Chapter seven: realization

Loki was brought to a different cell than last time. When he asked Fury why, he answered: 'I recall you threw it to the ground, with your brother in it.' Loki would have smiled about that in a different situation. He didn't want to smile anymore. He couldn't fake that act now. He was angry, hurt and confused.

They let Loki in a small cell with only a simple bed on the right side. The front and so the door were glass, the other walls solid steel. He sat down on the bed, truly exhausted. He wondered how things would go from now on. Would they get their powers back and would Faheiya take Loki back to Asgard? He would pay for the damage he made…again. It would be even harder to hold Odin's trust now. Or would they let them mortal and judge him here on Midgard, condemned to a live amongst the mortals? He hated that idea. He also hated to be mortal. He missed his abilities.

But what he hated even more was Faheiya. She ruined him. He hadn't thought of his mother all too much lately. Now she threw it all back in his face. His dream of the throne would never be realized with her holding him back. It would take a couple of hundred years of her around him if he wanted to convince her he was to be trusted. That was too long. He couldn't fight her. His only change was to gain his powers again while she didn't. But how would he do that? He was in prison, she wasn't. If there would be a cure she would get it first. Maybe she would be the only to get it. He truly hoped not.

But no matter how much he hated to admit it, she did something else with him as well. A tiny part of his heart reacted totally different on her torture trials. It loved it. It loved her attention just for him. It gave a flick of excitement at her teasing. It was almost lust…

He shook his head violently. Stop that.

Loki led his head down against the wall and fell asleep very fast. After a while he woke with a shock. He was so exhausted but he didn't want to sleep too much. It was after he rubbed his eyes that he noticed someone at the hallway out of his cell.

He sighed. 'Can I not even get rest?' he asked.

'Not now. We have to talk,' Faheiya said calmly. She sat on a chair against the wall of the hallway at the opposite side. Loki closed his eyes. 'What now?'

She leaned forward clasping her hands together and staring at the space in front of her. 'I'm sorry,' she said.

Loki opened his eyes to look at her. He didn't speak, he wanted her to speak.

'Loki, I was wrong to say those words about your mother. I know you truly loved her. I know you would have done anything possible if you knew she was in danger. It was wrong to blame you.'

She looked in his eyes now, seeing they were focused on her. He wasn't angry or annoyed. So far that were the only glares he gave her. He just listened.

'You know, it is my job to protect the nine realms. It is already for 5000 years. I can fight wars, I can twist peoples thoughts and I can rebuild what is lost…but I do not seem to make much progress on you. You are too hurt to recover easily. Your heart needs a break. You need rest. You need no competition, destroying or war in your head. Loki, what you need is peace. You should go back to Asgard and find a special woman to spend your life with. You should be living happily in the castle. Okay you will not be king, but what is the difference? You are still rich and powerful. No more harm should be done, not by your hand. Please Loki, think. It is a beautiful future you can have.'

She stopped for a moment. Loki looked at the wall of his cell. 'How about Thor? He will not forgive me again.' She chuckled. 'I doubt that.'

He did not smile. She continued serious again. 'But if you want, I will not tell about the two deaths. I will tell you destroyed a couple of things but repaired them. Once I recover my power I will repair it. I will lie for you, if you wish.'

It grew silent. Loki considered his option. It was better than the ones he thought of. He knew she wouldn't do this for anybody. Why was he special? Was he really the hardest competition she ever had? He felt powerful, but also regretful. Maybe he did go too far. A pang sprung in his chest. He flinched. She chuckled soundless, he didn't notice.

For the time it took for Loki too think she sunk further in her chair. A deep breath escaped her lungs. Everything felt so pressing on her. But she also liked the silence in her head. She couldn't read Loki's thoughts or anybody else's now. It was peaceful. She was left alone with her own thoughts. That moment she realized she really grew to care about Loki. She would never lie to a king for anybody else. What made him special? She didn't know.

The silence pressed on Loki. He sighed. 'You are better at this than Odin.'

She smiled when he looked at her. 'Thanks,' she said. Loki was surprised by the smile on her lips. It was warming. It wasn't like the faked smile that only showed authority. It was…caring.

He wanted to answer her but was too late. Coulson and Stark walked in and stood on either side of Faheiya. 'Milady we need to take you back to the research lab. We need to make sure you stay alive.'

Loki felt angriness in him when they started to remove her. He didn't want her to leave. 'You better not let her die,' he hissed. Only Coulson heard him and gave him a quick nod. Then they took her away.

Faheiya was put in a chair in a unfamiliar room. It was bright and simple, apart from the see through screens that showed a thousand words and symbols. She did not even try to understand what they meant. Coulson came back with a nurse that held a needle. 'We need to take a little bit of blood to examine. Is that okay?'

'As long as you do not take too much,' she said with a smile. Coulson couldn't help smiling back. The nurse started careful towards the woman, knowing her skin should, in normal condition, be much stronger. Only now it felt like a thin membrane. Blood poured out in a second, floating at a high speed. She pressed the red dot with a bandage after she was finished.

Faheiya looked at her arm, knowing it wouldn't last long anymore. 'There is nothing left of me.' She looked up at Coulson. 'Please tell me we are almost there.' Her voice was only a whisper now.

'I am afraid the gas has spread further than we expected. We are flying at full speed now, we should reach fresh air within half an hour.'

She sighed. 'You better make that happen.' Coulson didn't know what to say so he walked away. Banner and Stark were in the room, tapping on the screens. Stark watched at the dying woman in the chair. 'You know,' he started, pushing away the screen for his face, 'You look like a very young woman. How old are you? Twenty-five?'

Banner giggled at that. 'You don't know about the ages of the gods? I believe Thor is over two hundred? I would guess you are at least a hundred and fifty.'

Tony looked surprised at him. 'Well that is one old lady.'

Faheiya tried to laugh as much as she could. 'You only think in years of gods. I am so much more. The protector before me died after he turned eighty-five million. He existed before the existing of this Earth, because he created it. I myself, am a humble five thousand years.'

They both swallowed. After a moment Stark found his voice again. 'Did not see that one coming.'

Banner considered it. 'Then, that person before you, is that what the Christians call God? Are you the next one?'

She closed her eyes to save energy as she spoke. 'I do not call myself so. Many people on all the realms created different religions. I believe that the ones who search for proof don't believe. You can believe whatever makes you feel comfortable. I will never pronounce my existence to everybody declaring they believe in me now. Only a few rulers of every realm know of me. That together with you guys now.'

They were both lost in thoughts, slightly confused. She tried to make it easier. 'I believe some people here on earth talk about 'mother nature'?'

They both nodded. She smiled slightly. 'Then see me as that.'

A little later Faheiya woke again. Her eyes lolled in her head. She coughed. I can't hold this any longer.

Almost like called in, Coulson and Fury entered. 'We are here. Come.' They both took an arm to lead the exhausted woman to the exit. Once they reached the back they opened the ship. Rays of sunlight blinded the three of them. Fury and Coulson waited, but Faheiya couldn't. She moved slowly unto the moving platform. When it opened it showed to be in a field. She stumbled down until she felt on her hands and knees in the grass. She breathed for fresh air. It was her last breath…

Luckily it gave her what she needed. The air filled her lungs and so her whole body. The grass grew through her arms and legs. Within a minute she was fully covered in grass. Then she broke out of it, letting the green parts fly through the air. Her body glowed very bright and when she opened her eyes they showed the universe again.

Everyone gathered at the gate to look at this miracle. No one said as much as one word. They just witnessed nature in its purest form. She stood up and turned around. Butterflies and bumblebees flew in patterns around her. Her legs were until the knees covered in grass. Roots and branches found the way up to her arms. Her hair floated in the wind, created by herself. Her body looked like the sun, blinding if you stared too long at it. Still the layers of a dress, thin as membranes formed around her. Her eyes looked bigger with this new look and every dark spot in them or sign of tiredness was gone.

There wasn't anything more pure. Some of the men picked a tear away. Then she smiled and the light from her teeth was even brighter. 'Now this is living.'

With that she turned around. She waved her hands through the air making patterns. After a little while streams of water came from all sides to rush up to her feet. Once they reached her they lifted her up in the air. She lifted higher and higher, almost disappearing in the clouds. Only from that point she could faintly see a line of grey at the horizon. New York. She closed her eyes and placed her mind in the city. She traveled through the wind with her thoughts, going the places where Loki had done damage. She repaired the pillar in the construction to put it back in its original state. Then she repaired all the windows and everything that was destroyed by it. Satisfied she returned to the ground.

Fury stood outside, sided by Tony and Clint. She watched at the three of them, but addressed anybody that listened. 'Listen carefully. Earth is doing a great job in trying to bring peace. You people help to maintain it. I am most grateful for that. But…' She looked right in the good eye of Fury. 'This weapon of destruction you hung over the city must be removed. It does not only effect Asgardians. The animals and plants told me it is toxic to them too. Remove it quickly, or face me.'

Tony swallowed. He wouldn't want that. Wise he was for that. Fury sighed. 'I understand. We will remove it as fast as we can. We promise to be done within a week.'

She looked sharper. 'And destroy all of it, to never use it again.'

He nodded. 'You have my word, Milady.'

She nodded in approval. 'Now bring me Loki.'

He turned halfway around and put out his arm. 'He is already here.'

She looked up to see Loki brought in by four men, holding him tight. He was in chains once again. When he walked to the open space the fresh air floated through him, returning his gifts and immortality. Faheiya expected him to smile his wicked smile, but he didn't. He remained serious and looked right in Faheiya's eyes. She felt his thoughts again and found wonder and awe, but also relief.

He was happy she still lived. She blushed without noticing. The men handed him over to her. She took the chain over his wrists in her hands. Then she turned her wrists rapidly and removed the shackles. The eyes of the men grew big. 'But he is a criminal!' they screamed in protest.

She waved them away with her hand. 'No he is not.' She looked him right in the eyes and whispered: 'he doesn't have to be.' He stared back trying to not show anything in his look.

She took his hand and led him out of the ship. They set foot on the soft grass. 'Will you make sure he pays for his crimes?' shouted Clint in a clear tone. She turned her head and looked straight in his eyes. 'He will follow the consequences of the path he chooses.' She could read he wasn't happy with that answer but it didn't matter. 'Heimdall, it's time.'

At that moment the two of them were swallowed by the light. Loki clung to Faheiya, afraid to fall. It was a weird reflex, for he travelled the bifrost so many times. She didn't mind.

A few seconds later they stood at the end of the rainbow bridge, inside the round chamber of the bifrost. Heimdall stood on his place, just retrieving his sword from the opening.

'Milady Faheiya, I must tell you, I can see all. I know of his actions in New York. And…' She walked past him. 'I knew your concern the moment I entered here. You swore loyalty to Odin and you do not like lying to him.' He was quiet. It was exactly what he was thinking. She glanced at Loki for a moment before looking back at the man in golden armor. 'But I am above Odin, and you will answer my wishes above his. Loki still didn't decide whether Odin should know, but it is not up to you. You will not tell Odin of his actions. Did I make myself clear?'

He hesitated for a moment, but answered then. 'Yes, Milady.'

She walked out of the room. 'Come,' she told Loki. He followed her right after.

'Did you decide? What do I tell your father?' she asked without looking at him.

He was silent for a while. Then he slowly answered. 'I think you should judge over my fate. I do deserve to be punished. But if you see good in me like you said, I would not complain. I think your judgment is the fairest.'

With that he left her considering what was justice. She didn't make her mind up until the moment they stood in front of the doors leading to the throne chamber. They swung open and they walked in, side by side. Odin watched by the sudden movement and froze for a moment when he saw who was entering.

'You have returned,' he said partly to himself, partly to them.

'Yes we have. Earth is more of a mess then I remembered. These people will kill themselves one day.'

Loki chuckled at that. You're right, he said in his mind.

They halted in front of Odin. He inspected Loki for any kind of answer. 'Tell me, what did he do?'

'He went to New York. He was angry on me and let his rage go on the buildings and cars,' she started. Loki looked down. She would tell him. He knew.

She looked at him through the corners of her eyes for a very small second. 'But no person was harmed.'

He slowly raised his head, surprised. Odin raised his eyebrows. 'Really? I wouldn't think that.'

She blinked, now fully believing in her own lie. 'Neither would I. It doesn't change the fact that no one was hurt or killed. He was angry and I understand why. I drove him too far. I will give Loki more freedom and will not watch him every second. He doesn't have to be punished, for he did not mean harm.'

She fell quiet. She hoped Odin couldn't see through her. Even if he did, he couldn't change her judgment. But she didn't want to be talked about behind her back for lying.

'Very well then. Loki, you are dismissed,' Odin said. Loki left without making a sound. Once he was sure Loki was far away Odin said: 'You changed him.'

She stared at the hallway where Loki had just disappeared. 'Partly. I am not finished. I must recall on your hospitality once more to hold a close look on him. Would that be too much?'

'You never lost my hospitality. Please, stay as long as you desire.'

She finally turned her head to look at him. She smiled brightly. 'You finally stopped the 'Milady' thing. Thank you Odin.'

He blushed and looked down. When he looked back up she was gone.