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Chapter 10 – Silence Kept

"Mr. Stark, if you mind?"

"I'm staying, Fury." Tony voiced. "I am not leaving until I meet this Thunder god. Only then will I believe that gods exist, which I don't."

"Thor said he's not a god." Clint said. "They live for about 5,000 years."

"Uh, who are you again?"

Clint raised an eyebrow then turned to Natasha, who sat there with a bored expression on her face. Tony rolled his eyes at the Agents around him. He felt he was pushing his luck too far, but he was bored and had nothing better to do.

"Never mind," Tony huffed. "I saw the files, Legolas."

"You for real man?"

"As real as can be pal."

"Whatever." Clint scoffed. "You're not supposed to be here."

"I'm here as long as I want to be."

"How long do you plan to stay here, Stark?" Fury glared, knowing he can't keep everything from Tony. "It's been a hell of a month for me, and I rather you not be in it anymore."

"Wow, you bite back hard."

"He still wants to meet Thor." Natasha sighed.

"Not happening." Fury glared.

"Why not?" Tony pouted.

"We've discussed this. You can't make contact with them unless I want you to and I don't want you to." He glared. "I'm trying to keep a down low on Thor's profile for now. His hammer stays in New Mexico until he claims it. We offer him housing, until I deem it. Is that not understood?"

"Just a teeny tiny bit of conversation."

"No." Fury rolled his eyes.

"Come on."

"You and Thor have a temper and I'd rather not level down my Helicarrier for that sake alone. Leaving you two in a room together would spell out death for me with the Council."

"Or grey hair."

"He's not going to budge, Sir." Clint chuckled.

"Thor doesn't want to speak to anyone." Natasha raised her voice. "He's too busy worrying over his brother, Loki."

"Speaking of which," Tony grinned. "Have you read the Norse Mythology?"

"Believe me," Clint smirked. "We have."


oOo

"I think one of us should go down to Midgard and tell Thor." Fandral suggested. "He probably returned to those Shield people. I mean, our Prince is safe there that is for sure but-"

"Then you go," Volstagg prompted.

"What?"

"It is your suggestion, my friend. You go."

"But Volstagg…"

"Leaving is not wise for us."

"Hogun, I didn't know you are still with us." Fandral gave him a cocky grin. "What do you suggest? That we simply wait?"

"No."

"Thor has a right to know what happened to—"

"No one is allowed to go." Sif slammed her fist on the table. "The Queen's orders are for us to stay within the kingdom lest something happens with the Jotnar. We must follow her command while our… while our Kings are resting."

"I thought Loki would be more hideous." Fandral scoffed.

Sif elbowed the insensitive man.

"I speak truth."

"Then keep your truth in silence," Sif hissed. "We are in a tavern, there are ears everywhere. Even if we are behind closed doors, some may still be listening. We must uphold our vow to Thor that we must help no matter what knowledge we know."

"Loki is still rather pretty, don't you agree?"

"Lecher!"

"What? Even if he is no longer in his pale snow color, he is rather remarkable in his Jotun form. It makes him look a little more feminine?"

"You woo everything that moves."

"True, but…"

Sif shook her head. "Thor will kill your for saying such things about his brother."

"Do you think his marks stretch down-ow!"

"Enough, Fandral."

"I just do not understand one thing," Volstagg sighed. "Loki had no injuries when we found him."

"He was not tortured physically," Hogun grimly said.

"Mentally then?" Fandral indicated.

"We found Loki four days ago," Sif shook her head. "He has been awake for three days, and yet he still hasn't left his room nor spoken, not even to the Queen."

"Had he been tortured into silence?"

"Most likely."

"We know not what happened there." Hogun voiced. "We can only support him."


oOo

Thor waited for news.

Four days and still, there was nothing from Huginn or Muninn.

He was beginning to worry that there was war above him and he was not there to help his people. A lot of scenarios had gone through his mind since his friends left. It was either Loki was dead, or broken beyond repair. Thor could only think so much of what encounters Loki faced in Jotunheim, more so faced with his real father.

"My poor brother."

Then half of his mind went to Jane Foster.

He was slowly falling for her.

How strange.

"Norns," Thor thought. "Keep them all safe."

Where there was trouble, chaos and ruin followed. Thor only wished he was there to comfort his brother in whatever he was going through. He wished he was worthy to return home.

But what does it take to be worthy?


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"You will lead us into Asgard. Let me take the Casket and my revenge on Odin and those he calls his warriors. Allow me this and I will spare half of Asgard. Speak of our plans to anyone, and I will find a way to slaughter those you hold dear to you."

Loki clenched the sheets.

His head was bowed and his body was shaking terribly. The memory shook him. Laufey's voice dripped like venom from a snake. It was poisonous as it sounded in his ears, corrupting him into silence and fear. Laufey's eyes, red as blood and dark as a void.

"Do you understand, Loptr?"

The way Laufey whispered his supposed birth name like an insult made Loki shiver in response.

"Speak and I will end them quickly."

Loki lifted his shaking blue hands and all he felt was the emptiness.

Like the wind.

"Blood will be spilt, screams will sound in your ears and you will regret crossing me. Follow my exact command, Loptr and I will spare you guilt and misery. I will let them believe you had no part of this. They will think you tortured and broken, and no one will suspect you."

There was a knock on the door.

"If you had cowered before the All-Father, you have not seen true fear."

Loki's head snapped to the door.

He quickly lifted the sheets up and wrapped it around himself and covered his head. He sat there, head lowered, fearful his servants would see him. But neither Erland nor Atli came into the room, but his mother the Queen.

Loki peeked from the sheets and whimpered when he saw her.

"You have not finished your meal."

Frigga pointed at the bedside table and Loki lowered the sheet to his shoulders.

"I understand if it hurts to eat." She continued. "But you would do well to have nutrients in you, darling. You haven't eaten in a week. Look at you, so thin."

Loki looked away from her.

"Erland and Atli are worried about you."

Frigga waited.

"They said they will wait until you were ready to have visitors again. Your servants care for you, you know? And I am more worried than they are of your health."

Loki bit his lips, and Frigga caught him.

"My son…"

Loki felt his eyes sting with tears, as he wrapped the sheets tighter around himself. He hated being near her in his Jotun form. His red eyes, they looked exactly like Laufey's. The markings on his skin were strange, foreign and sensitive to the warmth of Asgard. Loki wasn't sure how Frigga was still able to call him her son since his change.

"Eir said you would be fine, you need only eat more."

Silence.

"Loki, can you not speak to me?" Frigga sat next to him. "Will you not speak to your mother?"

Loki's lips trembled to speak to her.

Speak and I will end them quickly.

"What has you so frightened, Loki? I know it is difficult for you, what you had experienced and I am proud of you." She said as she wiped a tear from her eyes. "You are strong, Loki. But you cannot hide like this forever. I know it has been difficult to accept, but we need you. Asgard needs you."

Loki whimpered.

"We need you to return to us, Loki." Frigga took his hand.

"No wait!"

Loki had screamed, but it was too late. Frigga had taken his hand and Loki could only stare at her in disbelief. He hadn't realized this was Frigga's way to get him to talk.

Oh, he was such a fool.

He fell into that trick so quickly.

Frigga had risked her safety just to touch him. Strange, Loki questioned why the frost did not reach her arms and burnt them. Frigga took Loki's other hand while he was absent in thought and held them tightly for him to see that she did not fear him in the slightest. Loki looked up at her, his red eyes sad and haunted.

"You could have been hurt."

"You need not fear me, child." Frigga said softly. "Neither do I fear you."

Loki let out a sob.

"Let it out, dear." She said. "Just let it out."

Loki wept on her shoulder, unable to set his mind free of the troubles within it. Laufey's voice continued to echo with his thoughts, and the more Loki tried to think of a solution the more inevitable it was.

"I met him," Loki cried. "I met Laufey."

"Oh, Loki."

"It felt like I knew him, but at the same time, I did not."

He sobbed.

"We seemed so alike…"

Frigga stayed silent as Loki told her what happened to him, but he left out the details of the bargain and Laufey's torturing words to him. But Loki spoke of the words Laufey had spoken when he left Loki to die in the cold. Frigga was honest to Loki when she told him she did not believe Laufey's words. Loki accepted the fact that it could be a ploy to confuse him, but it did not hurt any less when Loki knew.

"Rest your mind." Frigga said." You are physically well, save your hunger-"

"I do not want to be King anymore."

"It is difficult, but would you still consider-"

"The All-Father will surely cast me out," He whimpered. "I've nearly started another war. I came there and I was foolish to-"

"You couldn't have known."

"I'm sorry."

"You need not be, Loki. I am here for you, and so will Thor."

"Mother," Loki raised his red eyes. "Can I not retract Thor's banishment? Can I not do anything to help him return to Asgard?"

"I wish I could help, Loki." Frigga frowned. "But there is nothing we can do."

"But I am King."

"Odin's word is law."

"But so is mine," Loki argued. "Please, is there no other way?"

Frigga shook her head.

They sat there in the silence, until Loki broke it.

"Mother?"

"Yes, dear?"

"I… I do not know how to control my form." Loki's voice quivered. "I know not how to retract this cold, this blue skin and my red eyes. I've stayed in it for a week and more. I… Mother could you… is there a way?"

"I know not if spells will work." She squeezed Loki's hands.

"Am I to remain like this?"

"You are a gifted mage, Loki. There are ways you could try. You have skill and talent to form yourself. The glamour Odin placed on you was to simply ensure you do not change without our knowledge. Now that it is broken, you could will it freely."

"How?"

"Feel the warmth." She smiled. "Asgard needs you to be their King, Loki. You've done so well, but I advise you to never exert yourself again. I am just glad Laufey gave up his vengeance and you returned to us whole."

When Frigga embraced him, Loki tensed.

"Follow my exact command, Loptr and I will spare you guilt and misery."

Loki pulled away.

"Your friends are worried about you, Loki." Frigga said after a while. "They wish to see you."

"No, not in this form," He nearly shouted.

"Loki, they were the ones who brought you back here from the Bifrost."

"What?"

"I am sorry I did not tell you sooner. You needed your rest and you were still unresponsive, but yes dear… they have seen you in your Jotun form."

"Do they want to kill me?"

"Valhalla above, no!" Frigga shook her head. "I will not allow it."

"Why do they want to see me?" Loki panicked. "They will want me gone, Mother. I am not an Aesir. I am a monster, an enemy to all. Surely they would rid of me and…"

"Nonsense, child."

"But…"

"No more of such dark words." She kissed his forehead. "You need not consult them if you do not want to. I am only telling you, because I do not want to speak more lies in your presence."

"O-of course, Mother."

"Rest, my son, I will speak to you tomorrow."

When Frigga left, Loki felt strangely alone and empty.

It grew dark.

Loki did not rest that night.

For every turn in his sleep, all he heard was Laufey's voice drumming into his ears. Loki closed his eyes and mustered enough strength to hide himself from Heimdall's gaze. No sooner did Loki try to create an illusion and the room was engulfed in Seidr.


oOo

Tony was very bored.

It was in the middle of the night and he was forbidden to visit Thor. Forbidden, hah, who says that word anymore anyways? He was on his tablet snooping around Shield data when Jarvis informed him of a spike in near their location in Wichita Falls, Tony nearly bolted out of his bed.

"Can you track that signal?"

"It's very hard to distinguish, Sir." Jarvis voiced. "The signal is rather weak and erratic for me to locate."

"Well, I'll be damned." Tony whistled. "It's all over the place."

"The signal has disappeared, Sir."

"Can you keep an eye on that? I know we've been secretly testing a few signatures on energy when the Bifrost appeared, but this isn't a new one for us. Remember when we tracked that back at Puente Antiguo?"

"You keep reminding me that I never forget, Sir."

"We keep this on the down low."

"The signal has returned and is moving from Lubbock route 82." After a few seconds, Jarvis spoke up. "83, 114, 6, 82…"

"Wait, show me the map." Tony frowned. "Why is the signal all over the place?"

"Sir, Shield has locked in on the signal, but they aren't doing a very good job keeping up with it." Jarvis said, almost in a mock tone. "It's now in 277, 283, 82…"

"Weird, it's like its traveling on the road but jumping routes."

"287… the signal is lost, Sir."

"Last location?"

"Lowa Park."

"It's near Wichita Falls," He sighed. "How can you have lost it, Jarvis?"

Tony palmed his face and rolled his eyes when his A.I. didn't answer him. Fury must be head over heels on the strange signature, but Tony already knew there were these crazy Norse birds that could probably be traveling around. Tony checked what Shield got, they only managed to track about four locations that the signal jumped onto before it disappeared off their radar.

"Shield still needs me."

"Of course they do, Sir."

"Still, how can something travel so fast at that distance?" Tony palmed his chin. "Do you think its teleporting?"

"There is an off chance it is."

"Check the molecular physiology of it."

"Running it now, Sir."

"Whoever this is or whatever it is, we can still track biochemical communications with the scattered energy we picked up on, even if it's a subcellular level. Know what Jarvis, just check everything on the equipment we have, genetic information, signal pathways, sensory mechanisms, anything we can to lock in on this thing."

Tony thought for a moment and sighed.

"Oh and subtly keep out of Shields reach. We don't want another lecture from daddy Fury and his merry band of Agents."

Tony slid his fingers on the screen of his tablet.

"What are you?" He muttered.


oOo

Thor lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep at all, the thought worried him. He missed Jane, but spending time with her only made it seem like he cared not for Loki at all. Thor loved Loki more than anything, and it would be selfish for Thor to put Jane above his own brother. Besides, Shield was a better option at locating the Bifrost or any anomaly more than Jane's equipment could.

Oh… what was he saying?

Suddenly, there was a bright green light and a large thud sounded on the floor.

"Loki!"

Thor rushed over to his brother, who was curled on the ground. He picked Loki up and lifted his brother's chin and saw blue. Loki groggily lifted his red eyes to his brother and felt tears sting his eyes. Thor gaped at him, and Loki suddenly felt disgust. He merely wanted to see Thor, after so long…

"Brother?" Thor embraced him.

Loki was startled and slowly wrapped his arms around Thor's neck.

"You're alive," Thor buried his face on Loki's dark hair. "You are alive and well. Thank the Norns, brother. I prayed you safety… I miss you… I am so glad."

Loki couldn't find the words to say.

"May I stay with you?" Loki whispered. "Just for the night?"

"You are always welcome by my side." Thor kissed Loki's forehead. "I missed you, and I am glad you are safe."

"I miss you too." He said a little too weakly.

Loki was glad Thor did not press for answers so quickly, but allowed them to simply savor the moment. It was only after an hour or so had passed that Loki began to open up and tell Thor what happened that week. Loki just felt oddly strange when he spoke his story and Thor traced his fingers on the marks on Loki's hands.

"Stop that," Loki frowned.

"What?" Thor looked up at him. "I did not say anything wrong."

"No, your fingers."

Thor realized what he was doing and saw the faint blush on Loki's cheeks. Thor stopped tracing the marks and knew Loki feared his form, and even felt ashamed of it. He had stayed strong for his own brother, and not once did Thor think of Loki as anything but his little brother.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's just that it feels strange when you do that." Loki looked away, feeling warmth crept up his cheeks. "There is this feeling I cannot explain."

"I will not do it again if it bothers you."

"It is just strange." He mumbled. "Sensitive too."

"I will stop."

Thor eyed his little brother in his Jotun form, and Thor could not see anything different other than color. He was still the same Loki, but only sadder and lonelier. Thor wished he was able to do something about his brother's misery. Loki kept something, his movements tell him otherwise.

"I am hideous." Loki mumbled.

"No you are not." Thor tucked a loose hair back to Loki's ear. "You are different, but not hideous."

"I can't control it, the cold is odd."

"You will, one day."

"How about never?" Loki raised his eyes. "Or I won't."

"You cannot run from it, brother."

"I hate you," Loki pouted.

"What have I done wrong, Loki?"

"You told your friends."

"I did not want them to question so harshly when they do not know the truth." Thor patted Loki's head. "I love you and I will always put you above my own life. They have no say in what they do not understand. I am here to protect you."

"That's what I fear."

Loki looked around the place. There was metal everywhere. When he turned back to Thor, he gave his brother a sour look that made Thor lean back with a questioning gaze.

"What's wrong?"

"You live here now?" Loki asked.

"Temporarily."

"Why?"

"These people have struck a bargain with me and I accepted their terms."

"You bargained with them?" Loki huffed. "I'm impressed."

"I am not dumb as you claim me to be."

"I never said you were dumb."

"Implied then."

"Thought of, but never accused." Loki smiled and whispered softly. "I miss you, Thor."

"Let your heart be at ease, brother." Thor said. "No one will harm you here."

Loki allowed himself a moment with Thor, but Laufey's words still struck him. He had fallen too hard and Loki knew it was impossible to reach out. It etched the dark thought in his mind and he could not get rid of it.

"Come, let us rest."

"I think I should return." Loki mumbled. "No one knows I left."

"Leave in the morning if you must," Thor held him close. "But I will keep you here for now. Will that be alright with you?"

"I… I would like that."

Thor turned off the lights and pulled the sheets above them, and he held Loki close. Loki knew Thor was fearful that Loki was not real, but Loki would allow both of them peace of mind for now. He wondered why Thor never seemed to be bothered by the cold, or if he only pretended. But Thor embraced him closer and allowed Loki to hide in his brother's embrace.

"Sleep, you will feel well in the morning."

Loki nodded.

And soon he felt sleep take him.

He hadn't realized that his blue skin faded away in the night.

As time passed, little did the two brothers know that the camera hidden in the corner of the room adjusted itself to the light, and behind that camera were Clint, Natasha, Hill and Fury watched the scene come to an end.


oOo

"Damn Shield." Tony huffed. "They just can't understand privacy, can't they?"

"It is rather ironic, Sir."

"Don't give me that, Jarvis. I know when not to peek. Besides I managed to keep them from prying for over two hours until they managed to break it and listen in into their little brotherly loving shit. Let's just hope Shield doesn't trace it back to me."

"Of course."

"Did you delete the first few hours of footage?"

"I did, Sir."

"Good boy."

Tony stared at the screen before he sent out a bug to stop the camera for good.

"That'll keep them busy."

He really hoped that Shield wouldn't track it back to him. Tony figured he already overstayed his welcome in the Helicarrier. So he decided that tomorrow, he'll leave and let the big guys handle it for now.

But that doesn't mean Tony wouldn't be watching in the sidelines.

"Jarv, tell pep I'm coming home."

"Is that all?"

"Yeah."

"She'll prepare for your return."

"Great," He leaned back and sighed. "Hey Jarvis, I thought Loki would look like Thor, but I was wrong. He actually looks smarter than his brother. And man, are they closer than brothers should be. But wow, how accurate is the myth about the frost giant adoption thing."

"The myth is not accurate, Sir."

"But it's close enough."

Tony sighed.

"I thought he'd be darker and more evil."

Tony looked at the footage of the two brothers sleeping peacefully.

"They're actually not that bad."


oOo

"How do you know he will keep his end of the bargain?" Helblindi questioned.

"He will," Laufey chuckled. "He is nothing but a frightened little boy."

"Is it true?" Byleistr asked. "He is…"

"Yes."

"You will use him to our advantage?"

"Do not question me, my sons." Laufey hissed. "You already know who he was to us. He may be your little brother, but he is no more than another one of Odin's pawn. He had been corrupted, and there is no use turning him back to us. For now, let us rejoice of his usefulness and soon, when he does his part, we will have what is ours."

The two brothers looked at each other.

Strangely…

There was guilt in their eyes.


oOo

TBC…

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