Chapter 9

Loki wasn't sure how much time had passed when Thor visited him. He hadn't been keeping track since his mother's death, but instead, he had chosen to focus on what he had left. Everything felt stale and poisonous now. Like by killing her, somehow the light that was their world had been killed too. The optimism and faith in the future. Most of all, neither Loki nor Terra were sure how to raise their child now that the queen was gone. Before Loki had been content in knowing that Terra wouldn't have to walk in scorn amongst Asgard alone that his mother would walk beside her to protect her, but now the thought of her safety and that of their child worried him greatly. He couldn't be there and as of late he was becoming even more aware that they couldn't raise their child in his cell.

"No child will understand the reasons why I'm here" thought Loki quite often now, especially as Terra began to stay in his cell all the more, and he knew it wasn't just because she was afraid as he was, he knew since his mother's death that she seriously doubted the guards ability to protect the castle. Because everyone knew what was coming. Danger. Whatever had come for Jane Foster would come again and where before they had lost their queen, no one knew what would happen the next time.

In the time since Frigga's death, Terra had become more noticeable in her pregnancy. Seeing her pregnant, swollen with child both brought him joy, and great worry. Because his future was set inside his cell and yet, hers, and that of their child was not. They could leave and do anything. Anything could happen. One night, Loki found himself touching her stomach, and as if sensing him, the child had kicked at him. Even as he smiled at the small movement, Loki couldn't help picturing a day years from now when his child would have to visit him in the same cell they were now. The image always chilled him. And yet, having Terra there still brought him more joy then anything in the time since his mother's death. He had lost one of the only people who had ever cared. His mother had never treated him any different then Thor. From her, he had received only a mother's love. He never would have known that he wasn't her son if the secret had never been revealed because she was always so loving to him the truth be damned. Now, she was gone. It made Terra and the child within her even more important. Because they were all he had left. They were his family and Loki knew that whether he was in that cell or not that he had to protect them. He just didn't know how.

Loki's mind was still on his grief when Thor came to visit that day. Terra had left him to see the doctors and walk around as they had prescribed. Loki didn't let her see him this way, he didn't let anyone until Thor appeared, and the illusion he had created fell away. There were many things unsaid between them, but as he stood there, Loki sensed that they were united in this. In the need to avenge their mother. When he did, the charade he had in place faded away, and he let his brother see him sitting against the wall.

"Now you see me brother…did she suffer?" said Loki, thinking of their mother, but Thor didn't let him continue.

"I did not come here to share our grief. Instead, I offer you the chance at a far richer sacrament" said Thor, his tone brisk like a lion holding back his roar. Loki found he almost admired it.

"Go on" whispered Loki immediately wondering what his brother had up his sleeve and how it would affect him and Terra too.

"I know you seek vengeance as much as I do, you help me escape Asgard, and I will grant it to you. Vengeance and afterward this cell" exclaimed Thor, his voice never wavering even when Loki laughed.

"You must be truly desperate to come to me for help. What makes you think you can trust me?" exclaimed Loki knowing his decision, but not willing to tell Thor that.

"I don't…mother did. You should know that when we fought each other in the paste I did so with a glimmer of hope that my brother was still in there somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me and I will kill you" said Thor a seriousness in his voice that Loki had never heard before.

"When do we start" whispered Loki, seconds before Terra emerged from the darkness. She had been there the entire time and now, as the two men looked at her, she stared daggers right at them. However, Loki didn't fail to notice that those daggered eyes of hers kept straying to where he was making him instantly make his way to his feet.

Loki could tell from the look on her face that she knew what was being planned. He expected her to be upset as she moved forward until she almost stood between them.

"You're going to go avenge your mother?" said Terra, the statement more of a demand then anything else.

"Terra—" whispered Loki, but when she looked at him the words he had planned seemed to fall away as her eyes lingered on his until they found that of Thor seeming to become more deadly in that moment.

"If anything happens to him while he's with you, if you bring him back harmed in any way either by your hand or someone else's don't think I won't find a way to hurt you. Believe me, Thor, I could be your worst nightmare" snapped Terra, something inside her seeming to flash at him as the barrier went down. Going through it, Terra came to stand in front of Loki now, and making him look at her those eyes were piercing his now.

"And if you leave me to raise this child alone, I will bring you back from the dead only to kill you again" whispered Terra, smiling even as she leaned close to kiss him.