Helloo! So here is the next chapter, we finally get to see Loki and their end of the ordeal, hope you enjoy.
Shout Outs!:
omega13a
They do but I also suspect a lot of that has to do with Hydra as clearly their cases and information within SHIELD went unnoticed by Tony.
SmolAvidReader
That's fine, I totally get it. No more palladium poisoning is always good. Hehe, you get to find out.
Journal 2, Entry 32: "Thor Pt1"
A week ago…
Loki took a breath as he slipped back into Asgard. Despite the fact that he had been coming and going for a millennia in utmost secrecy—mostly without fear of Heimdall ever seeing him—this time he couldn't help but constantly check his surroundings until he was back on Asgard's grounds.
He carefully picked his way out of the cave in the valley of Asgard's mountain before he teleported into his chambers and prepared himself for Thor's coronation. The hardest bit was done. All that came now was guiding the events that he and his own brothers were setting into place. He adjusted the ceremonial armor—which was an odd term for it as it was regularly used as battle armor—then pinned his green cape into place.
His nose twitched at the thought of wearing a cape, something he had harassed Thor about countless times when it tripped him up or blew into his face but it was for the ceremony and even Odin himself would be wearing one. He grabbed his helmet and left the room, waiting until just before he met Thor to put it on.
Unlike the helmet made for him by his Chosen, this one was incredibly front heavy and despite magic's best attempts, still not that comfortable to wear. But again, Norn forsaken traditions dictated that he would silently suffer, like always.
He stood between some curtains and shook his head with a smirk when he heard Thor march through the hallway and toss his cup into the fire, calling for another. As Thor proudly strode down the corridor, Loki stepped out to walk with him.
They stopped at a T where he and his brother would have to part ways and Thor stared straight ahead. Loki smirked at him and asked lightly, "Nervous brother?"
Thor laughed and to anyone but him and probably mother, it sounded sincere. "Have you ever known me to be nervous?"
Multiple instances ran through his mind. "There was that time in Nornheim."
Thor shook his head. "That was not nerves, brother! Th-that was the rage of battle."
Loki raised an eyebrow as he looked away. "Ah, my mistake."
Thor turned to him with a pinched brow. "How else could I have fought my way through a hundred warriors and gotten us out alive?"
Loki peered at him through the corner of his eye in utter perplexion. "Uh, as I recall, I was the one who veiled us in smoke that allowed you to escape."
Thor laughed dismissively at the ludicrous idea. "Ah, yes. Some do battle and others just do tricks."
Loki scowled at his brother. Well, that just made me feel less guilty about this plan.
A laugh sounded near the brothers, signaling the arrival of a servant who had approached the pair with Thor's drink and who now nervously watched Loki. Loki frowned at the servant and with a thoughtful glance at Thor, flicked his hand, making sure the servant saw it.
The smile fell immediately from the man's lips and he stiffened up, fearfully awaiting whatever curse Loki cast on him.
Loki resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Honestly, he very rarely did anything heinous and whenever he did, it was for good reason! Not that anyone would ever care to listen to his reasoning. Because of those thoughts, he couldn't help but smirk at the man's fear. It served him right if he was going to believe only the bad things and not everything he'd ever done to help Asgard.
Soon enough, the servant yelped and dropped the tray, skittering back several steps as two snakes slithered away from the spilt cup, and Loki couldn't help his laughter.
Thor sighed but couldn't help the tiny smile at the sight of the reptiles. "Loki…now that was just a waste of good wine."
Loki grinned at Thor. "That was just a bit of fun. Right, my friend?" He asked the servant who nodded fearfully.
Thor grunted, still staring at the snakes and his lost wine.
Loki sighed softly and waved his hand to banish the snakes. Honestly, he tries to do something nice for his brother and he gets nothing but chastised for it. Not for the first time, he wonders why he hasn't made Midgard his permanent residence already. At least there they are friendly towards him and many join him in mostly harmless pranks.
Thor finally chuckles softly again, still staring at the spot the snakes once crawled. Another servant approaches and hands Thor his helmet which he dutifully takes and stares thoughtfully at.
"Ooh, nice feathers." Loki jabs again, trying to break Thor out of his funk—he'll be in one again soon enough.
Thor laughed tersely and turned to face his brother, oddly miffed at the playful banter. "You don't really want to start this again do you, cow?"
Loki suppressed his urge to glare exasperatedly at Thor as he too turned to face him. "I was being sincere."
"You are incapable of being sincere." Thor shot back in annoyance.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
It was silent for a moment before Loki huffed. "Better?"
Thor's eyes shot around the room as he thought for a moment before grunting with a nod. "Yes."
Loki chuckled. "I told you, you were nervous."
Thor growled and scowled at Loki. "I don't get nervous…just a bit anxious."
"My bad." Loki said evenly. There was a beat before he met Thor's eyes again. "You know that I have looked forward to this day as long as you have…longer in fact."
Thor's small smile fell at the sentiment. Sometimes he forgot that Loki gave up any chance or claim to the throne so long ago despite putting on a show of otherwise.
"You are my brother and my friend. And sometimes, I am envious of you. But I never doubted it would be you." Loki reassured.
Thor put a hand around Loki's head and neck, smiling gratefully. "Thank you."
Loki smirked. "Now give us a kiss."
Thor huffed a laugh and withdrew his hand, pointing at Loki. "Stop it."
They both turned with laughs, Loki tapering off first and glancing down the corridor. "I better go, as should you. It's your day, after all."
Thor smiled and put on his helmet. "I shall see you soon and then we shall feast like we never have! Say, Loki, is your lady Sigyn coming?"
Loki nearly choked on air but maintained his composure as he turned to Thor. "No, she had some other business to attend to, though she does wish you well."
Thor beamed and walked away, eager for the coronation.
Loki shook his head at his brother's back, once again feeling a tiny bit of remorse for what was about to occur.
Loki couldn't help his nervous glances around Jötunheim. He hated this part of the plan, always had—especially since if something went wrong, neither of his brothers could come to help.
The Warriors Three were at least knowledgeable enough of their precarious situation to be extra wary. Thor was still too enraged over the botched coronation from the Jötunn incursion to feel anything other than righteous wrath, or so he would call it.
He knew they were being followed not two minutes after they entered Jötunheim. While the others thought they were simply being cowards, he had to disagree as they were at least letting them pass through unharmed for the moment.
They reached the massive castle that he had not visited since the plague outbreak on Midgard. As they passed through darkened halls, his Jötunn eyes—though masked by illusions—caught Býleistr watching him from around a pillar. He subtly nodded once and Býleistr returned the gesture.
They finally stopped at the throne where Thor proceeded to accuse Laufey, which he turned right back around. Thor shook with anger as he asked, "How did your people get into Asgard?"
Laufey turned and Loki swore he looked at him even though he knew it was impossible to have made the connection, he had seen to that. That didn't stop his fear from spiking. "The house of Odin is full of traitors."
Thor jerked forward to defend his father's honor. Loki sighed and placed a hand on Thor's shoulder—him being on Jötunheim was enough to make Odin reconsider the coronation at this moment in time. There was no need to do anything else with his typical rashness. "Brother, it is not so ludicrous. Hela happened, did she not?"
That caught Laufey's attention who smiled cruelly at him before turning his attention to Thor scowl at him, admonishing his blind faith in Odin as well as calling out his own less than pure intentions. "You're nothing but a boy, trying to prove himself a man," Laufey finished.
Thor spun Mjolnir close in hand. "This boy has grown tired of your mockery."
Loki bit back a sigh as the Jötunns around them became more bold, ice growing over their hands in cruel, cold weapons. The Warriors Three and Sif shifted to their toes and quickly glanced around, taking in the impending battle.
Loki stood just behind Thor again, allowing a bit of pleading to enter his tone. "Thor, stop and think. Look around you. We're outnumbered."
Thor barely turned his head to glare at him. "Know your place, brother."
Laufey watched their hushed interactions and added, "You know not what your actions will unleash. I do. Go, now, while I still allow it." Laufey turned away with a final growl, not eager for another war with Asgard despite his humiliation coming from them.
A Jötunn approached them with hard eyes, mostly set on Thor.
Loki dipped his head. "We will accept your most gracious offer." He turned slowly, more from fear of Thor than the Jötunn but Thor was not so eager. "Come on, Thor." He urged.
He heard Thor take a step to follow when the Jötunn spoke, causing Loki to cringe and hiss at his words. "Run back home, little princess."
Loki stopped dead and said the only word that can sum up their situation—there goes any shot of leaving peacefully. "Damn."
He heard Mjolnir swing and the Jötunnar being flung into the wall a fair distance away. Then, all at once, the Jötunns surrounding them attacked.
Loki hurled a knife at the Jötunnar running towards him with a large ice spear—not at all feeling bad for killing one of his own—before whirling around and blasting another with a raw wave of magic. The battle commenced for several long minutes. One Jötunn fell prey to an illusion and dove over a cliff, another writhing on the ground as a heating spell crippled him.
He was almost taken by surprise by another jumping out of an alcove and grabbing his wrist, swinging him into the ground, but it was neither hard nor painful. His armor creaked as the Jötunn holding him unleashed the full brunt of a Jötunn's chill but it remained whole due to his magical alterations.
Loki grunted as he swung his leg, connecting with the back of the Jötunn's knee. "Finally decided to join the fight, brother?"
Býleistr grinned and anyone but Loki would have mistaken it as malicious. "Had to make sure Thor was properly incensed and our cousin was oh so willing."
Loki flipped a dagger around and stuck at Býleistr, but the blade was captured in a quickly erected wall of ice. "So I have you to thank for when Odin has to humiliate us in order to save us?"
Býleistr chuckled and hurled small icicles at his brother who blocked them with an Æsir shield. "Just ensuring that the All-Father cannot overlook this atrocity."
Loki rolled his eyes and started to retort with a blast of magic when Hogun shouted in pain then yelled, "Don't let them touch you!"
Loki and Býleistr paused for half a second to glance in the direction of the Warrior in dumbfound amazement until Býleistr muttered, "Moron."
Loki snorted in agreement before smirking and throwing his brother into the wall with a wave of his hand.
Býleistr grunted with the impact and glared at Loki, who grinned cheekily and disappeared in a flash. He extracted himself from the wall with an annoyed glare aimed at the spot his brother once stood.
Loki teleported back to where he could see Thor—he didn't want him dead from all of this—and took down several more Jötunns until Fandral cried out in pain. He whirled around, dagger already in hand, and threw it at the Jötunn who just speared Fandral through the chest.
Sif and Volstagg pulled their friend off the pike and Loki turned to shout at Thor. Enough was enough. "We must go!"
"Then go!" Thor yelled, smacking yet another Jötunn with Mjolnir before throwing it and taking out several more with one attack.
Loki felt the ice shift and tracked its path, fear rising once again as he realized what was to come—that Laufey was releasing a beast of Jötunheim. Hogun wisely called for them to run and Loki couldn't help but dearly miss Jörmungandr at that moment. Peaceful the Dýrsvell may be, but he could be enticed into rage if his Commander was perceived to be threatened.
He started running before realizing that Thor was not with them…nor was he trying to come with them. He huffed and turned back around, leaving his brother to deal with his choices while his friends tried to escape with life and limb.
The ice trembled as the beast chased after them. In no time at all it would be upon them. Loki growled and turned sharply, calling for the others to follow. They almost didn't, but as the beast neared, they risked his advice. His chest burned that they almost chose death over trusting him after all the battles they fought together in and he risked life and limb to help. He snorted as he darted into a crag that would take them many miles safely away from the beast.
The Warriors and Sif were panting by the time they exited the narrow chasm. Volstagg ran out, shouting as he looked about for more pursuers. "Heimdall! Open the bridge! Heimdall?"
Loki's stomach plummeted and he quickly began to look around, one hand already swirling with magic.
As expected, the beast leapt down from the ravine top and stalked towards them.
Sif gasped and swung her double ended spear at the beast, Volstagg also preparing for a grim battle while Fandral whined in pain and annoyance from Hogun's shoulder.
It reared up for a final attack when a red blur flew straight at it then through its open mouth. It fell dead and Thor landed before turning with a pleased smile…which slowly began to fall.
Loki could only glare at his brother for the horrendous mess he'd dug them into, disregarding the growing Jötunn army amassing on the ravine. Thor had the decency to look mildly mistaken upon seeing Loki's face but silently sent the message that this had been his idea. Loki raised an eyebrow and Thor quickly looked away. It was his fault it escalated after they were given a chance to leave peacefully.
The army started pouring down the edge and running towards them as they prepared for the final battle. Or, they prepared and Loki gathered his magic to teleport them all to Asgard's branch. Just before the enraged Jötunns could reach them or Loki could enact his plan of retreat, the air cracked and the sky lit up—the ice they were standing on glowing from the Bifrost targeting them.
Loki sighed silently. What took those fools so long?! Despite his relief, he couldn't help but be worried of the discussion to come.
Loki stared absently into the fire that he and Thor's friends sat around. He carefully thought over the plan again. A weight lifted off his shoulders at the fact that it was still viable, it just had a small hiccup thrown in, but that might honestly work out for the better. Now with Thor's banishment—ironically to Midgard which also aroused a sliver of anger—Odin would be even more weary and on the edge of collapse into the Odin Sleep.
He glanced over when Hogun huffed as he applied a balm to his frostbitten arm. "How did the guard even know?"
"I told them." He said, almost incredulous—actually, no—incensed. He saved their lives. Yet again, and they have the gall to be upset by it.
Fandral turned, eyes wide at the youngest prince. "What?"
Loki narrowed his eyes at the sword master who was only alive, twice over in the last twelve hours, because of his intervention. "He should never have taken so long. We should never have reached Jötunheim."
The lie fell easily from his lips and the others bought it easily. Hogun leaned forward, rage clear in his eyes. "You told the guard!?"
"I saved our lives." He said evenly. "And Thor's. I had no idea Father would banish him for what he did." He couldn't help the irritated twitch of his nose. Honestly, out of all the realms, Odin had to send him to the one he could do the most unintentional damage on. Hiccup, I pray to the Norns your people can handle him.
Sif stood and walked over to him, almost pleading. "Loki, you must go to the All-Father and convince him to change his mind."
He fixed her with a hard look. Of all the ludicrous requests…if he could do something like that with the All-Father, then he wouldn't have had to resort to such extremes to try and make his place, to be known as his son and not a trophy. "And even if I do, then what? I love Thor more dearly than any of you but you know what he is. He's arrogant, he's reckless, and he's dangerous. You saw that today! And what about any of that makes you think I want him on Midgard!? I tried before Odin banished him, but as always he's turned a deaf ear to me. I want Thor nowhere near that Realm but that's where he now resides and I must anxiously deal with that."
Fandral frowned at him. "The Midgardians—are you still on about them!? Even if that boy had lived, he'd still be long dead by now. They've probably forgotten all about you, it's been centuries."
Loki leered at the Warrior. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. Ironically enough for how reckless and dangerous Thor is, he is the only one of you who ever did, but he is foolish enough to forget it in his anger of banishment. I want Thor back as much as any of you for just as many reasons and more but even if I did somehow manage to convince Odin, Thor will have learned nothing from it and it will make Odin appear weak and unable to stand in the decisions he's made."
He stormed out of the room without another word. He could hear them grumbling about him and about his intentions. He didn't care, and they no longer mattered, especially not with Thor banished.
As he marched through the corridors, his eyes darkened. With the events on Midgard so potentially volatile now, he needed to move the plan along quickly so that he could try to bring Thor back. He was afraid of what his oafish brother might inadvertently do or say, the fingers he would unintentionally point, within just a few days…he could not imagine what might occur if he does not learn his lesson and remains there for potentially years.
The idea made him shudder. Perhaps, after the plan has been fulfilled, he can convince Odin to move Thor to Vanaheim or Alfheim…anywhere but Midgard. After all, it would still be degrading to be cast out onto those Realms without an inkling of his magic and the inability to use his precious Mjolnir.
He paused in his mindless meandering and looked up. He needed to speak with Odin alone. With a resigned sigh, he turned and walked down a different, smaller, corridor. There was only one place he could ensure that.
He entered Odin's treasure room without issue and stood staring at the Casket of Ancient Winters as he waited for Odin to sense his presence here. He scowled at it as it pulsed, feeling kindred magic. Thankfully, he didn't have to wait long before the door opened and shut quietly and Odin carefully walked down the stairs, fighting trembles that came from extreme exhaustion.
Loki fought off a frown at Odin's weakness. Why he wouldn't just relent to the Odin Sleep was beyond him—at this rate he was going to kill himself and…releasing Hela now would just be disastrous.
"Loki." The All-Father said firmly.
Loki's eyes narrowed as he fully turned to face him. "Why do you hate me so?"
Odin's brow creased as he looked down at Loki from the stairs. "I do not hate you, my son."
Loki scoffed as he took several steps forward. "No? Then why did you take me as a child and never care about me as you did your own son? Why would you banish Thor to Midgard of all Realms!?"
Odin sighed and looked pityingly at the youngest prince. "I never cared about you any less-"
Loki laughed loudly, cutting off Odin's explanation. "Spare me your sweetly worded lies. From the day I took my Chosen, from the moment he showed me what I really am, the monster you told and warned us about as children—my eyes were opened. I am nothing but a tool to you." He spat venomously and Odin backed up against the stairs, the emotional exhaustion finally creeping up on him.
Loki pressed on, taking a few of the stairs. "You made that abundantly clear throughout the years. You favored Thor for all these centuries. I received a harsh punishment for every misstep of mine and even mistakes that were Thor's you heaped onto me. Only now once he has blatantly started a war can you ignore it no longer!"
Odin was nearly gasping as he lowered himself onto the steps, stretching a hand out for balance that almost looked as if he was asking for help.
Whichever it was, Loki did not offer it. He continued standing over the ailing All-Father as he finally vented his frustrations to the one who inflicted them. "Then you banish him to Midgard when any Realm would have done! It would have been more humiliating for him to be on any other Realm but you had to send him to—to the one where the descendants of my Chosen reside, and are now in harm from what his careless words could bring upon them!"
Odin sighed desperately one last time before his eyes slipped shut.
Loki knelt down and held a hand over him, reaching out to feel that he was truly in the Odin Sleep, finally. "Guards! Guards, please, help!"
The doors burst in and they ran down the steps to Odin, Loki backed off as they assessed their king, then one ran out to get Eir.
Loki held Gungnir in hidden awe as he walked out of Odin's chambers where his mother refused to leave her husband's side. He always knew it was a possibility that Frigga wouldn't rule as she once had when Odin would fall into the Odin Sleep, not with how risky this Sleep had the perchance to be. It still hadn't seemed likely, though, with how high tensions now ran between the Realms that she wouldn't take the throne.
It was odd how the plan kept changing, kept being thrown off but only working to further aid it. His lips twitched with a ghost of a smile. This was truly working out better than he or his brothers could have ever dreamed. It fell a moment later as he glanced down at Gungnir again. He now had the power to remove Thor from Midgard…but he couldn't, not yet. To even alter the All-Father's last act as his first would be nigh disastrous. No, it would be best to finish the plan, and quickly, then modify Thor's punishment.
He closed his eyes for a moment but kept walking as he took a breath. He entered his chambers to change. The people would soon be demanding answers and he is now the one who must give it to them, so he must dress appropriately.
As he changed out the armor, glancing again at the spear, a wonderful thought struck him. The All-Father could see anything, or near anything, in the Nine Realms when he sat upon the throne.
He rushed to finish changing but left his chambers at a dignified pace. Some tension unknotted in his chest. Maybe he could check on Hiccup and what muck Thor was making for them. With the power of Gungnir and the throne, he might even be able to speak with Hiccup even from this distance and warn him. Worse comes to worse, Hiccup sends the Berserkers out and they throw him into the Outcast's jails until he can appropriately remove Thor from Midgard.
He smirked, oh, yes. That sounds wonderful. He entered the near empty throne room. The two guards at the door entered with him and took their places on either side of the throne, as he claimed his now rightful seat upon the throne. His empty hand splayed across the armrest as he relaxed into it, feeling the embedded magic of All-Fathers past.
He gripped Gungnir tightly and shut his eyes, delving into the Æsir of the throne and Gungnir, using his bond with Hiccup to guide his sight. It was an odd feeling and it was odd seeing it—nothing at all like watching something through a projection. It was more akin to the Bifrost. You didn't physically move yet the rainbow was always there at the edge of his vision.
Midgard appeared quickly to him and soon enough, it honed in on the western side of North America. It wasn't odd that Hiccup wasn't in the Archipelago but he hoped it wouldn't jar him too much when he spoke and alert anyone near him.
A fond smile graced the lips of his downturned head as he saw his Chosen, in his favored guise of a feeble old man along with his godson. Loki had never met the man personally but Hiccup spoke highly enough of him and since he was as good as Hiccup's son, he liked him on principle.
"All-Father, we must speak with you urgently." The voice of Lady Sif said, jarring him out of his trance.
His lip started to curl up but he stuffed the annoyance back down. He could contact Hiccup shortly and enjoy the disbelief and annoyance of Thor's friends now. He knew what they were going to ask and it was something he could not grant…maybe in a few days he could appease some of their anger.
"My… friends." He said, utterly delighting in their shock.
Fandral was the first to recover and step down from the dais dividing the room. "Loki…? Where's Odin?"
Loki shook his head and glanced down, tone taking on a sorrowful note. "Father has fallen into the Odin Sleep. Mother fears he shall never awaken again."
The Warriors Three and Sif marched forward, Sif leading the charge. "We would speak with her."
Loki's eyebrows pinched in aggravation. "She has refused to leave my father's bedside. You can bring your urgent matter to me." He stood and firmly tapped Gungnir against the ground. "Your acting king."
Hogun visibly took a step back in shock while the others stared at Loki or turned to each other in bewilderment. He was also the first to fall to his knee with his hand over his chest, prompting the others to follow decorum.
From this position, Sif asked, pain lining her voice as if it was physically painful for her to address him with authority, "My… king. We would ask that you end Thor's banishment."
Loki slightly turned his head, lips thin and sniffed a little. He just knew they were going to ask that. He descended a couple steps, slowly walking down the rest. "My first act cannot be to undo the All-Father's last. We are on the brink of war with Jötunheim. Our people need a sense of continuity in order to feel safe in these difficult times—all of us must stand together, for the good of Asgard. When this mess with Jötunheim is sorted out, I may revisit Thor's punishment."
As he finished, standing before them like they were once again equal, he tapped Gungnir again—signaling the finality of his words.
Sif's face contorted as she stood quickly and angrily but Fandral and Volstagg held her back, both their eyes clearly showing they didn't believe a word he said. None of them did, but he cared not. Still, they diligently masked it with acceptance.
Loki's eyes remained narrowed on them, on the disbelief and hatred burning in some of their eyes. How could they not see that the situation was tedious, that such an act would show Asgard as weak? Because they have never cared to learn such things and are blindly loyal to Thor above all else. It was obvious as they still defended his every thought and action on Jötunheim as something good and to be praised…At least the All-Father had finally seen the sense—or lack thereof—in Thor's actions.
Fandral said in a friendly manner to counter Loki's glower, "Of course."
Loki nodded once, staring them down hard—Sif especially. "Good, then you will wait for my word."
Hogun shifted but remained on his knee. "If I may? Beg the indulgence of your majesty to, perhaps, reconsider?"
Loki lifted his chin and said firmly, his voice echoing through the mostly empty throne room, "We're done."
Thor's friends all stood, staring at him incredulously before slowly turning to leave one by one, with Sif being the last to go.
Loki watched them leave, he knew that they would soon be plotting something. He closed his eyes and took a breath before turning and retaking his seat on the throne. He reached his magic through the throne again and once again saw Midgard.
Hiccup was still there with Tony, though both looked decidedly less happy. In fact, Hiccup looked livid. He wondered what had occurred to bring about that emotion in his Chosen as it was not a common one.
He focused on the scene more and fully extended his magic, finally allowing him to hear the conversation between the three of them. He was grateful to see Hiccup's demeanor change with the better conversation than whatever had been discussed previously.
Hakon snickered quietly as he looked through a notebook. "Careful Folke, wouldn't want to make Loki jealous."
Phil looked up. "Well it's not exactly like he's listed as a superhero. A god, sure, but not a living, breathing superhero."
Hakon looked up in thought. "Where does that line get drawn, though?"
He smiled. It was an odd topic and not at all sure how they got onto it but certainly one his Chosen would get into. Tony was all too amusing to watch as he tried to reason with his uncle on the topic. He watched, waiting for a moment to warn Hiccup when he had but a moment alone.
The good mood quickly fell as the topic swung again, Folke becoming serious
Hakon looked over trying to hide his smirk. "Get to go babysit someone else?"
Phil sighed. "Pretty much."
Tony's eyebrows rose. "Who gets the special honor of being more high maintenance than a dying me?"
"Thor." Hakon and Phil said at the same time.
Tony rolled his eyes and went back to reading. "Alright, haha. Top secret SHIELD stuff."
Phil left and Loki pulled out, almost heaving a sigh—withholding it due to the guards and it being unseemingly—that Hiccup knew and was already dealing with the situation. He wasn't very pleased that a Midgardian association already knew but at least the Archipelagans' could run interference before he could say too much, if they hadn't already.
He took a breath, chest feeling lighter than it had since Odin declaring Thor's banishment to Midgard. Hiccup would be fine and he can now focus on moving the plan along.
*O*
He was unable to act that day or within the next to further along the plan. Asgard was too swept up in the recent turmoil, with their need and demand of their new king. Dealing with most of the issues was tedious, they should have been able to deal with them on their own but no, they had to drag a higher power into it. Briefly he thought of Hiccup when he had been chief—there had been many a visit he found his Chosen holding a block of ice or two to his head. Or on the really bad days, freezing a lake and laying on it. He felt like doing that now.
The only thing of true accomplishment was successfully arranging Asgard's army to be ready for an attack while simultaneously fouling it up so an attack could happen yet with them none the wiser to the weakness.
He turned around a corner and nearly scowled at Heimdall standing at the end of the hallway, looking expectantly at the new king. "Heimdall." He said, tone clipped.
Heimdall bowed his head. "My king, I bring word of Thor."
Loki couldn't help his face pinching in worry and exasperation. "Please tell me he has not involved the Archipelago."
Heimdall smiled though it was small. "Your Chosen's people are safe. They have one of their own overseeing his entire banishment on Midgard."
Loki sighed, hands loosening. "Thank the Norns."
Heimdall did chuckle, eyes distant. "He did give some of the Midgardians a start when he asked about the dragons…it has not helped their thinking that he is insane."
Loki let a small grin steal his lips.
Heimdall's smile fell into a frown. "He has gotten into some trouble, however. A battalion of Midgardians laid claim to the site Mjolnir crashed on and in his attempt to retrieve Mjolnir, he tore through them like an enraged bilgesnipe and now is in their custody."
Loki raised an eyebrow at Heimdall. While not the best situation, it was typical for someone like his brother and if he wasn't jeopardizing the Archipelago, Loki could not figure out why Heimdall was telling him this.
Heimdall took a breath and looked firmly at Loki. "He is just now realizing the full scope of his punishment and will likely soon start searching for remnants of familiar things."
Loki turned his head away in thought and nodded his thanks to Heimdall. He turned left instead of right, heading to the throne room instead of the library.
Using the magic of the throne grew easier with every use and he quickly found his brother, dejectedly sitting in a cheap Midgardian chair in a quickly cobbled together interrogation room. He stared ahead at nothing, his eyes empty and confused with the beginnings of resigned acceptance.
His lips twitched with a smile when he saw Folke being the one to interrogate Thor and he was doing a remarkable job acting like he knew nothing at all of who Thor truly was. After several minutes, Folke finally stepped out when his communicator rang and Loki cast a projection of himself as the door closed.
It took some effort as well as quite a drain on his magic to cast the illusion, but it worked and Thor's head snapped up almost immediately. He took a relieved breath upon seeing his brother. "Loki…What are you doing here?"
"I had to see you." Loki said softly, staring down at his brother in mortal form. He wasn't all that different really.
Thor caught on to his somber mood, all relief gone. "What's happened? Tell me, i-is it Jötunheim? Let me explain to father-"
"Father is dying." Loki cut him off. The half lie fell with ease of his silver tongue, made easier at the utter uncertainty of the All-Mother's if he would ever wake again. Odin, as a father, had been dead to him for years. He felt a wriggle of remorse for such a lie. Thor would no doubt hate him for it later, but if it got him to think about his actions sooner and the consequences of so many of his actions…
Thor fell prey to the falsehoods and leaned back in his seat in a state of shock—brows pinching together. "W-what?"
"Your banishment, the threat of a new war. It was too much for him to bear." Loki continued on, weaving the tale and digging the knife in the places he knew would affect Thor the most—would get him to think the most. "You mustn't blame yourself. I know that you loved him, I tried to tell him so but he wouldn't listen."
A tear fell from Thor's eye as he glanced away and Loki barely restrained a glare and pleased smile. He hadn't seen Thor cry since their childhood and some parts of him were still vindictive over Hiccup's death—a death Thor unwittingly helped to orchestrate by standing in his way at the Tree of Iðunn.
"So cruel to put the handle within your reach knowing you could never lift it."
Thor swallowed thickly and stared at the ground but still listened to his brother.
Loki looked pityingly at Thor, only half an act. "The burden of the throne has fallen to me now."
Thor looked up, a new, desperate light in his eyes as he brokenly asked, "Can I come home?"
"The truce with Jötunheim is conditional upon your exile." Thor started to argue with him, to plead, but Loki shut it down. "Mother… has completely forbidden your return until our relations with Jötunheim are more stable."
Thor's shoulders fell, silent with the news that brought too many shocks to his mind…that he had caused all of this to occur.
Loki dipped his head towards Thor, desperately wanting to smirk and tease Thor for finally using his head but he withheld that desire. "This could be goodbye, brother. I'm so sorry."
Thor shook his head and took a moment to find his voice again. "No. I am sorry. Thank you for coming here."
Loki started to turn and nearly let the illusion dissipate when Heimdall's words rang in his ears again and he turned sharply, fixing Thor with a hard look. "I am sorry you must bear this, brother, but I must leave you with a warning. My Chosen's people still reside here, on Midgard, in hiding. Do not let your mouth and careless words destroy what I and his descendants worked so hard to build and hide."
Thor's eyes widened, chin touching his chest as his ears warmed. It was too easy to forget here in Midgard what was spoken of openly on Asgard. "I will say nothing of them. You have my word."
Loki nodded. Thor was many things but he always upheld his word. "Thank you, brother. Farewell."
The illusion vanished and the room was utterly empty again except for Thor. He sighed and muttered, "Goodbye."
An amused smile worked its way up Loki's lips as Folke reentered the room and stared strangely at Thor as he bid him farewell. He really could not have left at a better time. He glanced down at Mjolnir and momentarily thought about attempting to lift it before dismissing the idea and rising from the throne.
He was far from worthy, especially by the All-Father's standards who was the one to cast the spell. Hiccup, he thought, he might be worthy…wouldn't that be a sight to see. He shook his head as he walked out, a fond smile on his lips. A Midgardian ruling Asgard. I think he would do well, too, however much he would hate it.
Well, hope you liked it and see y'all soon. Leave your thoughts I enjoy hearing them and a belated happy Thanksgiving to my American readers.
PS. I just learned that FF has done a new thing called "email opt-in". It's auto-set on "No" so you won't get any kind of update, at least email wise, from anything on FF unless you turn it back on. Frustrating as heck because for almost two weeks I haven't got a thing which was a tad unusual which is how I figured it out. Thought I'd let y'all know but maybe I was just late to the game or something. Anyway, have a great week!
