So, will we finally find out what is to be Thor's fate? I know, it's so very hard to guess... :D
Loki walked with his son along the edge of a rebuilding town, talking about anything and everything. Sleipnir responded in kind, none having any difficulties with understanding each other. Loki was describing the wonders of Midgard, how much the realm had developed in a short time and still was moving onward, but how hilariously easy it still was to pull pranks on the mortals.
Sleipnir did not have much changes to describe with regard to Asgard, but he talked about the other horses and of the people and their skirmishes, about the last harvest and the celebrations that followed. And of Frigga's garden, her pride and joy, and how often he saw her walking through in a day, tending to the flowers and bushes and trees. Loki had not asked his son about the queen of Asgard – and his pride would not allow it anyway – but he didn't have to, Sleipnir knew what he wanted to hear. Desperate sense of longing tugged at Loki's heart, imagining the oh so familiar garden and his mother – no, queen Frigga (but why did it hurt so much more to call her as such?) - walking past the flower beds, kind smile on her face.
He shook his head to remove the image from his mind and tangled his fingers gently deep into Sleipnir's mane, asking him about the political situation instead. A much safer topic. But Sleipnir did not care much for politics and soon switched to the youngest foals and which of them were according to him sure to grow up into the strongest and fastest among them. Loki found out he didn't mind.
It felt like such a short time – although apparently over two hours – when a servant found them to inform them that the king would soon be departing. Their walk back to the castle was silent and slow. Just before they reached the gate, Sleipnir nudged his mother affectionately with his head, trying to cheer him up. Loki smiled sadly and scratched him behind his ears.
Hela and Odin were already waiting for them, right in the middle of the open area where they parted their ways a few hours ago. Loki watched his daughter but her face betrayed nothing. He did not dare to look at his fa- Odin! Odin, of course. Where did that come from?! A short talk about Asgard with his son and his memories of the blissfully ignorant past, filled with unseen lies, had taken hold of his mind so readily?
As he neared the king and the queen, he waved a hand to put back Sleipnir's head-collar, bridle and saddle. He handed the bridle over to Odin with a bow. "Just as I promised."
Odin nodded, then turned to Hela for a few last goodbyes, which Loki to advantage of to pull Sleipnir's head slightly lower and hug it, forehead pressed to his son's. Travelling to the outskirts of the golden city to visit Sigyn, Vali and Narvi was dangerous but doable. Visiting the royal stables – unnoticed? Practically impossible, even for the Trickster God.
He stayed like that for a moment before he saw the movement from the corner of his eye, indicating the king was ready to depart. Odin placed his calloused hand on his grandson's neck and said quietly to Loki, so Hela was out of earshot: "He is not the only one in Asgard who misses you."
Loki was pulled into the king's stare, unable to avert his eyes. They were so close now, less than the length of an arm, and Loki did not wish to be looking into the bright blue eye – so much like Thor's – for fear of what he might find there and whether his own eyes would mirror any of it.
Pathetic, childish wishes. Things could never be as they once were, too much have changed.
Odin was not his father (the look in his eye, the sadness, the regret, the disappointment, the... love).
Asgard was not his home (Asgard, where mother lived, her gardens and the golden halls holding so many memories, both painful and happy).
Loki was not... he was not... what Thor thought. He was... a mon-
He tore the visual connection violently. "I wish you a safe travel," he rasped, patted his son for one last time and turned on his heel, walking away into the palace without glancing back.
Hela caught up with him halfway through the first corridor. "Emotionally blackmailing the criminal to turn himself in," he sneered without turning to her, "does Odin really think such tactics work on me?"
His daughter suppressed the heavy sigh when she heard how quickly Loki came to his own conclusions, shifting the memories of just minutes before into something more corresponding with his current mindset. So the liar was not prepared to face the truth yet. Though she could still hope it had at least some impact on him that will help in time.
"Do you not want to know how the negotiations went?" she asked lightly.
Loki's thoughts switched from his adoptive father to his adoptive brother, brows creasing with worry: "Not well, I presume. Two hours is a rather long time for something that you both wanted to be resolved quickly."
"Oh," Hela blinked with an innocent, fake surprise, "the matter was actually settled in the first ten minutes."
Loki's eyes narrowed in suspicion but couldn't help but show his own, real surprise.
"Then, we were discussing the situation in Muspelheim," she continued instead of elaborating what was the result of the negotiations, "the Allfather actually offered his help – now! – which I refused quickly. But we agreed with our opinions about Surtur's passive approach and proceeded to discuss the politics of the whole Nine Realms, something I have not often the opportunity to do, especially with such a high standing politician knowledgeable about many matters I might not have been aware of yet..." she trailed off. "And that is why it took two hours, I suppose," she finished with a smile.
He couldn't help but give her a small grateful smile himself, knowing well her – only her, why would Odin care about such a thing – real reason for doing so was to give him and Sleipnir more time together.
Then he turned serious, but already with a fluttering hopeful feeling inside – if they could switch to discussing politics in a manner of minutes, the negotiations must have gone well after all. "So what is to be Thor's fate now?" he asked.
Hela looked forward in the direction she was slowly walking and shrugged nonchalantly: "The king agreed to my terms, I will send Thor back among the living later today."
Well, yes, so Loki had hoped, he had been even almost sure, but the seeds of doubt had still had enough fertile ground to fall into. The fertile ground that turned into a barren desert after Hela's words. He grinned happily but composed himself, prompting his daughter to smirk knowingly anyway.
But there was still something to call back Loki's uneasiness. Which it shouldn't, really, because what care did he have for Odin and whatever horrible bargain he agreed to just to save his son. "And what were the terms?" he asked with as much disinterest as he could fake.
Hela inspected her fingernails on her right hand. "'Eye for an eye', as the Midgardians say."
Loki's eyes widened. Whom did Odin agree to send to take Thor's place? Surely it – it couldn't be himself, or he would not leave... or did Hela just allow him to go say his goodbyes? No, no he didn't believe that. Although it suddenly sounded so plausible, so logical. 'One thing only Odin could grant her', of course, how did he not realize it sooner?
"He gave you his own soul," he stated incredulously. He was already used to unwelcome kinds of feelings towards Thor, crossing paths with him often on Midgard, but to feel them so strongly now towards the Allfather was startling. The hate and betrayal doused by a wave of worry and affection and... grief.
"Oh, stop being so dramatic," Hela rolled her eyes at his horrified face. "And they say I am the one with only darkness in my heart."
Loki's expression turned into a deeply worried confusion, eyebrows furrowed. "Then who-"
"No one," she interrupted him. "I did not demand a soul for a soul, but a resurrection for a resurrection – a precaution."
"What do you mean? You asked him to revive someone from Valhalla?"
"Yes."
"But who?"
Hela looked at him meaningfully. "You."
Loki's confusion only rose.
"As I said, a precaution," she explained. "You oftentimes engage in battles and you know well even Midgardians can surprise, not to mention your many enemies from other realms.. So if you ever were to die and did not end up here but with Odin, you are still free to go. But only once," she warned, "so do not waste it-"
She was cut off by a tight hug she was suddenly pulled into by her father.
"Yes, yes, I am wonderful," she patted his back, gasping a little in the bone-crushing embrace.
"Yes, you are," he agreed, the smile apparent in his words alone. He released her slowly, keeping hands lightly on her shoulders. "Thank you, Hela."
"I did it for selfish reasons too," she smirked, "it will make it easier for me to sleep at night, knowing you definitive death in not coming any time soon." She turned partly away and tapped her pursed lips with a finger, thinking. "Although there could be a better way to ease my worries, considering how readily Odin jumped at the opportunity to save his older son from the death..."
"Not this again," Loki suppressed the wave of irritation and outwardly just groaned, palm raising to his forehead and he run his fingers through his hair in despair.
"Just a reminder," Hela shrugged. "Now go tell your big brother the good news."
"He is not my brother."
"Of course," Hela humoured him, not paying heed to his narrowing yes. "So does it mean it is all right if I just send a servant?"
"No, I will take care of it," Loki regained his composure. He turned to face her head-on. "Once again, thank you."
"I am just being a good and dutiful daughter," she batted her eyes childishly.
A short laugh escaped his lips and then his face turned softer. "Yes, you are my little girl," he kissed her forehead, "even when you are talking more like my mother."
"Speaking of your mother, she must miss-"
"Hela," he stepped away from her, smile fell from his face, eyes darkened, "can you stop this already?" It was a bit irritating at the beginning but now Loki felt like it was just too much, she just couldn't stop herself from pushing her views on him.
The queen's smile dropped as well and she looked at her father petulantly: "You know it would be better if you stopped lying to yourself and simply reconciled with the royal family of Asgard. You will be unhappy until you do so, you know it is bound to happen sooner or la-"
"Maybe it is, maybe it is not," he cut her off sharply, "but I have had enough of your constant meddling." He exhaled to calm down a bit. "I know you mean well. It is really starting to grate on my nerves though. Especially with your condescending attitude."
Hela bristled. She was a queen after all, not used to anyone talking to her like that. How could he be so ungrateful after everything she had done for him? These thought must had showed on her face, for Loki spoke up again: "Queen or not, I am speaking to you as your father. What you are asking of me is a family business as well, after all, not a political one. Or," he quirked his eyebrow, "you want me back in Asgard so you have a stronger connection with the realm?"
"That is not my intention!" She raised her voice defensively. "I just see the emotional turmoil within you. And I know the reason as well as the solution, so-"
"So you will let me deal with it as I see fit," he finished her sentence with his own. "I am an adult, if you did not notice, I can take care of it myself."
"There is nothing wrong with accepting an advice from others," she folded her arms.
He frowned at her disapprovingly. "And there is nothing wrong with not accepting them if I decide so. Or are you really trying to act as a substitute for my mother?"
"I doubt even your mother could force you to do something you truly wouldn't want to," she told him ruefully.
"Then stop trying," he turned away, starting to make his way to Thor's quarters. After a few steps he felt a hand on his forearm.
"Wait," Hela said softly. He didn't turn, but at least stopped in his walk.
"Are you going to tell me I am to stay here, dead?" he asked in a completely neutral tone. "It would be your right, my behaviour towards the queen was rather unbecoming."
His daughter sighed. "No, I-" she moved around him and came to stand before him, looking him in the eyes. "-I am sorry. I did not mean to upset you. I though that pushing you in the right direction... Well, I will try not to meddle any more, as you said."
"Really?" he asked sceptically.
"I will try," she repeated with a wry smile, sounding slightly apologetic. "I am not used to others telling me what to do."
"Pretty spoiled, are you not?"
"Complain to my father for spoiling me," she grinned. And he grinned too, because just a short while ago, she would use it as an excuse to mention his father and how spoiled the princes of Asgard could both be. "I shall remember it," he promised.
"Well,"Hela looked away and released his arm, "I should go overlook the rebuilding of the outer walls. Meet me there with Thor after you are done." She started towards the door but then remembered something and spun around: "Oh and no need to hurry, I am supposed to revive Thor today, which means you have quite a lot of time to... talk..." Her speech had gradually slowed down as she had realized halfway through what she was saying. She smiled sheepishly. "Forget I said anything," she amended quickly, waved at him before he could respond and departed. Loki looked after her for a moment, then smirked fondly and made his way towards the guest chambers.
Yep, Loki and Hela had a little argument. It was originaly quite a mushy scene but I felt like Hela was pushing it so I made Loki tell her to cut it off instead. For those two, that scene is way too mushy as it is anyway. :-P