A/N: Happy birthday, Olivia! See you all next chapter!
Forgotten. The words echoed around me as I fell further and deeper into the vortex. The only way I could describe it was like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. Well, falling down the rabbit hole with the entirety of the universe shouting in your mind. I felt incredibly weak and fragile. It would have been incredibly easy for me to give up and allow myself to fade into the universe.
But the thought of having to surrender the family I had desired for so very long kept me hanging on. It may have been by a thread, but I clung to the small piece of sanity that remained. I fell through time and space, dimensions and events. My mind was foggy but I fought to remember what I needed. What did I need? I could see it, a blur in the back of my chaotic mind. Focus, Olivia. What do you need?
I needed Loki to remember me. But how was I going to accomplish that? He had likely already forgotten about me. My friends had forgotten about me. What was the point? I should sink into the void...
No! No, I couldn't do that. I just needed to find him. Somewhere. He was in here somewhere. Weakly, I extended my hand outwards, seeking to find and grasp some moment in time where he was. He likely wouldn't know me then, of course. But if I could somehow gain his trust, implant myself in his memory. then there was the slightest chance...
I didn't know when it was, but I did find him. I grasped the instance like a ledge and my body slammed into a spatial wall. Ow. My fingers began to slip and I groaned from the effort. I was so very tired. Just a little more, Olivia. A little more and then you can sleep. I exhaled sharply and flung my other arm around and upwards, grasping the memory ledge with both hands. With great effort, I climbed my way up, falling into the past with an 'oof!'
My limbs shook as I tried to stand, everything in me fatigued. I glanced around, making an attempt to clear my hazy mind. Where was I? The sun shone clearly through the few trees that covered the entrance to the grotto. I was aware of a waterfall rushing overhead somewhere. Despite being inside a cave, the scene was really quite lovely. But it was the sobs that snapped me back into reality.
In the faint light that streamed through the mouth of the cave, I saw a small form, its head in its hands. I drew upon the remaining strength I had and stumbled towards it. As I grew closer, I could make out that it was a boy, likely around the age of eight or so. "Hey." I greeted quietly, trying my best to not frighten the poor kid. He jumped at my voice and I realized my attempt failed miserably.
He looked up at me in alarm, his blue eyes red from crying. One good look at his face and I knew instantly who it was. "Wh-who are you?" He was absolutely terrified.
"I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." My hands groped the cave wall behind me and I allowed myself to sink to the floor, the effort of standing too great.
He examined me carefully, clearly debating if I was telling the truth. "You failed to answer my question." He stated suspiciously.
"A friend." I replied evenly. My breath came in shudders and I made my best attempt at a reassuring smile, but I wasn't certain it came out that way.
"I don't have friends." The boy rubbed his nose on his sleeve and looked down at his feet sadly.
"Maybe not now, but you will."
"How could you possibly know that?"
"I know a lot of things." He looked at me with doubt but said nothing. "So, why are you crying anyway?"
"I'm not crying."
"You were. I heard you."
His face twisted into a scowl. I had never seen him look so innocent before. He had been hurt but the anger and animosity were non-existent. "Why would you care? No one else does." The pain in his voice was evident and I hated that I was unable to move. I gladly would have wrapped him in a comforting hug. As it was, I was too exhausted to move an inch.
"We're friends, remember?"
"I don't even know your name."
How badly would I screw up time if I told him my name? I decided it didn't exactly matter at that moment and continued. "Olivia."
"Olivia?" He repeated with confusion. "That is a strange name."
"Is it? Maybe you're the one with the strange name?"
I watched him sit a little higher on his rock seat. "I am Loki, of Asgard, the son of Odin, brother of Thor. I do not have a strange name."
"That remains to be seen." I replied with amusement. My lids began to droop from the weight of exhaustion and I felt my heart begin to slow.
"You do not look well, Olivia." The concern in his tone was slightly comforting. "What happened to you?"
"Oh, you know." I replied with humor. "Just tried to save everyone I loved and died in the process. I'm being erased from history. No big deal."
His dark brows knit together in confusion and I chuckled weakly. "Why are you here, then?"
"Why were you crying?"
Loki sighed and pushed himself to standing from the rock. "Father took Thor with him to the hunt."
"And not you?"
"He never takes me. I'm not good enough." His lower lip jutted out in a pout. "Thor always causes trouble and I am always there to get him out of it, or to take the blame myself. And still, Father loves him more. I do not know why I cannot seem to make him proud."
He rubbed his face on his sleeve, eliminating a rolling tear from his cheek. His gaze remained firmly fixed on his feet. "That sounds like it's his problem, not yours."
Loki looked at me questioningly and I continued. "Sometimes, parents really suck at doing the right thing. I'm sure your father is equally as proud of you. He's probably just really bad at showing it."
"I do not think he is proud of me."
"Well, even if he isn't, I am."
"You don't even know me."
"Actually, I do. I know you very well. I know your heart and I consider it a privilege to know it."
A small smile spread on his lips and I mimicked the gesture. "Who are you, really? I do not think we are merely friends."
"Let's just say I'm someone of importance in your future."
"My future?" He perked up at the sound. "Tell me, does Father love me? Am I tall and strong like Thor? Am I king?"
I chuckled and shook my head. "I'm afraid you'll just have to wait and find out for yourself."
His mouth dropped open from surprise and I waited for him to speak. "Are you my queen?" The thought seemed to shock him so greatly that I couldn't help but laugh. "Tell me, are you my queen?"
"Why would you possibly want to know that?"
"Because if you are, I should be amazed that I ever married someone so lovely as you."
"Wow, you've got the moves, don't you?" I replied wryly.
"But you're dying." He stated sadly, crouching to the floor in front of me.
"Yes, I am."
"Why am I not helping you?"
I looked at him sadly, feeling my breathing become fainter by the moment. "You can't remember me."
"How can I not remember you?"
"You just can't." My eyes began to close and I felt myself begin to drift.
"How can I help you? Please, I want to help!"
He was so sweet and I found my face flicker into a frail smile. "I'm afraid you can't."
"Please! If you need me to remember, I will! I swear to you, I will remember you! I will never forget you!"
"I think, one day, you're going to be a very good man." I said softly, touching the tip of his nose before allowing myself to fall into the vortex once more. As I did, I could hear his voice reverberate around me.
"I will remember you, Olivia! I promise! I'll never forget!"