~ Chapter 9 ~

A cluster of bubbles rose up in the water around him and woke Loki up. Tiredly he opened his eyes and saw nothing but a bluish green sea. Then, out of nowhere really, a big eye opened and stared at him with a thin cat-like pupil.

But as strange it was, he didn't feel scared of even intimidated by the eye. He could in fact see the pity and compassion through it. He reached forward with both hands and they came in touch with the green skin before he curled up against Jormungandr.

Ah! I'm home.

Thor jumped of his horse as it stopped outside the Bifrost. His horse neighed before stomping its hooves, clearly unnerved by something.

"Take it easy, boy." Thor soothed the beast, "I'll be back shortly." he stroked the muzzle. "Wait for me." and he walked inside the structure.

Inside he saw Heimdall standing at the keyhole of the Bifrost. His weapon in his hands and he seemed tense.

"All hail, Heimdall."

"My Prince." Heimdall's thick and deep voice greeted. "I saw you coming."

"Yes," the courage that he had worked up was beginning to fade right before his eyes. With a deep breath he asked, "Have you seen what I've done for the last year?"

"You mean stalking your brother?" The guardian said without turning around. "Yes. I've seen your actions. I also saw that morning when your brother was thrown into the dungeons. It was a rare morning. I usually can't see in his room, but what happened broke down any blinds he had created between himself and my eyes."

"Then why haven't you told father about my crimes?" Thor asked in a rush. Feeling bad for having been seen in his time of crime. "Why is my brother paying for what I did? You of all should a sense of justice to correct a fatal mistake in Asgard?" Thor had now walked around so he could see Heimdall's face.

His golden eyes who saw everything looked at his prince. "It's not my task to judge the future King of Asgard. It's also not my duty to correct my King. If Odin comes to me for answers then I will give him them, otherwise I will hold my tongue and let things go on."

Thor felt disgusted. "So only because I'm Odin's son... I get away with trying to rape my own brother? Because I'm the heir to the throne I can do whatever crime I want as long as my father doesn't find out?" He refused to believe it. "My brother is suffering in the dungeons for something I did. Is that justice to you?"

"All is justice in the eye of the Allfather." Heimdall raised his eyes from his prince. "Justice does not have one form. It's time you learned that, my prince. "

"I can't believe you of all people will stand aside and let this injustice be done. Does it not hurt your pride that the prince you've watched all his life gets away with crimes so vile that only the degraded monsters do? Is this what you want from your future King?"

"It seems to me that you have already chosen your path to take, my prince." Heimdall said calmly, which grated on Thor's short fuse. "Do what you think is right and that will become justice for you."

It suddenly dawned on Thor, like the sun coming through a storm. "Yes. I know what I must do to repent for my crime." He started to walk around Heimdall and head for the exit. "I must stop being a coward and become a man. I have to make up for what I've done even if it means I fall from grace." It was only then it all made perfect sense to him. He snorted lightly. "Grace is worth nothing unless its earned. So is the throne of Asgard. Not to mention my brothers heart." His blue eyes stared at the castle of Asgard in the distance. "I was arrogant to think that only because I desired him, he would give me what I wanted. He saw the truth and tried to leave before I did something that I could never take back. Loki knew what I would be capable of and he wanted to prevent it. Instead, in my time of weakness, I accused him for my mistakes because I couldn't face what my desire and lust for him meant. I couldn't face my own father with my heart full with thoughts unfitting a King. I've been such a fool." His voice cracked at the end.

"Sometimes it takes a grave mistake to see our own hearts." Heimdall said with endless wisdom of watching people. "What does your heart tell you, my prince?"

Thor stood silent for a moment before he closed his eyes and opened them again.

"I love him." he confessed. From the deepest parts of his heart which he had tried to bury, he finally knew what his heart had tried to tell him. "I love Loki." Which made everything so much worse. It was like a physical pain.

"Go, my prince. Do what you must do." Heimdall encouraged his prince. Secretly proud of his future King.

Thor didn't say anything as he left Heimdall. His horse waited for him impatiently, and when he got on top he sat still for a moment. He knew what he had to do.

With a kick from his boots and a single word, he set of his horse toward Asgard.

He had a confession to make.

He felt a hand on his hair, threading tenderly through his black unwashed tresses. Like the hand of a mother, the hand gave him comfort and he didn't want whoever was behind him to stop.

A voice whispered gently, telling him to sleep. That everything would be better when he woke up. He wouldn't need to suffer anymore.

With a tired eye, he lifted his head from Jormungandr to look who was talking to him.

In his daze he saw a beautiful woman in a red mask. It was covering half her face, but the smile on her lips showed no hostility or hidden agenda. Her ample bosom barely covered by a dress as red as her mask.

"Sleep and dream of a place where no harm can reach you. Fall into the comforting hands of freedom." She crooned, making him close his eyes once more and lay his head back onto Jormungandr.

"Soon... everything that hurt you will be gone." she whispered.

TBC