Freya waited with baited breath as the sound reverberated down the corridor, but there was no response. Hoping that she had the right room, she tried again, but it did not open, nor did anyone answer. Undeterred, she walked back down the corridor to see if she had miscounted, or if anyone was around to ask, but she was alone, and she realised that she was likely to get very lost if she wandered off. Not wanting to give up so easily, she went back and tried once more, but she was still met with silence. Cursing under her breath, she tried the handle and was rather surprised to find the door unlocked. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do for the best, before her curiosity overwhelmed her. Stepping inside, she found living quarters of some sort, and she looked around in search of someone.
"Did you get her?" A familiar voice asked, and Freya's heart lifted, for it seemed that he had lived. Her relief quickly turned to anger though, for he scarcely glanced at her, and he had not contacted her since…
"If by her, you mean me, then yes." Freya said snidely, clenching her fists. She hated being angry, and she rarely lost her temper, but she knew that Loki was fully deserving of her rage. After all, he was partly to blame for the loss of her family, and he had left her to rot in a cell while he had gone to face Thanos with the others. "I take it you are the one who summoned me?"
"Except it did not require some incantation this time." He pointed out, half smiling at his own joke, but Freya was not impressed. "Hello Freya." He greeted, now wearing his most charming smile.
"You left me." She pointed out, not sure where to even begin. She had spent the best part of the last month trying to accept that he was gone, and yet here he was, alive and well, lounging on his bed. He did not even get up to greet her, though he had at least put his book down and was looking at her now. "You swore that you wouldn't, and yet you abandoned me in a cell. You cost me the only chance I had at helping, and then I faced such fierce questioning... No one would tell me anything and I… I feared that…" She was swallowing tears as her voice cracked. Her temper always ended with tears, and she hated it with a passion.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly. He at least looked genuinely apologetic, but Freya could not believe him. After all, was he not the God of Lies? Had he not broken his word and her trust? Was he not known for manipulating people for his own ends? But as Freya looked at him properly, she realised that something must be wrong. Loki was not trying to sweet talk her in to forgiving him, and there was something about the way he sat. She approached the bed and then poked his arm, hoping that this was not some kind of trick.
"I am very much here Freya. This is no illusion." He assured her, though he winced a little as he spoke.
"You cannot blame me for checking." She pointed out as she perched on the end of the bed. "Why did you do it?" She asked after a moment, her anger dissipating.
"You wouldn't have survived." He explained.
"It was not your choice to make." Freya told him, meeting his gaze with a hard stare. He did not flinch, but upon realising that Freya was not going to back down, he gave in.
"I could not have your death on my conscience." Loki stated, and Freya sighed. "After what happened with Caygill… Though it was not the first time I had lost a friend, it hurt nonetheless." They were silent for a moment, and Freya knew that it was a fair argument. "Trust me when I say that I never wished to break my word after all that you have done for me, but I…"
"I suppose I can forgive you, in time." She told him softly, for she had no doubt that he had been right to leave her behind. "Thank you for not listening to me." Loki laughed at that.
"You're welcome?" The pair smiled. "How have you been Freya?"
"I could be better." She shrugged, before changing the subject. "I take it you decided to bring your people here?"
"It was Thor's decision really." He shrugged, wincing a little at the effort. "Did my brother tell you I was here?"
"No." She admitted. "I just hoped you were. I've not heard anything since I was released from Wakanda, and when I saw the ship… I just wanted news."
"Even though you should hate me for what I've done?"
"I should." Freya agreed as she reached in her bag for a drink, then smiled sadly as she realised that Astrid had snuck some of her favourite snacks in there too. "But I can't really hate anyone. It's not in my nature."
"I just wanted to make sure that you would be safely returned to your family." Loki explained, though Freya realised that something really was wrong. The Trickster sounded exhausted, and it was taking a lot of effort for him to talk. She had noticed the little hints that he was in pain, and she wondered just what he had gone through.
"How have you been?" Freya asked, not wanting to hear any more apologies.
"It has not been the easiest of tasks to persuade my people that Earth is a good place to settle, and I…" He took a sharp intake of breath as he sat up. "I have no doubt that there are many of your people who will wish to see me…"
"There are those who want to see you punished for New York." She agreed. "But you have already served Asgardian justice, and I have a shed load of evidence to prove that you were not yourself at the time." Loki could only stare at her curiously.
"I break my promise, and yet still you defend me?"
"That's what friends do." She told him sincerely. "I don't hold any of what happened against you. In truth I am just glad to know that you're alive. After these past few weeks…"
"You truly wish for me to stay on Midgard?" Loki asked sceptically, while Freya bowed her head.
"Do you want to go anywhere else?" She asked, and he considered it for a moment. "It wouldn't have to be permanent."
"It would be good to rest a while." He agreed. "I am glad to have you as a friend Freya."
"As am I." She smiled, but then she noticed that Loki had dropped his usual glamour. His skin had a decidedly blue tinge to it, while his skin was cracked and covered in various partially healed cuts and burns. He had dark rings around his eyes, and she could see that he was suffering. Freya wanted nothing more than to cry at the state of him, for she had no idea what to do to ease his pain.
"I can trust you." He said plainly. "No one else can know."
"You have my word." She told him, though she had every intention of getting him the help he needed at the first opportunity. "How long has it been?"
"A few weeks or so… I lost track."
"You wielded the stones, didn't you?" She guessed, before sighing deeply.
"Someone had to bring everyone back." He told her. "None of the others would have managed to do it, so I…"
"You volunteered." She realised, knowing that this had to be the reason that the Avengers had been so cagey in their interviews recently. After all, Loki was the villain to their heroes, so for him to have actually undone the one thing that they had failed to prevent…
"I tried to fix everything, but I could not bring back Asgard. I tried, but…" He admitted sadly, unable to forgive himself for not having the strength to do so.
"Oh Loki… I..." She hesitated, knowing that he would not appreciate her sympathy. "Thank you for what you've done." Freya sighed, for she knew that there were very few people who would actually do so. "I am sorry about Asgard, but there are so many happy people in the universe who would not be here if it were not for you."
"Even though I am to blame for…"
"You saved your brother." She pointed out. "I would have done the same in your position."
"You never change, do you Freya?"
"Never." She smiled proudly. "I take it you have not been here long?"
"Less than an hour."
"They'll come looking for you soon." She said as she opened a packet of chocolate stars.
"I suspect they will." He agreed as she offered him a sweet and took it.
"Then you'd best conserve your energy." She advised, while he gave her a funny look. "What?"
"I'm glad you're here Freya." He told her sincerely, while she was glad to have found him. They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, until they heard footsteps in the corridor outside. At this Loki recast his glamour so that he looked fine, while Freya stood between the Prince and the entrance. She had no idea what she would do, and she knew that she would not be able to stop them, but she wanted to make sure that Loki did not suffer unnecessarily, especially in his current state. The Trickster just waited patiently, and wondered what he had done to deserve such loyalty after everything he had done. He knew that Freya was no match for the numerous agents that would undoubtedly have been sent to capture them, though he could not help but admire her courage.
After what felt like a lifetime, the door opened, and the room filled with armed guards. Captain America walked in, flanked by Thor and Black Widow, and Freya knew in an instant that she would not be able to talk her way out of this one. She glanced back at Loki, and he gave her a reassuring smile before holding out his hands in surrender. He was instantly surrounded by several agents, and he gave no fuss as he was cuffed.
"What are you doing here?" A confused Steve Rogers asked as he recognised her. Freya swallowed nervously as she summoned what courage she had left.
"I was asked to come." She told them honestly. "What will happen to him?"
"That is to be decided." The First Avenger said, before motioning for two agents to cuff Freya. She instantly felt her nerves kick in, though she did her best not to show it. Her heart raced and she felt sick, but there was nothing she could do about it. Deciding that the best way forwards was to comply with them, she fell into step as they headed back through the ship.
"Can I ask why I'm also being arrested?" She asked as they turned down another corridor.
"You disappeared without a trace from Wakanda, and there are many further questions for you."
"Am I that much of a threat that you require this many guards for an unarmed woman?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"You are a friend of Loki's. That makes you dangerous." One of the agents gave by way of explanation. Freya just sighed as she walked with her head held high, knowing that she had done nothing wrong. After all, Loki had played a key role in saving the universe, and she had just wanted to do everything in her power to help. Yes, she had lied to them, but what other choice had she had? If she had walked in to Wakanda with the God of Mischief then they would surely have been arrested before they even had chance to explain themselves.
"My only crime was to help a friend. Surely you of all people can understand…" She tried to get Steve to agree with her, but he just ignored her. No one else seemed to want to listen, and so Freya prayed that her captors would understand when she was questioned. She just hoped that they would not be punished too harshly, and that Loki would be reunited with his people once more.
