Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel. Obviously.
In this chapter, Loki is masculine, and goes by "she/her/hers" pronouns. (Odin doesn't know Loki's change of gender, thus Loki stays in a masculine form.)
Loki kept lagging behind.
She was doing it on purpose, or more, accidentally-on-purpose, although Odin didn't seem to mind. They hadn't really spoken beyond making small talk towards the beginning of their journey. This suited Loki just fine, seeing as she wasn't quite sure what to say if Odin did start talking to her.
Although it was true that she didn't go out of her way to avoid Odin anymore, and saw him more often since Thor regularly dragged her to dinner, but there was so much... uneasiness. Loki mulled over it in her head again. Talking with Evyn about the situation had helped, she still wasn't quite sure what to do about it.
Loki decided she would have time to consider it later and turned her thoughts to what Frigga had whispered in Odin's ear before they left. Did she tell Odin to be good? Or to go easy on her? Or—Norns forbid—tell Odin to look after her?
It was then that Loki realized Odin was talking to her. She looked up ahead to where Odin had stopped walking and gave an intelligent "Hmm?"
"Are you hungry?" Odin said, with the expression of someone who had just repeated themselves three times. Loki shrugged.
"I... suppose so," she replied, realizing as she spoke that yes, she was getting hungry.
It was good enough for Odin, who pulled out sandwiches someone—probably Frigga—had packed for them. They were close to the mountains now, but still in the woods. A brook trickled somewhere close by and Loki looked around a little. "Not that I'm not enjoying our walk," she said, "but why did we not take a skiff?"
Odin took a moment to reply, chewing thoughtfully. "I thought it would seem less conspicuous. The Realms know Asgard's Bifrost is being rebuilt; how would it seem if an Asgardian skiff were seen on another Realm?"
Loki tilted her head in acknowledgment and considered for a few moments, realizing that since she hadn't attended any council meetings since the Bifrost Incident, she knew nothing of what was happening in other Realms. "What's the news from other Realms?" She asked. Odin hummed.
"Vanaheim is beginning to have trouble with marauders," he replied. "Nidavellir is doing trade with Alfheim and Jotunheim."
Loki looked up at that, eyes narrowing. "Trouble?" She asked. Odin shook his head.
"Not for the other Realms yet," Odin said. "Heimdall and I suspect a civil war is going to break out in Jotunheim as an Heir is chosen for the throne."
Loki frowned and went back to her sandwich. She'd not spoken of Jotunheim to anyone other than Evyn, and couldn't care less what happened. Regardless, she finally asked "Would the throne not go to Laufey's Heir? Hel-something, isn't it?"
"Helblindi," Odin said and shook his head again. "It would, however there is a problem; Helblindi is not yet of age and while Laufey made it clear that Helblindi is supposed to inherit, however the laws of succession say that until Helblindi is of age, neither can officially inherit. Byleistr is currently acting as Regent and Helblindi is not happy about that."
Loki hesitated, thinking things through. "What are the laws of succession on Jotunheim?" She asked.
"It has been a long time since I studies Jotunheim's laws," Odin said. "But I remember that the successor is decided by election." He paused there and then put his sandwich down, looking at Loki. "When we spoke of Bestla and Ve, you asked if there was anything else that you should know."
"You said there was," Loki said, also putting her sandwich down, heart beginning to speed up, dread weighing in her stomach. "And that you'd tell me another day, at least about the important one."
Odin nodded. "I never planned on breaking my word to you," he said and waited for Loki to look him in the eye before saying "Loki. You are a prince of both Asgard and, logically speaking, Jotunheim. That makes you eligible for the throne of Jotunheim, if you so wished. As it is, since you defeated Laufey, you are already being considered for the position."
Loki's eyes widened. "- What? No!" She stood, her forgotten sandwich falling to the ground. "Absolutely not! How could you even ask that of me?"
"Loki, Loki," Odin said, putting his own food aside and standing. "I ask nothing of you, my son. Do not mistake my telling you of this as my desire for it to be so."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Loki snarled. Odin pursed his lips.
"Because until the Bifrost I fixed and we can go to Jotunheim in any official capacity—and yes, that includes denying the position if you so choose—they will hold the election. Your mother and I considered it more important for you to focus on your treatment than of something we can currently do nothing about."
Loki huffed and turned away at that, beginning to pace wordlessly. She could see Odin's reasoning. What point would there be in worrying about something they—as Odin had said—could do nothing about? Loki wondered what to say when Odin walked over and placed a hand to her shoulder.
"It is," he said, "entirely up to you. If you wish to rule, then you may do so. If not, then you may decline the position. Whatever your decision, your mother and I will support it."
"But I'm not even-" Loki clenched her jaw in frustration and shrugged off Odin's hand. "Are you done?" She asked, nodding to the rest of their food. "Or shall we continue on?"
Odin gave a soft sigh. "Yes," he said. "I am finished. Let's move on."
Loki nodded and began to repack her bag. Her sandwich was covered in dirt, but as she picked it up to throw away, she discovered that she had lost her appetite anyway.
The sun was just beginning to set when Odin and Loki arrived in Alfheim. The Passage led out onto a grassy hillside where Loki could pause for a moment to appreciate the sunset.
Loki had always thought that the sunsets on Alfheim were the prettiest to behold; the sun and the moon aligning for just a few moments, bathing the Realm in blue and red light. But then the sun would fall over the horizon, and the moon would rise high into the night sky, stars peaking out.
Odin paused beside her, also taking in the sight. Neither of them said a word—for which Loki was glad—and Loki sat down, clapping a hand over her head to keep her hat on as a breeze passed by. After a moment, Odin sat as well. He took out his water for a few sips before passing it to Loki.
When the sun finally fell below the horizon, Odin sighed and made to stand. "Come," he said, offering Loki his hand. "I would like to reach our destination before it becomes too late in the evening."
Loki continued looking at the sky for a moment, tucking a few stray lock of hair behind her ear before taking Odin's hand and pulling herself to her feet. They began to make their way down the hillside, but Loki continued to lag behind, still looking up at the stars.
They arrived at the in about half an hour later. Odin got them two rooms and handed Loki the key to one of them. As they walked upstairs, Odin glanced back and said "Would you like to eat?"
Loki hesitated before shaking her head; she was suddenly exhausted. "No, thank you," she said. "Not hungry."
Odin frowned. "Are you sure?" He asked. "You barely ate anything at lunch."
Loki shrugged. "It's... one of those days," she said, waving a hand. "And I can always get something later."
Odin nodded slowly. "Very well," he said. "Are you going to retire now?" When Loki nodded, Odin continued "Well then. Good night, Loki."
"Good night," Loki replied and slipped into her room. It was small and modest; there was a dresser, a table, and a bed. Immediately, Loki shifted into her feminine form, letting out a moan of relief. While she was used to having to hide her feminine form, it was always a relief to Shift into how she wanted to look. She had yet to tell Odin about the gender-changing she did, but she had also not yet found an appropriate time to tell him.
Loki placed her pack on the table and approached the bed warily, checking it for bedbugs before shrugging off her coat, hat, and boots, pulling her hair out of its braid. She pulled out her braid and fell into the bed, wrapping the blankets around herself and settling in.
She considered herself fortunate for falling asleep as quickly as she did.
Notes:
Sorry for the delay, everyone! I've been super swamped by schoolwork and I've had NO time or motivation to write. I'm so happy to finally have this chapter out! I'm hoping to have another one out by the end of the month.
Can I just say that "Death By Glamour" is my favorite Boss Theme from Undertale? (Although I currently have "Spookwave" as my ringtone.) I'm thinking about writing an Undertale fic after I finish "To Speak." Maybe it'll be my next Big Project. (Or maybe I'll go back and finish that Loki series that I've kinda left hanging...)
Thank you to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed! :)