Loki awakens with a jerk, his chest heaving and his heartbeat pounding in his skull like a hammer. He stares blankly into the forest, a deep sinking feeling in his whole body. He rises and continues toward the portal. He didn't realize how many eyes Amora must have on him. Perhaps even the trees and the birds themselves have fallen into her grip.
The sun rises through the sky and dips into the horizon before Loki answers Amora. He closes his eyes, finding the telepathic plane he knew Amora was waiting for him in. A stillness falls in his mind. He can feel her smile in the void.
"My answer is no," he asserts. He runs even fast now, the portal so close he can hear it's heartbeat. It thrums in his chest just as hard and frantic as his own.
Yet what Loki didn't know was that Amora had already alerted Thor to his location. A Loki in chains was a Loki that couldn't run from her, a Loki she could keep close until the time came. It's only moments before the sky darkens with thick, swirling clouds and a thunder rolls so deeply Loki could feel it in his soul.
"Thor!" Loki's voice is broken, his right eye swollen and red like a ripe fruit. It took the full force of Mjolnir to his face to bring him down after Thor's furious pursuit. Now, Thor stands before him. His silver eyes are as dark as the swirling clouds above, and his blood red cape flutters behind him. Loki's mouth opens like he should speak but no sounds escape him as Thor's eyes lay heavy on him with disappointment so profound it could slice Loki in half.
"You know it is a lie, you know me-" Loki can barely choke his words out fast enough before a boot lands itself in Loki's gut. He sprawls to the dirt.
"Do I Loki?" Thor's voice rolls like thunder, a deep growl in his husky voice. Thor circles Loki with his grip tight on Mjolnir.
"Thor." Loki's lip drips with blood and his vision blurs.
"I hear word from the order of Valkyries, the highest order in Asgard, that you have been plotting to usurp the throne! Again!" The forest around them is thick and deep. Small plumes of smoke billow up from lightening struck trees, their bark crisped like meat. "Why were you not on Svartalheim?" Thor's voice is eerily calm, a deep groan of thunder growing overhead. He takes a knee before Loki and rests Mjolnir on the earth.
"Thor please listen-"
Thor snags a thick handful of Loki's hair and pulls his head back to face Thor's hardened eyes.
"You," a snarl rises in Thor's throat, "were trying to run," he articulates slowly with icy hatred dripping in his words.
"NO! Thor, listen! the Valkyrie is a spy-"
"ENOUGH!" Thor bellows and stands. Lightening flashes with a resounding clap of thunder following it, so loud it could rip the sky in half. "I am tired of your feeble excuses, Loki," his voice cracks, there's a heart wrenching ache in Loki's chest. "I have a duty to serve Asgard. I have washed my hands of you, Loki."
"Thor wait!" Loki begs, hair raven hair sprinkling his sleek ivory skin. Thor's head droops low like a wounded animal and a yawn of thunder sweeps through the air. "Do not be fooled by the Valkyrie. She is not whom she seems to be!" Loki hisses.
"You tried to betray me once more," Thor's face grows pale, "After I risked everything for you!" Thor stomps back to Loki and grips him by his tunic, forcing Loki to rise on shaking legs. Thor leans close with grit teeth, "Do you know what would have happened to the both of us if it were found out I aided in your escape from Svartalheim?" Thor clamps shackles to Loki's wrists.
"Thor," Loki croaks, "She is in grave danger. Jane." he says. Thor pinches the bridge of his nose, his body rigid. Would Loki really attempt to push Thor back to a place in his life long gone from him in order to gain some leverage on him.
"Why should I believe anything you have to say, Lie-Smith," Thor snaps.
"It is the only option you have left: there are enemies in Asgard." Loki's graveness makes Thor think but only for a moment before his mind reels and remembers that this is not the same changed man he knew in Asgard, this was the same liar that always was, always will be.
"My only option?" Thunder swirls in the dusty clouds above them.
"Please," Loki whispers in a hoarse voice. Thor pick up Mjolnir and wrings the handle. Thor's face is void of any emotion while Loki's eyes shift around him, his wrists turning in their restraints.
"Thor, you need to have Heimdall hide her from the gaze of others. It will delay the Valkyrie at least until you have come to your senses." Loki hisses.
"Why should I believe you?"
"If you have any love left in your heart for Janeā¦" Loki's words make Thor shiver on the inside. A deep pang of guilt twists in his stomach.
"I'll do it, not for your sake."
Loki releases a deep breath of relief.
"Thank you," he whispers hoarsely.
Thor doesn't know what is ahead for the both of them behind the palace walls, whatever it would be, Thor knows that he would not get Loki out alive. Not this time.
