Kaisa stomped into the chambers, throwing the doors open in her rage and nearly slamming the door. She was shaking from fury, her cheeks still red from the blazing explosion and humiliation she had just suffered. Thor followed closely behind her.
"What has gotten into you, Lady Kaisa?" Thor thundered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Chaining your sister like an animal and ordering for the guards to drag her through the halls? That was cruel!"
"Do not speak to me about cruelty!" Kaisa said angrily, turning and glaring at Thor. She was infuriated beyond belief, that Takumi had humiliated her in front of the entire lot of Asgard. In front of her people, for goodness sakes. And now Thor was taking her side? And for what bloody reason- HE was supposed to be her husband, not anyone else's! Kaisa bit her lip and crossed her arms. "This has not been the first time she has crossed this line! She has broken the law, Thor, and she must be held accountable."
Thor looked appalled. "But to chain her? She is your sister, Lady Kaisa. Your flesh and blood. Regardless of how you feel about her magic, you must at least sympathize with her!"
"Sympathize? She has humiliated me in front of the entire council! She has belittled my name and soiled her reputation!" Kaisa snapped. "Does that mean nothing to you?"
"Humility is something that all siblings share. Loki has humiliated me on many occasions, Lady Kaisa." Thor growled, pointing his finger at the door as if Loki was standing there, watching the conversation. "He has betrayed me many times, even tried to kill me. There were times I could not trust him. But I love him, for he is my brother."
Kaisa shook her head abruptly. That was different, she decided. From what she had seen, Loki was an egomaniac set on having his own realm. Thor was like a puppy, always wanting to forgive the wrongs his brother had done. But she wasn't anything like that, and Takumi wasn't someone who hurt others out of spite. No, Takumi was simply stupid- always doing things that she knew she shouldn't. And Kaisa had told her sister many times to forget, to stop, to just be the Princess she was supposed to be.
And of course, Takumi never did. Her stubborn sister had gotten relentlessly belittled by Father for numerous things: fighting, exploring the forests by the palace, reading her stupid books about weapons and the worst: magic. Kaisa had watched Takumi being punished many times, always shaking her head in disbelief. Not once did she feel sympathetic for her sister: Takumi had deserved the punishments for breaking the rules. That's the way it was.
But here Thor was, telling her to do exactly that. To feel pity for her sister even though what she had done was wrong and humiliating.
"I do not love her any less." Kaisa finally decided to say, despite the angry 'I HATE HER' resonating through her mind. "But she is stubborn in every way. She has all the abilities that you would find in a peasant, not a royal figure. You do not know her like I do. She continues to break the rules whenever she wishes, because it is what she feels like."
Thor looked appalled at her statement, taking a small step back from her. "So what if she is stubborn? Many great warriors have proven to be stubborn. It shows persistence and courage to do what you wish."
Kaisa threw her arms up in frustration. "Takumi is not a warrior!" she screamed. "She is A PRINCESS!"
"There is more to life than conforming to the rules of royalty! We have a woman warrior, Kaisa! She is one of the Warrior Three. One of the most feared fighters in all the lands, and yet, she is a woman. If Takumi truly wanted to be, she could replicate that." Thor snapped, his voice rising ever so slightly. Kaisa flinched a bit, unused to the anger him. It was the first time she had ever been yelled at, especially at someone who was considered a lover.
She was hurt, just a little.
"I am not willing to see my sister stoop to those levels." Kaisa hissed, turning away from him. "I am the eldest, and I am to look out for her welfare."
Thor scoffed behind her, sounding completely frustrated. "You cannot control her life to fit your desires, Lady Kaisa. Not anymore than I can control Loki's."
Kaisa shook her head, on the brink of losing her temper and throwing something at Thor's head. She was utterly frustrated and confused at Thor's angry reaction to her dealing with Takumi's trouble. She had expected Thor to understand from her point of view, since the both of them were elders. Kaisa swallowed a lump in her throat. She had expected him to take her side and comfort her. But not defend Takumi as though he fervently understood her pathetic excuses.
He was defending her as though he actually cared. It suddenly dawned on Kaisa, crashing into her like a ton of bricks. Could it be possible that Thor did care for Takumi? More than he should? Kaisa grit her teeth, nearly grinding her jaw together. Could it be that her future husband wished to be with his brother's wife instead?
A small part of her squirmed in furious jealousy, seething with anger. Well, there was only one way to find out, wasn't there?
She turned around and saw Thor staring out the window, angrily clenching his fists as he tried to calm himself down. He wasn't facing Kaisa. She bit her lip and turned back around.
Taking a quick gulp, Kaisa closed her eyes and then let her breath fall shallow. In what felt like a couple of seconds, she stepped forwards and looked behind her. There was her body, standing in the same position that she had left it. Kaisa let her breathing go back to normal as she gazed upon it- her body was nothing but a standing husk now. Her spirit was free to examine as she wished.
As expected, time started to slow down. The Gift does many things. Kaisa remembered one of her scrolls saying. It causes time to slow and allow the Gift-weaver enough space to examine their surroundings.
Thor was still facing the window, staring out of it in frustration. He wasn't speaking, or making an attempt make conversation. Kaisa narrowed her eyes and reached out to touch him, her spirit hands passing harmlessly though his skin. It made her more angry that she couldn't get his attention.
What is so good about Takumi that you feel you must defend her? A voice hissed in her brain.
Her fists tightened a bit as she stood behind him, allowing the Gift's power to surge through her. As usual, she felt the churning in her gut and the dizziness in her head, but she pushed that aside. Channeling all her energy, she blinked a couple of times and finally could see the small glow of yellow rise from Thor's body: the indication that he was alive.
It had been a long time since she had used the Gift on anyone, and it always left her weak and tired. This time was no exception, she knew. She was relieved to see that it hadn't lost it's touch- the yellow color around Thor started to intensify.
Yellow started to morph into something different. Light blue started to whirl around the room, along with the color of dark green. Kaisa squinted her eyes as she concentrated. The brightest color was the most important. Her eyes scanned all the colors, quickly trying to detect it, but she saw Thor turn around and stare at her lifeless body, still standing at the edge of the fireplace. He started to walk towards the body, the movement in slow motion.
His feet seemed to move faster than normal, even with the Gift's slowed time.
Kaisa frantically searched him. One color slammed into her before all the rest, and it swallowed her like a tidal wave. Grey, the same color as a rainy storm cloud engulfed her. She tried to go back to her body before Thor noticed that her body was a husk, but she was suddenly wracked with sudden guilt. It felt as though the entire world was on her shoulders, and she wanted to give up. She barely had enough energy to open her mouth to yell. No noise came from her mouth, just simply grey wisps that resembled smoke.
Her spirit fell onto the floor, writhing from the guilt. She cried out again, small grey smokey wisps coming from her eyes and nose. Her transparent hand reached forwards towards Thor, screaming out for him to help her, that she was in pain, but there wasn't a sound. Grey swarmed in her vision, like snakes.
Make it stop! Make it stop! Oh my gods..!
"Lady Kaisa."
Kaisa suddenly blinked, back in her own body. She looked down at the floor and then back at Thor, confused for a second. The grey color that had invaded her mind was now gone, along with the paralyzing guilt that had tore her apart. Now she felt empty, as though there was a part of her missing. Her eyes flickered back to him, unsure what to say.
"Y-yes?" she managed to stammer.
"I apologize for my anger." Thor said quietly,although the look on his face said different. "I shall leave you alone for the night to think about what I had said. I bade you goodnight."
Kaisa nodded curtly, unable to say anything else. Thor gave her a tight-lipped smile and then left, the door closing softly behind him.
The room was silent except for the crackling fire. Panting, Kaisa slowly sunk onto the bed, her hands folded on her lap and her face twisted into a stunned expression.
Grey. Grey. The color grey. That heavy feeling of intense pain..
There were many colors, she knew. Red meant anger, purple meant love, and green meant anxiety. Kaisa had studied long and hard when she first got the Gift, her mother giving her the best scrolls that would educate her on her new power. She knew the Gift like the back of her hand, and while she knew that emotions could often possess the Gift-weaver, there was never true pain. But this.. this had been different. Bizarre.
And there was no color Grey.
As soon as Thor left the chambers, he headed straight for the combat arena located right outside the fields.
Fighting always made him feel better when he was angry or stressed. The sharp sound of Mjölnir hitting the wooden dummies was usually satisfying to him, the lighting coming off the weapon and setting the things aflame a soothing balm. But tonight was different. No matter how he attacked the motionless dummies, he just felt angrier. Each swing of the hammer just bought another wave of red-hot fury, the same kind of fury that he had when he thought Loki had betrayed him in Niflheim.
Finally, he dropped the hammer onto the ground and just stared at the destruction he just caused. Blankly, he realized that one of the wooden dummies had caught on fire. It slowly went out, small wisps of smoke coming off of it.
Fire reminded him of Takumi's outburst in the throne room, with orange flames licking the ceiling and crumbling upon the floor. There had been screaming, none of them had been his or Loki's. Instead, he was too transfixed on Takumi to scream out.
Never had he seen someone in such panic or pain. There was a wild look in her dark eyes as she fought against the guards, her mouth opened to let out a harsh jagged shriek that made his blood run cold. Blood, he wasn't sure if it was Jotun blood or her own, dripped from her onto the floor, being smeared into the silky dress she wore. The guards had restrained her by yanking her arms backwards and slamming the muzzle onto her face, preventing her from speaking. Thor felt his throat constricting.
He had stolen a look at his brother, and was slightly relieved to see that he looked just shocked as he felt. Loki's green eyes were wide as emeralds as he watched the horrific scene unfold, his mouth slightly gaping open as though he was about to yell out. But to Thor's utter disappointment, Loki stayed as silent as ever. Even as Takumi was dragged away kicking and screaming curses at Odin and the rest of the Royal Council, he felt horrible guilt start pushing it's way up to the surface.
And then he stole a look at Kaisa's face, expecting tears and sorrow at her sister's abuse. But he was shocked to see not terror, but satisfaction instead.
Thor buried his face in his hands and wiped his hands upwards, brushing his hair out of his face. He let out a noise of frustration.
How could someone be so heartless? To watch their sibling in helpless abuse, being dragged away in a bloody trail of enemy blood. He didn't doubt that some of the blood had been hers too, but that didn't make a difference. He just couldn't fathom watching Loki being tortured over and over again, even if he had deserved it. And Loki deserved a lot of punishment after what he had done to Misgard, but he didn't deserve abuse.
Takumi didn't deserve punishment in the slightest. He understood that magic was forbidden, but wouldn't a slap on the wrist do? She had defended herself from harms way the best she could, without hurting the people of Asgard in the process. She hadn't done a thing but try to escape the horrible situation she was in. She was even good with Loki, staying dutifully in the chambers.
And yet, Kaisa was standing with a satisfied smirk on her face, as though Takumi's pain excited her a bit. Thor felt his stomach twist with disgust. The gleam in her eyes was so clear- she had wished for Takumi to get punished with all her might. And she had used her new royal powers to do so. No doubt she had something to do with Takumi's harsh sentence of being a prisoner until the wedding. So that nothing could spoil the ceremonies.
Thor clenched his teeth and slammed his fist into the first wooden statue he saw, watching it explode in an array of dusty splinters. A yell ripped from his lungs, echoing down the empty arena like a haunting wail. He lunged towards another one, pummeling it over and over again until he felt his knuckles split from the wood. Splinters rained from his attack, littering the ground.
He stood in the middle of the arena, panting and sweaty, but still feeling disgusted underneath it all.
"Brother? You seem troubled."
Thor turned around and saw Loki standing in the archway. He pressed his lips together angrily. "It is unwise to be in my company right now, brother. I wish to be alone."
"I am not wise." Loki said curtly. "What ails you, Thor?"
"How does one not feel empathy?" Thor asked sharply, unable to contain his tongue. "How does remain so cold that they are oblivious to other people's pain?"
Loki raised an eyebrow, a mix of emotions on his face. "I do not quite understand."
Picking up his hammer, Thor scoffed. "It does not matter. What's done is done, and there is no use in prying the situation further."
As he tried to walk past, Loki grabbed his arm and jerked roughly back, stopping him in his tracks. He turned and stared at his brother with tired eyes; all he wanted to do now was bandage his hands and go to sleep, and perhaps talk to Takumi in the morn to add a bit of comfort. Loki stared back at him, with sharp emeralds.
"Brother, you know as well as I do that what happened today was.. peculiar." Loki said, his words as careful as plotted as ever. "I have escorted Lady Takumi to the chambers to heal and rest. She seems to be doing well, if that is what ails you. Correct me if I am wrong, Thor. You care for her."
"I care for her as I care for you." Thor said dully. "She is family to me now. I do not wish to see family members tortured."
A flash of darkness skidded across Loki's face. "And are you accusing me of this abuse, Thor?"
"No." Thor raised an eyebrow, now suspicious of Loki's sudden defensive stance. He recognized that stance, it was the same guarded way he carried himself when he knew something that no one else did. As good of a liar as Loki was, there was no hiding guilt when he harbored it. Which was rare. "Do you know something that I do not, brother?"
Loki laughed dryly, although his eyes still held the guarded look. "I do not, not anymore than you do."
One quick movement, and Thor was holding Loki's arms instead of the other way around. He gritted his teeth, more anger floating to the surface. He was filled with rage, so unlike his usual self. Loki's expression didn't change, the grin still stayed, but his eyes wavered. The two of them stared at each other for a moment, Thor raced his brain to say something, perhaps a threat, but he knew it would be a waste of breath. Loki didn't care about threats. Finally, he dropped Loki's wrists and then picked up the handle of his hammer.
"Do not treat her badly Loki." he warned, his voice low. "I swear to the Nine. If I find out that you have been contributing to this.. ordeal, I will have you sent back to the prisons. I am not happy with her sister, Lady Kaisa, but I must deal with that on my own time. Just.. comfort her in this time of need, brother. Do not let her suffer the same fate as you."
Loki smiled thinly. "I wouldn't dream of it, brother."
Satisfied with that answer, Thor patted him on the shoulder and proceeded to walk into the palace, the door swishing shut behind him. He didn't notice as Loki turned to the messy arena and scowl at it, yellow magic buzzing from his fingertips. Thor didn't see a holographic Takumi come into view.
No one in Asgard noticed as Loki took a dagger out from it's sheath and hurl it directly at the hologram, hitting it straight where the heart would be.
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