loki. What choice do we have?" Thor asked. "Either of us."
Loki seethed, clutching the cylinder with the Reality Stone he still had.
"Why don't you hold onto the Reality Stone?" Thor asked, looking at it.
Loki hissed. "Is this pity?" he asked.
"No," Thor stated. "A sign of trust."
Loki looked up, then the cylinder vanished into Loki's pocket dimension.
Thor nodded then took Loki's shoulder. "Come on, we won't have much time before Father tracks us down again. We must use it wisely."
And Loki nodded drowsily, slowly following Thor.
