Thank you for the reviews, faves and follows it means a lot. Sorry I kept you waiting, I am editing chapter 8 and they should be out this weekend.
Thank you
Chapter 7
Hard time
Asgard
In the grand hall of Asgard the guards surrounded Odin and the viewer of the trial sat on edge of their seats waiting for the drama to begin. They had all grown with Loki and seen his power and what he was capable of.
Loki was escorted through the hall the trial was taking place in. He dragged his shackled feet as he approached Odin with a sick smirk on his face. The room filled with murmurs of viewers whispering.
Max took a shaky breath in when she saw him for the first time, it had been roughly one year since she'd seen him last. One year she spent mourning him until a day ago, when she woke up to the news Loki was not only alive but trying to take over her home planet. She felt a pang in her stomach, so strong if knocked her sick.
Loki walked with his head held high, not a single sign of remorse visible. Suddenly he noticed his mother out of the corner of his eye, he turned his head to face her and smiled. "Have I made you proud mother?" Loki asked his voice dripping in sarcasm. Max cringed at the tone he was taking with his mother, not one he would of taken before. Her heart sped up as he walked closer to her.
"Loki don't make this worse for yourself" Frigga begged with pleading eyes, heartbroken to see her son in chains.
Loki smirked not listening to his mother, his eyes landed on his best friend as he took another step, his eyes remained devilish as he looked her up and down. "And you Maxine?" He whispered in an almost seductive voice that send a chill up her spine. "Are you proud of me and what I have done to your home planet?" He asked in a quite voice.
Maxines' whole body froze, she couldn't speak or move, she just stared into the eyes of the man she once would of moved mountains for, heartbroken.
"Enough" The all father cried as he stamped his staff on the marble floor sending an echo shooting through the room. Loki looked Maxine up and down one more time before turning his head and smirking towards his adoptive father.
Loki carried on walking and stopped in front of Odin still wearing a sly smirk on his face "Is this really necessary?" He laughed holding his chains up in front of his father. Odin remained stoic and didn't bat an eyelash at Lokis' trying behaviour.
Odin held his head high as he glared at his youngest "What you have done to the Midgardian people is unbelievable and unforgivable. You took your power and you used it against the innocent" He lectured.
Max watched Loki as Odin spoke, he was different she noticed, not just visually but everything about him. The way he stood, the carelessness of his speech and his tense body language. Something didn't sit right with her, she was disgusted in him at the same time as wanting to ask him if he was okay.
Loki gritted his teeth and cocked his head. "Oh father. You have no idea why I did what I did" His tone was venomous, Frigga shut her eyes and wished for her son to be more compliant, she knew the All father wouldn't go easy on him.
Odin held his hand up to his youngest son, he remained calm and collected and chose not to rise to the trickster "And I do not care to know. You faked your death and wreaked havoc upon the Midgardians. We on Asgard are sickened by your actions, some more than others" Odin's tone changed toward the end of his sentence, almost as if he was reminding Loki that his closest friend was indeed Midgardian, Something Loki had never forgotten.
Loki gave a little nod and turned his body around, the guards tensed up for a moment thinking he was going to rebel. He made eye contact with Max. Her eyes where shiny, covered in a film of salty tears ready to drop.
His eyes softened slightly at the sight of her, he never imagined he would come face to face with her again. "And what of you Max?" He asked his tone taking a more serious tone. Max couldn't speak, instead she looked down at the floor with tears pricking at her eyes to the point where it felt painful. She couldn't comprehend that this was the same Loki she'd grown up with, her Loki would never do such a thing.
Odin slammed his staff on the floor sending another loud echo through the building. "Do not address her" He commanded. Loki grinned and turned his head back to his father. The grin faded and he bit his lip and took a deep breath.
"I will speak to whom I wish" he hissed at his father.
"You will close your mouth and listen boy" Odin rose from his chair and pointed at his son, Max noticed Loki took the tiniest step back when he rose. "You will live out your years in Asgard's dungeons" Odin ordered waving his hand, Odin turned his back on Loki and looked out over Asgard.
Loki clenched his jaw, his lip rose slightly almost as if he was snarling. He was tugged back by the guards and slowly led away. He chose not to speak as the walked him by the crowd of people gathered.
Max swallowed the lump in her throat and took the smallest step forward as he walked by her, he tilted his head slightly wishing almost she would speak to him. She opened her mouth to speak but instead a single tear rolled down her cheek. She closed her mouth and he turned his head away from her and carried on walking.
Frigga slipped her hand into Max's as they both silently shed tears for their beloved.
-0-
Weeks later
Asgard
A loud bang shook Maxines' bedroom door, she snapped her head up from the book she was reading and quickly stowed it away underneath her pillow. The door handle turned and Thor came bursting into the room. His hair was tied back from his face and he wore a loose white shirt with black trousers, clearly ready to retire for the night.
Maxine pulled her night dress back up onto her shoulder in fear of being inappropriate to a prince. "Thor?" she asked her tone filled with confusion. Thor closed the door behind him and walked hastily over to Maxines' bed.
"Lady Maxine I must speak with you forgive me for barging in to your bedroom but this can not wait" Thor stressed.
Maxine stood up from her bed, her night dress reached just past her knee, Thor made a point of keeping eye contact with her. Maxine suddenly got a horrid feeling in her gut "Is he okay?" she asked her voice barely a whisper.
Thor let out a light laugh and looked down to his bare feet "It's funny how your mind always goes to him, is he all you think about?" Thor asked in a more serious tone looking up at her.
Maxine swallowed hard and nodded. "Most days" she admitted in a weak voice.
Thor sighed and perched on Maxines bed, she did the same and turned to him. She knew for Thor to come to her there must of been something bothering him. She respected him enough to listen.
Thor took a deep breath knowing what he would say would most lightly upset her, and that was beyond not his intention. "Maxine this is why I must speak with you" He began "Your mother worries about you, as does mine and as do I" He confessed.
Maxine shook her head, she was confused. "Well, you're all worrying in vein Thor. There is nothing wrong with me" She told him offering a smile.
Thor shook his head knowing it was all an act. "Last year you changed. When Loki fell from the bridge you changed, Loss is a terrible thing but we morn and move on" He told her seriously, she didn't answer instead looked down at her hands. Her fingers tapping against each other. The mention of Loki and loss triggered her, her heart began to beat rapidly and she felt hot.
Thor sensed the change in her and took her hands in his own to stop her tapping. "You are surrounded by people that love you but you insist on thinking about him" Thor sounded broken himself.
Maxine closed her eyes and took a deep shaky breath "He is my best friend" she reminded Thor.
Thor pressed his lips together "We both know he is more to you than that" Thor said quietly.
Maxines eyes softened when she looked at the older prince. "Do you believe in soul mates?" she asked in a small voice.
Thor nodded. "I do".
Maxine paused before speaking, the crackling of the fire place filled the silence. Thor was patient as he rubbed his thumb over her hand soothing her. "He is mine" She finally whispered.
Thor swallowed hard, something about her sentiment annoyed him. The thought of her being so Loyal to someone like him grated on him. "Correct me if I am wrong but would a soul mate launch an attack on his others home planet, trick them into thinking he is dead. Loki is no hero and he is not your soulmate" His words came out harsher than he had intended but she didn't rise to it.
Instead Maxine smiled and looked down at the pairs hands. "Love is a tricky thing Thor" she whispered.
Thor sighed he wished she could see it from his point of view and try to forget. "You must understand I feel protective over you, I have grown with you I remember the day you where brought to Asgard. I can't bear to see you like this much longer" His voice was shaky, she could tell he truly cared.
"I'm sorry" she whispered. She knew Thor was right and she felt terrible she kept him away at night with worry, but she just couldn't stop herself. "I need to see him" She told him.
Thor shook his head. "You can't the All father won't allow it" he said quickly trying his best to eradicate the thought from her head. "And neither will I Maxine this isn't healthy" His tone now more serious. Maxine pulled her hand from Thors' and ran it through her long brown locks.
Thor let out an exasperated sigh he quickly rose form the bed. He began to pace the room as he spoke "I love my brother and I love you too, I don't want to see you hurt anymore" He was getting more high rate.
Maxines' shoulders sagged, she could see the worry in Thor and it only added to her already broken heart "And I love you Thor you have always been there for me and protected me and I appreciate that. Until I see Loki and can ask him why, I am always going to hurt" She told him honestly.
Thor turned and walked to her. He knelt in front of her bed and grabbed her hands again. "Don't suffer alone, I am here Maxine" Thor pleaded as he squeezed her hands.
Maxine looked down at his hand and then back up at him "And how do you feel?" Maxine asked in a soft voice directing the conversation away from herself.
"I am heartbroken" He admitted nodding to himself. "I thought me and my brother would one day rule side by side together" He added, his tone sightly darker at the realization that will never happen. "He stabbed me in the back, you also" Thor said softly looking up to Maxine. Her eyes had tears in them, she knew Thor had a point but she wasn't going to ever give up on Loki, not until she understood.
"I'm sorry" Thor mumbled, Maxine squeezed his hands back. She knew Thor had been having a hard time with all this as well. Thor himself had to battle Loki and bring him back to be punished for his crimes, not an easy job. "Do you feel hate towards me Maxine?" Thor asked looking up at her again, his eyes filled with sadness.
Maxine took one of her hands and pushed a loose strand of blonde hair behind his ear. "Sometimes" She whispered honestly.
"I had to bring him back" Thor said quietly.
"I know" she admitted. "I just want the real Loki back" She added her voice barely audible.
"I fear he is gone forever" Thor said in a morbid tone. He rose from the floor and sat next to Maxine, there was no space between them. Thor had never been one for personal space, he placed one arm around her and pulled her into his rock hard body. His hand brushed against her hair to sooth her. "But I find comfort in you. In a weird way I feel as though you are what I have left of the real Loki" Thor admitted in a quite voice.
Maxine closed her eyes and a single tear rolled down her cheek, she buried her face into Thor's chest and said nothing. Neither did Thor, they spent the next hour in each other arms listening to the fire crack.
The thought crossed Maxines' mind of what Loki would think of this, but Thor was right, in some weird way they were all that they had left of Loki to each other, and they both found comfort in that.
3 weeks later
Weeks had passed and Thor and Maxine had been spending more time together, Maxine still spending a good amount of time on her own hatching a plan of how she could get to Loki. Every time it felt like she'd gotten somewhere something ruined her plan.
Maxine made her way up the hall towards Loki's room, she'd hope the enchantment he'd placed on his door locking it still allowed her entry, she'd hoped she find something in his room to help her.
"Maxine" Thor called in a jolly voice. Maxine froze and turned on her heels, she smiled and held her arms out.
"Thor" she greeted over enthusiastically.
"What are you doing down here?" He asked with a raised brow.
"Exercise" She lied lamely.
"Well be done soon. This afternoon we're going for a drink, I think we both deserve it" Thor said with a big grin on his face.
Maxine felt bad lying to him day in an say out about her whereabouts but he was not supportive of her seeing Loki she had no other choice.
"A drink sounds great" She said with a smile. Thor nodded and turned to walk away, she let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in all this time. She rolled her eyes and turned back picking up her walking pace until she reached his room.
Once she reached it she looked up at the large golden door that was etched with images of Loki. She took a deep breath and grabbed the handle turning it slowly. She saw a shimmer of green as she pushed the door open, his enchantment on the door still allowed her access. She smiled and quickly scurried into the room closing the door behind her. "Yes" She whispered to herself.
She turned around and looked at Lokis room, it was immaculate nothing out of place apart from a couple of scraps of paper here and there with spells written on them. She sighed and began to search the room for any spell that would help her get to him.
She started in his personal library pulling out ancient spell books and flicking through them, she tossed another one on the floor as it had nothing useful in it. She bit her lip and looked around the room.
She noticed something on his bedside table wrapped around his lamp, her eyes narrowed and she slowly walked over to it. A daisy crown dangled from the lamp, the daisys where old and dried out but somehow preserved. Maxines heart felt a pain in her heart and she blinked hard, the memory of her and Loki in Friggas garden when they where children popped into her head.
She opened her eyes and reached out her fingers delicately stroking one of the daisys. 'he kept it' she thought to herself. She was taken by surprise, she never pinned Loki as sentimental, she remembered the exact words he said that day when his father questioned him on it, how awful it made her feel when he called it stupid. But no, after all this time he'd kept it.
She inhaled and nodded to herself giving her self a reminder to keep it together. She looked down at the bedside table and slowly opened his bedside drawer. Part of her felt bad, like a major invasion of privacy but she felt she had no choice, she needed something.
She opened the drawer full and pushed a few scraps of paper around in the drawer, she frowned when she saw something she recognized. She grabbed the book out and held it up. "Romeo and Juliet" she said out loud. She frowned knowing that wasn't her copy, hers was torn and water damaged. She let out another shaky breath, Loki once again taking her off guard.
She sighed and threw the book down on the bed, as she did that a paper slipped out from inside catching her eye. She looked at it for a moment before grabbing it and unfolding it to see Lokis hand writing.
I am always here, say the words and close your eyes, when you feel yourself falling don't pull away from it.
Maxines eyes widened when she saw a spell at the bottom of the page. Could this be it? She thought to herself. Her mind was swimming with what this could mean or be, but she knew one thing she was going to find out.
She held the piece of paper out and read the words carefully closing her eyes tight once she had spoken. She began to feet dizzy on her feet, she feared she may even fall down, but she didn't pull away.
Maxine opened her eyes, they darted around the white room she was now stood in until they stopped dead on Loki. He stood leaning against a wall dressed in his usual green leathers. "Maxine" He said in a smooth voice almost like he was expecting her.
He pushed himself off the wall and took a step closer to her, he looked her up and down and smirked. "You've been in my room" He stated with what she could only explain was a proud smile.
Maxines shoulders sagged, she couldn't believe he was all smiles after what he had done. "Is that all you have to say?" She asked in a low voice. She went to strike him in the face with a slap but her hand went straight through his skin.
Loki stared at her and then to the floor, he knew she'd be upset and he'd be lying to himself if he said he didn't see that coming. Maxine held her hand in front of her confused.
"Projection, you're still in my room" Loki explained answering the question in her head.
She twisted her mouth and nodded. "Pity" She mumbled wishing the slap would of landed. There was a silence between the two, Loki stood up straight in front of her with his hands clamped behind his back. She crossed her arms over her body, it was a surreal moment, she'd waited to song to see him but now she had no idea what to say.
"Romeo and Juliet" She said in a croaky voice breaking the silence.
Loki smiled warmly at the girl "I kept a copy because you're so careless with yours" He told her with a small eye roll.
She swallowed hard, it was ever harder to speak to him when he sounded like the old Loki "Why did you do it?" She asked, her tone now nervous.
"Because I wanted to see you" He said softly.
She shook her head "Not that Loki the attack on Midgard" She snapped surprising herself at how assertive she sounded. Loki didn't flinch, he knew it was coming. "It was all so premeditated, you even left this" She held up the spell that she was still holding in her hand.
Loki let out a sigh "That wasn't intended for this purpose, It was in case I was tried in the courts for the destruction of Jotunhiem" He explained calmly.
She frowned now growing more annoyed at him. "Is that supposed to make it better?" She asked.
He released his hands and held them out in front of him. "I know you're angry" He began in a soft voice.
"I am more than angry Loki" She spat this time catching him ore of guard with her temper. The lump in her throat came from nowhere and she choked on her words slightly, he could tell she was devastated. "You broke my heart, twice" she whispered.
Lokis face softened, he wished she was in the room with him physically so he could wrap his arms around her. "I'm sorry" He mumbled not knowing what else to say.
She shook her head not accepting, she wanted answers not an apologies. "Why?" she asked as fresh tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Loki crossed his arms over his body and rolled his eyes. "It's a long story Maxine, one that I am not ready to tell" He mumbled in a dark tone.
She clenched her teeth together harder to stop herself from screaming. "Do you hate me so much you would have me mourn you and then go on to destroy my place of birth" She yelled.
He looked up, there was a look of shock on his face. "I do not hate you how could you think that?" He asked furrowing his brows together.
"Then why!" She snapped.
"Midgard wasn't premeditated because I never thought I'd live" snapped back quickly in a lame attempt to defend himself. Maxine paused and frowned giving him time to explain further.
"When I let go I fell a long way and for a long time, I don't expect you to understand" His voice suddenly got darker and colder. Something changed in his eyes, something she'd never seen before in him. It stopped her tears in there tracks.
She took a moment to compose herself before speaking, she knew screaming at him wouldn't get her anywhere. "Why didn't you come back?" She asked softly, as she wiped the tears from her cheek.
Loki clenched his jaw, he wanted to make her feel better but he knew now wasn't the time to explain how or why. "It wasn't that simple" He muttered quietly. He turned in his cell and began to pace.
"But you had enough time to attack Midgard" she scolded.
"This isn't the time" He snapped.
"Then when is?" She asked.
Loki shrugged and turned back around to face her, he had a shadow of a smile on his face. "Well I am here for the rest of my life" He joked raising his eye brows slightly.
Maxines face screwed up at the ill timed joke. "You're so careless, and heartless" she snapped.
Loki pressed his mouth into a hard line and rolled his eyes. "I'm half beast remember" He deadpanned.
"Don't excuse yourself Loki, take responsibility for what you have done" She snapped now growing more impatient to his behaviour.
He snarled a little at her words "I am aren't I, rotting in this cell wittering away my time reading and thinking, and I can't even have a real life visitor so I am taking responsibility" He snapped back at her.
"No you are being punished, there is a difference" She spat.
"Is punishment not enough?" He asked cocking his head to the side. He slowly stepped forward until he was stood right in front of the projection of Maxine, he looked down at her and stared, his green shiny eyes burning into hers.
"Or have you come to denounce our friendship?" He asked in a low voice. Maxine swallowed hard, he was stood so close that under normal circumstance she'd be able to smell him. It was an odd feeling, she had to keep reminding herself she wasn't actually there. Loki stared at her as she stood in silence staring back at him. He twisted his lips, she could tell he was getting angry "May as well Maxine I have lost everything else so why not you too" He whispered in a low tone.
Tears glazed her eyes and constantly pricked at them threatening to fall, she took a deep shaky breath attempting to control them. "Would you care?"She asked her eyes not leaving his for a second.
She saw his eyes falter for a second "What a stupid thing to say" he spat.
She finally broke the eye contact not being able to hold the salty tears of any longer, she looked at the floor and saw as her own tears his it. As angry as she was at him she still wished she was in the room, she needed to hug him and feel his presence around her, it had been too long.
"I thought you where dead" she whispered, her tone horrified as she closed her eyes and remembered the past year of her life. Never has a time in her life been so dark than when she thought he was dead. Loki took a small step back but kept his eyes on her as she confessed. "I cried everyday for a year" she added, her voice cracked as she spoke of the memory.
His eyes softened and he extended his hand but dropped it quickly when he remembered she wasn't actually in the room. "I'm sorry" he sounded more sincere this time. She didn't speak, apologies meant nothing to her, she just wanted things back to normal.
Loki felt helpless not being able to comfort her "I wanted to come back, when I realized I was alive and the fall didn't kill me you where my first thought" He explained hoping that would bring her some comfort, it wasn't a lie either when he crashed down painfully onto that god forsaken planet his first thought was her as he led and cried out in pain.
He remembered before he was found and tortured screaming out for Maxine as he thrashed around in agony, hoping by some miracle she would hear him and come to his rescue.
She stared at him, she noticed his expression was now much darker. He stared at the floor as he remembered his own personal traumas from the last year. "What stopped you?" She asked earning nothing from him but silence.
She let out another shaky breath. "Why am I not worth an explanation Loki?" she pressed.
"Shut up" he muttered not bothering to look up to her. She frowned at the change in his demeanour again.
She frowned and shook her head. "What happened to you?" She whispered, he said nothing. "When did you turn into this?. I remember once upon a time you where my white knight, you'd protect me from everything and everyone and now you are this, so full of hate towards me" She rambled.
He looked up, his expression now stony "Well that should make it easy for you to hate me and get on with your life" He spat in a more aggressive tone.
She rolled her eyes, as if it was that simple "How should I do that?" She asked.
Loki snarled again "I don't know why don't you ask Thor seeing as he comes to visit you most nights I'm sure he will help, gladly" He said in a tone dripping with sarcasm.
Maxine was shocked her eyebrows both raised "What?" she asked in a tone higher than usual.
Loki clenched his jaw and glared at his best friends. "Guards talk, especially if they can taunt inmates with their frivolous gossip" He spat through his gritted teeth.
Her heart sank, she hadn't realized guard would be so cruel as to taunt him with her. She closed her eyes and let out a little sigh. "Thor has been there for me" She explained.
Loki smiled sarcastically "I bet".
"Shut up Loki you are in no position to get on a high horse with me. Thor is like a brother to me and he has been sitting with me every night while I cry myself to sleep because of you" She snapped not liking the insinuation in his tone.
"Did you sleep with him?" He asked bluntly not even trying to hide the jealousy in his voice.
Her jaw dropped open in shock. "How dare you, why would you even think that?" She shouted now wishing once avian she could plant him in the jaw with her fist.
Loki let out a little laugh and shook his head. "Because Thor would do anything to get under my skin, even do you" He stated crassly shocking Maxine again. "So did you Maxine sleep with my brother the soon to be king of Asgard" He asked slowly and in a venomous tone.
Her heart felt like it had fallen into her stomach. "I hate you" she whispered.
Loki smiled at her "Good then it should be easy for you to forget about me".
She shook her head. She was embarrassed of how she felt, she almost felt ashamed. "I can't" she whispered. Loki pulled a face and Maxine looked up her eyes meeting his. "You're the most important thing in my life and I-".
"Get out" He interrupted in a blunt voice.
"What?" she whispered.
Lokis eyes widened and his fists where now clenched. "Leave" He screamed, with a wave of his hand he and the white room disappeared and so did Loki.
She fell back and tumbled to the floor, when she opened her eyes she realized she was back in Lokis room lead on his floor. The tears began to stream from her eyes and her shoulders began to shake. She rolled onto her side and brought her knees up to her chest and held them there as she sobbed.
She'd made it to the pub that night, she knew she needed a drink. Her eyes where puffy and red from the crying but she didn't worry about her friend seeing her like this. Thor knew better than to press her with questions.
She looked around the pub and looked back to the empty seat beside her, it was unlike Thor to keep her waiting, she watched his beer as the bubbles began to disappear from sitting there too long. She sat back in her chair and sighed, her finger circling the top of her now empty glass.
Suddenly Thor appeared in the pub walking at a fast pace. Maxine looked up and rose from her chair sensing something wasn't right.
"Max" Thor began. "The girl on Midgard" he said in a worried voice.
"Jane" Maxine nodded remembering the woman Thor had fallen for when he'd been banished to earth years before.
"Heimdall can not see her" He explained quickly, Maxs heart stopped for a second, she'd hoped no ill fate had come of the young woman her friend was so fond of. "I have to go to Midgard to check she is okay" Thor added.
She could tell Thor was almost asking permission to leave her alone for a while. "It's okay" she whispered. She took a step closer and threw her arms around him pulling him into a hug. "Go find her" Maxine added before pulling away.
"I won't be long" He promised.
"Don't worry Thor" she reassured him, he smiled at her and she forced a smile back. She understood that his love being in danger was more important than her sadness, it would be selfish to think otherwise, she knew that.
"I'll see you later tonight" He said with another nod. He turned and left the pub as quickly as he entered. Maxine fell back into her seat and sighed. She silently reached for what would of been Thors beer and raised it to her lips, she lent her head back and downed the whole thing in one as other pub goers watched on.
Unsurprisingly the drink went straight to her head. Asgardian beer is all she'd ever known but her body still reacted like that or a human when ever she drank it.
