I do apologize for the strange way that this fic is written. Remember, two separate people are writing this...and it is a little difficult to mash it together.
Thank you to those who are reading this. It is much appreciated. This story is fun to write. At times, even painful. I've had my heart racing in some spots.
But, I am being nice and posting this here already. Please review, it helps me out so much.
~~~~TLG~~~~
The Doctor's continence darkened at what he had just witnessed. He knew of the young prince's reputation by ear only, but this…
The Time Lord knew that his own expression must match that of the outraged Odin, who was already screaming Loki's name to the skies.
Who was laughing like a young child who had just gotten away with a year's worth of chocolate chip cookies. The Doctor wanted to do something…but he was stuck on this trice-cursed tower. He tossed his half-eaten apple off the tower, the fruit sailing far into the air before hitting one of Asgardian's on the head. The Time Lord drew out his trusty ole' sonic screwdriver, making the blue tip blink a few times before he spun around.
The prince's head fell back in laughter. Tears forming in his eyes as he chuckled like someone had just said the best joke. The Foctor seemed pretty annoyed which.. kind of added to Loki's amusement. However, he had no quarrel with the man. It didn't stop him from laughing though. He loved it. Odin screaming his name at the top of his lungs. It hadn't taken his father ten seconds to conclude who had done it. Maybe his dull father was getting smarter with the years.
Loki highly doubted it, but his laughter was soon cut off as a half eaten apple crossed his vision. The fruit sailed in the air like a boat at sea. Whistling across the now dark sky. Then, as quickly as Loki had went silent he started laughing again. This time even harder. The apple had landed on a Asgardian general. In particular, Loki's least favorite teacher. The man had bruised up Odin's youngest son like a peach. The warrior deserved it more than anyone else in the room certainty did, and Loki enjoyed it more than the Doctor did. Reluctantly, the prince looked away from the scene. The Doctor seemed busy with a little gadget. Engrossed in the little thing.
"Amusing, huh?" Loki asked. His face still sparkling with joy.
The Doctor's face remained dark as he looked upon the god of mischief. But the god's joy was intoxicating, the pure joy radiating from Loki cracked the Time Lord's shell. The Doctor began to laugh. He laughed so hard, his sides began to hurt. The expressions on the gods below were priceless.
Oh, how could he remain mad at such when he himself used to pull pranks with his friend? The Doctor was always rebelling against the council. He took in a deep breath, attempting to speak, "Quite amusing."
No one was hurt, just a few ruined outfits. The Doctor could allow this to slide. Besides, aren't gods supposed to be really tough?
"Now, how about getting us down? And, please, not the whole bird thing," he was still a bit green from the last time. The Doctor tucked his sonic back into his coat, making sure it was secured.
"Oh, yes. Yes!" Loki said between his giggles. A bright smile never fading from his face.
"You'll need to..." Loki began. Grabbing his side that ached from his mass amount of laughing, "One second. I'm afraid you'll have to excuse my laughing. It's been awhile since Odin has made just a wonderful face," He said.
Finally, regaining himself, the hand leaving his side as he grabbed the Doctor's shoulder.
"You did not like flying?" Loki said with a raised eyebrows. It was curious. He figured everyone enjoyed the feeling, but seemingly the man had not.
"Curious," Loki mumbled. Playing with the bracelets on his wrists. It was possibly late enough for Odin to have sent for Loki in his chambers, but everyone knew that Loki's cackles could be heard above the cries of annoyance. He was famous for these sorts of pranks. Luckily, no one had gotten hurt. Loki never meant to hurt anyone, but it just seemed to happen.. With a sigh Loki looked up at the Doctor through his black eyelashes. "How do you feel about transportation?"
The Doctor, who knew his own mirth had caused at least one stitch in his own side, understood what the god meant. Odin did make a wonderful expression, although the Doctor did not want to be on the receiving end afterwards…but for now, the Time Lord was going to enjoy himself.
"I prefer to have something solid beneath my feet when I'm in the air," The Doctor tried to explain. He did like to fly, but only when it was inside something that was supposed to be up in the air. And he was a little suspicious of what Loki meant by 'transportation'. So the Doctor arced an eyebrow and shrugged, "Sure, why not."
He'll try it if it meant he would get down from this tower. Although, right now, this might be the safest spot. For a little while, at least. Safe spot…the Doctor pounded on his head. Of course, he was so thick sometimes.
"My old rooms. They're still down there. Ole' one eye down there won't think to look for you in there. Best place for the both of us." He grinned.
Loki shook his head with a proud smirk stretched across his face. It wasn't normal for the god to meet someone without the normal attitude of Odin's visitors. Perhaps this man was the most pleasant surprise that had been in this palace for decades. That is right behind a strange drink called high-grade that had once ended up in Loki's wine. The things the man got away with that night were astonishing. He hadn't even known he could of done such things as he had. The following morning he'd risen with ten women on his bed causing Loki to rethink ever touching the stuff again. He wasn't found of having to stumble over dirty bodies to reach the water on his nightstand.
Without much thought Loki whispered a few words under his breath. Grabbing the Doctor with a strong grip.
"Hold on tight, Doctor," Loki whispered. His index finger pressed against thin pink lips that still remained in a smile. Possibly, three seconds passed before Loki pushed himself off the tower. The Doctor's body tumbling over afterwards. They fell for almost a minute before the black portal enveloped the two men. Devouring them in black space. Laughing filled the silence of the darkness. The laughter of the mischievous prince.
"You should of seen your face," Loki cackled before the portal opened again. Light trickling into the abyss of darkness the men resided in. The Doctor seemed to be laying on his back. Confusion and shock covering his face like a blanket. The strange eyebrow thing glued onto his face.
"Come on, Doctor. We've reached our destination," the young man said, offering his hand to the disoriented Time Lord.
The Doctor blinked the spots out of his eyes, still slightly disoriented as he accepted Loki's hand. He rubbed his face, quite possibly making sure that everything was where it was supposed to be. He sneezed, their arrival disturbing the centuries of dust that had gathered over every inch of the room. The Doctor stumbled his way to where he, hopefully, remembered the closet to be. The Time Lord bundled a bunch of, rather dusty, clothing onto his arm.
He turned back to the mischief god, "Just make yourself at home. I'm going to rid myself of this traveling dust and some years of guilt under some rather warm water. You should be safe from ole' grumps in here."
The Doctor wanted to look fresh and intimidating in some Asgardian gear in case Odin did come a-calling for Loki. He sonic-ed the shower, turning the water back on, letting it run as he stripped off his dusty clothing. The water dripped down his body, soothing tired old muscles and warming his skin. The old Time Lord let the water erase all of his guilt. Let it erase the faces of those he had to leave behind. With a sigh, he turned off the water, water running of his lean body. The Doctor grabbed a towel, drying himself and pulling on the blue, black, and gold outfit. He was pulling the laces tight on the sleeves with his teeth as he walked out of the bathroom. The Doctor turned in front of Loki, "Suits me, don't you think?"
Loki sat in the dusty room for what seemed hours as the Time Lord bathed himself. The sorted smells of soaps filling his nose like gas. He could hear the Doctor sing along songs that were not of any language Loki had ever heard. It was strange and awkward to be sitting in a room he didn't even knew existed. Humming songs that made the Doctor's make much more sense. Sweat trickled down Loki's neck when the door to the baths finally opened. A faint smile appearing on Loki's lips when he saw the Doctor happily come out wearing clothes like his own. At least they were not like the warrior's stale amour. Perhaps this man was a mage like himself. Perhaps maybe he wasn't alone after all. Another male mage at last.
"For you. Yes, it does. Rather nicely," Loki answered the man. His mind rather gone from the place they inhabited. All these years and finally… he was not alone. Finally…
The Doctor flicked a blue-lined black cloak over his outfit, fixing the small golden pauldrens on his shoulders. He was a bit surprised that the get-up still fit. He had changed quite a bit since his last visit.
The Time Lord frowned, noticing the expression on Loki's face. He chuckled, brushing the fabric with a hand. The Doctor riffled through the pockets of his discarded brown coat, pulling out his sonic and stuffing it into a pocket.
"I had absolutely doubted that any of these clothes would still fit. Glad that they do, to tell you the truth," his eyes swept the rest of the clothes, "I like these better than those heavy 'warrior' clothes. Easier to run in, too," the Doctor chuckled, "Got the funniest look from Odin when I requested 'mage' clothing. But I insisted and I got all of these. More clothes than I could wear in a lifetime."
He laughed at his little joke, running the towel through his hair, spiking the brown strands, before letting the towel fall to the floor. He stared at the god of mischief, "I still cannot get over how much you have grown. I remember a little tyke just beginning to dabble in magics. Thor proudly swinging that ridiculous hammer of his before you illusion-ed it into a snake. I nearly regenerated right then and there, I was laughing so hard."
Loki watched as the Doctor arranged his robes piece by piece. It felt that the small dabble would take hours. The prince soon growing impatient at his wait. He doubted servants scurried this region of the palace, for it had been abandoned for centuries. Lost to time and space itself. Even at this calm hour in the evening, the prince could feel the life that had once buzzed in this room, filling Loki's ears with a rhythmic pattern over and over again. It sounded distant as a few rooms away, but Loki knew that if he'd go searching of it he'd only appear as a fool.
"You know my father?" Loki said. His voice low and distracted. It had been such a long time since anyone besides Thor and his friends who had talked to Loki like he was actually alive. Many turned their heads while lowering their voices until the young prince had passed.
Reluctantly, Loki pulled himself from his memories. Even his twisted childhood seemed of so much comfort these days. Time had corrupted him with each strike inside his chest. It was however his fate, bestowed upon him like a crown on a prince. Loki looked down at the floor and back up again. His hair glowing as the final evening's light burned through the strand's dark color. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" the Doctor's eyebrow raised as he finished up his outfit, "Sorry for being what you are?" he clamped a hand down on Loki's shoulder, looking deep into Loki's green eyes with his own brown ones and smiled, "Or are you sorry that I know your father?"
The Time Lord pulled back, holding the god out at arms length, scrutinizing him. The god of mischief's face had the same haggard look that the Doctor's old friend and enemy used to carry. That look of a man that was unloved by many, who held a soul-eating vengeance, who would do anything to be loved…or feared.
The Doctor swore to himself right then and there that, one the rest of his lives, he would prevent what happened to the Master to happen to Loki. The Time Lord felt this was the universe giving him a second chance.
"Besides," he said with a chuckle, "I haven't had a laugh like that in a long time. You were my favorite, really. A light among all those beef heads swinging around weapons," the Doctor tapped his head, "I prefer those who use their heads before their muscles."
"Knowing Odin would be a shame in anyone's life, I suppose." Loki chuckled as he ran his fingers through his hair. Content to stay a bit with the man before accepting his father's punishment for his prank.
That is if he got blamed. With guests roaming the halls Loki doubted that Odin would punish him in fear that the people would think him a bad father. Not raising his children to behave.
A smug grin left Loki's lips at the thought. Odin was everything but a father. He was a king, an idiot, and a fool but never a father. Not to him. A hand pressed firmly on Loki's shoulder. A strange gesture for any male besides Thor in the realm. Thor was the only man that dared to touch him in Asgard. Everyone feared him to much, or at least that's what Loki liked to think. Fear was better than being hated. The young prince looked down at his slim fingers. Examining the proof of his lack of time in battle. He didn't get himself covered in blood. He had never wanted that. The surge of battle not intoxicating him like it did the others. Magic was originally a source of defense. A giver of life not a thief of it. Behind the walls of the neglected boy was a child who only wished to be loved.
Death reeked from the halls of this palace. The people who found it beautiful disgusted Loki, for they had no idea the price that they'd been built with. Unnatural children cursed with life and lives given away like water on a hot day. It was sickening. A palace of blood that gleamed gold only burned crimson in his eyes.
"Warriors only bring death." Loki spat in reply. He hated this realm for its cruel ways. Its lack of trust and need for pain.
"Isn't there enough of that in the realms, Doctor?" Loki asked as he looked up at the man through his eyelashes. A sudden veil of emotions flooding his irises.
The Doctor could feel the wash of emotions coming off the god in waves, and his hearts hurt from it. Emotions the Time Lord never wanted to feel ever again began to bubble to the surface. He felt angry. What life has this man had to make him so?
The Doctor trembled, turning away from the god.
"Some worlds out there believe that the word 'doctor' means 'great warrior'. Is that what I have become?" He sat heavily on the dust covered bed, his whole body hunched in defeat. One moment, he was the Time Lord Victorious and the next, he was just an old man.
He buried his head in his hands, pulling at his brown hair, "I see so much death. I see the strands of time. What has been, what is, and what will be, as well as what could be. It is a curse. I have seen death. Hell, some of it was my own doing."
He sat in silence for a few heartbeats before hoisting himself up off the bed. Out from underneath the mattress the Doctor pulled out a long silver rod, about four feet in length, in which he plugged his sonic. The tip of the rod bloomed like an exotic flower, a ball of blue energy swirling at its center. Gone was the old man once again and in his place was the last of the Time Lords. "Time to see what has changed in my absence." he winked at Loki.
"I can assure you, Doctor. The wine is just as good as the woman." The prince said with a smile. Bringing himself off the bed in a swift movement. Dust not bothering to move at his action. Good. Loki hated dust. It made him sneeze. Not fun for a god who possessed magic.
The last time he'd sneezed it had covered an entire room in flames. It took almost all of Asgard to put it out. He'd even once summoned a dragon. That, however, was not to be spoken of. Loki had managed to rid of it on his own. Causally, Loki ran his fingers through his hair. The strands falling back into place before he reached for his helmet. It had been a war meeting his father addressed. Loki thought at the very least he'd look his nicest. Wasn't he a proper prince? A chuckle left Loki's lips at his cleverness. Satisfied with his appearance, he winked back at the Doctor as he walked over to the door.
"Are you coming?" He asked. His hands on his hips like a sassy young girl.
For some strange reason, this god reminded the Doctor a lot of a certain Captain Jack Harkness. Women…booze…men…no holds barred for that man. He patted Loki's shoulder again before using the sonic staff to unlock the door.
The hinges squeaked, "Remind me to have Odin send someone to fix this room up," the Doctor said, closing the door back behind him, "I plan on staying longer this time around." The Time Lord took long strides down the forgotten hallway, his nose crinkled in disgust. His fingers traced the circular markings that now decorated the staff, the language of his people etched into the silver.
The same language that, at one time, could burn planets and create galaxies. But now…he sighed. The Doctor traced a carving on the wall, dust and cobwebs coming away on his fingertips. An engraved image of the TARDIS was revealed, the arrival of the Doctor to Asgard immortalized in stone. The gift of the Tesseract to Odin, a forgotten story to many of the Asgardians, the Doctor believed. The engraved Doctor, him in his floppy hat and overlong scarf, looked silly next to the imposing figure of the eye-patched Odin. Another scene showed a young Thor and a little Loki sitting on the Doctor's knees as he regaled them with stories of his adventures.
The Doctor traced the lines of the Tesseract, now might be the time to take the artifact back. The Time War was now over and there was no more need to hide the cube.
"I'm sure your presence is always welcome," Loki replied. His eyes curiously swarming the silver staff in the Doctor's hand. It looked strangely like Odin's spear of destiny, but a completely different color to be it. Confusion flustered across Loki's brow. His mind unsure how to feel about the thing. He'd always preferred smaller more concealable weapons, but this staff suited the Doctor very well. It was similar to what wearing the right boots could do to a warrior's outfit. The thing fit into the set of characteristics like a puzzle piece.
Hesitantly, Loki tore his eyes away from the item back to the golden halls of Asgard. The sun now gone from the sky, leaving the two men in nothing other than the light of steady burning torches. A cool breeze cooling the warm summer night with its gentle breath. Though the realm was at peace with the other realm, it still felt as if war raged outside the calm gates.
It seemed to never change in the palace for the young prince. The sounds of battle haunted him. The sounds of swords clashing in an even rhythmic pattern of four clangs repeating itself in his head over and over again. It was agonizing, but through the years he'd become accustomed to its presence. The song almost sweet in his ears on some days, but others, it felt like it mocked him. The noise only going away when he'd disappear into the depths of a planet where the stars were nowhere to be seen.
"However.." Loki gestured to the room covered in the grey film of dust. "I don't think our servants will like you very much."
The Doctor lowered his hands, sighing, before turning back to Loki. He chuckled, "Usually those who know of me wish me to leave…quickly." The Time Lord left the wall, striding quickly to the the far end of the hallway, where the crackling firelight twirled upwards to join the stars.
The Doctor and Loki soon left where they stood. Calmly, walking down the hallway towards the dinning halls where Loki hoped he could slip away long enough to escape to his rooms. Warriors were bond to be furious, and the prince had no desire to have himself bruised blue for the rest on the month.
After they had turned a few corners, Loki had began to get twitchy. His eyes darting across every last inch of their surrounds as they continued down the halls. He had no doubts that they'd already raided his rooms looking for him. These halls would be last on their mindless search, but he knew they would find him.
Silently, Loki began walking closer to the Doctor. His hands curled in fists in some preparation to protect himself. Magic buzzed in his blood, ready for action. However, Loki knew that it would not hold all of them off, and the nearing sounds of a mob only caused Loki to summon his magic stronger into his fists, the skin blue with ice magic.
Loud angry voices could be heard, accompanied by the smells of cooked food. The Doctor emerged from the hallway, Loki, he knew, to be behind him. Burly men turned, many of them covered in bits of food, scraps hanging from their beards or thick tresses. Most of the men barely glanced at the Doctor, instead focusing on the god behind him.
Preparing to run, yet the Doctor stood his ground. Then, the warriors charged at the prince. They did not wait to ask him if he'd done it, but instead inferred that the fault was his. Pushing over one and another to be the first to damage his cream skin. Their faces scrunched in anger as they barreled towards Loki, but the Doctor brought his silver scepter to bear, the blue light at its tip flashing in warning.
"Come closer at your own peril!" the Doctor said, his voice level, only a hint of anger tinging his words. The gods backed away, although their eyes kept flickering to Loki. The Doctor banged the staff against the stone floor, catching the gods' attention.
Loki was looking around for an escape, any escape, but he was locked in the halls. No place to run to.
"Is it not customary to bow to a prince of Asgard?" The Time Lord's voice this time around was enough to bend the knees of the gods, their anger now diminished, embarrassment tinging their ruddy faces. The Doctor wrapped his free arm around Loki's shoulder, escorting the prince through the crowd of men.
Fear trickled down his back before he heard the Doctor speak, and when Loki looked up the entire mob was shaking. Their heads hung low as they stumbled unto their knees. The prince looked wide eyed at the men who had never shown him any respect offering the highest form of it. Loki faintly smiled as he slowly eased his tensed up body. A hand on his shoulder, leading him to the dinning halls.
"Loki, my friend, are you not hungry? I feel as if I could eat a horse. Although I doubt horse would taste good. I prefer apples, myself, or a good banana. But never pears. I hate pears. Absolutely cannot stand pears. Bbbuuutt, I am open to trying new things."
"Than..Thank you." Loki muttered before standing tall again. The last remains of tingling fear flowing from his body, and being replaced with lovely pride. Strong and powerful in his veins. "There is a new assortment of bananas that arrived yesterday. That is if you're interested." Loki chuckled. A bright smile replacing the nervous one that had so little ago played across his lips.
~~~~TLG~~~~
So, for those who are still here, you should know the drill. Drop a little review into the box and the next chapter will be up really quick. Go on, ducklings. Go on.
And I will warn you faithful readers right now. The next chapter is going to be...difficult to read. Especially for those Loki fans out there. I do believe I can already hear the screaming...and the tears. It was difficult to write, I admit.