Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
Eventually the light shines through the darkness and Loki is awake. Everything twists and blurs when he opens his eyes and his head spins. He vaguely wonders where he is but is distracted by the hum of agony when his body moves. The pain assures him he is alive. Even with his dampened magic he knows his body is ripped and broken. He can feel it trying to mend itself, slowly stitching itself back together.
Loki tries to move again forcing the pain into the back of his mind. His mouth feels dry and the taste of blood is thick on his tongue but he needs to know where he fell.
"Why did you let go?"
He freezes, every breath becoming heavier. Gabriel walks closer and kneels next to him, worried eyes searching his. But the god can't look at the angel and doesn't know what to say. There is no lie in this world or the next that would appease his friend.
"I don't know."
"I would've caught you if you held on a moment longer."
Loki doesn't speak; this is too much too soon.
"They don't think you survived."
Loki frowns, "Let them continue believing it is true."
"You aren't going back this time, are you?"
If Gabriel needed air to survive he would have held his breath. It was becoming too much to bear being unable to stop the punishments and then healing Loki afterwards. This time the angel feared he would raze Asgard to the ground if anyone so much as looked at the god the wrong way.
"No, I will not. Nor will I go willingly to face their 'justice'." At this his skin begins to change color, blue hue beginning at his hands spreading upwards until his pale skin is gone. He turns blood red eyes towards his friend.
"I am not Æsir."
Loki expects his friend to recoil in disgust or anger. He expects a fight and blood and betrayal but it doesn't come. The archangel moves closer to embrace him and the god flinches because he can't remember the last time he was held without being injured.
He melts into the warmth and feels Gabriel's power dance across his skin, the tension floats away. He relaxes when the other whispers gentle words in Enochian, placing small kisses on his hair.
"I'll show them. I will prove I am more than just their God of Mischief."
Gabriel nods in understanding, silently agreeing to help him. He'll stay with Loki through his war, he thinks, maybe they'll even find Mayhem and coax him into joining them again.
Loki tightens his hold hoping to pull his friend closer. Even when someone walks into the room they don't move away from one another. They stay close and listen to each heartbeat, savoring the love only two tricksters could understand.
Edited: 10-30-2013
A/N: Fixed some punctuation errors :P