Summary: The war between Jotunheim and Asgard draws to a close, but thanks to a horrible twist of Fate (or perhaps not), the nameless runt of Laufey-King is not discovered by Odin and so begins a remarkable journey of life that should not have been. Jotun!Loki AU. Set pre-/during-/after Thor/Avengers Assemble. MCU-verse only.
Warnings: ANGST! Loki-whump! Language, adult situations, violence, child abuse, dub-con, sexual assault (also of a minor), substance abuse, one abortion scene (sort of).
Comments: This is not a slash fic. Sorry. It's Loki-centric, although I definitely show the rest of the Avengers and etc. Please review! Constructive criticism welcome.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers. Marvel owns it. I do not get paid for this piece of work. Sadly, but understandably. LOL.
Well... here it is. Chapter 4. Put out on my Sunday... I dunno how China is related to you guys, but I hope you enjoy it whenever you get the chance to read!
AAAANNNND... was on Tumblr and Youtube until 4:30 AM yesterday. Tom Hiddleston - I hate you! You make me do stupid stuff like stay up too late! WAIIIIIIIIIIIIII DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? MADNESS! Hiddlestoner madness!
(typical lack of desire to take responsibility for mad fangirl actions).
Although I was rather displeased by the amount of drama among celeb fangirls. I had wanted to become a famous writer... now, I'm questioning that. To be pestered. 24/7. I mean, I know it's his JOB in a way and I know that Asian actors have to do WAAAYYYY MORE (like Hagyeul stars)... but still, give him space, people! Let him go home early and chill and stuff. You can mail him and get his autograph the easy way if you think having something he signed is important. [Although, I must admit that I would accept a letter from him - but that has more words than just his name which equals more meaning.] Anyways...
British men are hot. But even more exciting... men with long hair. AKA new Loki. Do you see a theme in my comments?
Onwards.
Thank you amazing reviewers! (Those who were so kind to comment and let me know they're enjoying the story thus far!)
To Sydney Jones - I'm glad you're enjoying the angst so far! So awesome you love the Loki hair too - and that Ironman was cool. There's this awesome meme on tumblr, which you can see on my tumblr ("dappled-things"), in which it says "if you will watch Iron Man just to see Loki in the trailer" - and below is Dean's actor (J. Ackles?) going "no no no no..." (bashful tip to his head) "YES.". LOLZ.
Dunno if I can see Ironman 3 though. It's hard to get to a movie out here. LOLZ. Just too much issues getting tickets and crap and lining up. And I'm lazy...
Anyways. I feel like I'm enjoying myself with this story for some reason and I'm just excited about what I've got planned. I know it's good form to play it cool. But I'm not... (sigh)
Distortions In Time
[Bitter Desolation, Incandescent Harmony]
Chapter 4
Ugly Twist of Fate
[... here, here, the strands of Time splinter most unpleasantly...]
Whatever glory the temple held before the Battle at Utgard (as it came to be called), it was lost now. Power which had run through the Aldinn Stathr and outwards through the citadel had disappeared as the Casket was lifted from its pedestal and escorted under guard to the Bifrost site and taken to Asgard immediately. To the Asgardians, it was a small matter – an easily achieved affair, with the High Guard Commander carrying the thing wrapped in blue silk and put in a wood box and then taken to the Bifrost site and Heimdall, activating the Bridge, called them and their treasure home.
It was a simple matter of placing it within the King's chambers and locking the rooms under strict surveillance until Odin returned and dealt with the matter himself. Such magical items, Odin All-Father believed, were best kept under lock and key, far away from those who would use it for ill – whether they be Jotunn or Asgardian.
This, of course, did not sit well with the Aesir High Council of Magics and Academics, but no one dare gainsay the All-Father and so, the Casket was stowed away – to become yet another stolen relic of a forgotten age.
With its removal from the realm of Jotunheim, a silence fell – a hush as any who had been gifted with a spark of magic felt the spirit of the realm die out.
[... a cry of mourning rose...]
By the time the Odin All-Father made it down to the Under Altar, he was spent. Aching and tired, he contemplated the scene of massacre which surrounded him and continued out into the street. A glorious day? He wondered. To some, perhaps, it will be remembered as a time of victory. To others...
Deep voices rose and there was a clash of bone and metal as the Jotunn renewed their struggle in an effort to push past the Asgardians to the Bifrost site. To regain the treasure they had lost. The pain and anger of the crippled people drowned out the anxious cry of the abandoned runt, muffled by the purple cape of an Asgardian warrior.
As if conflicted, Odin paused. Then froze as he thought he heard a sound – surely that was not? – he turned – but then the harsh cry of enraged Jotunn rose again. Shaking his head, chastising himself for his weariness, Odin focused on the task at hand. His guards were coming down the stairs even now with Laufey in tow.
Moving away from the Under Altar, the white-haired, one-eyed, weary Asgardian King turned toward his new captive and nodded. With that, Laufey and Odin walked out side by side followed by the company of guards.
The Gothahus, the Aldinn Stathr, the High and the Under Altar, were left in peace – and quiet came again to the room. The quiet of the dead.
And had its voices not been stolen and abandoned in turn, the Heimsrsal would have foretold the dangers which lay ahead for the Nine Realms alike – as Fate's cords twisted and warped.
But such is destiny.
-0-0-0-
The following day, to ensure the Jotunn would think twice before attacking – even as crippled as they were – the Mages were corralled and executed, wiping out the last of any magical might and learning to be found in the icy kingdom. Laufey, tall, bitter and silent, did not bow, nor did he weep. Face stony, he watched several hours later as Odin-King, turned, met his red eyes and nodded, the golden light surrounded the remaining Aesir force and the Asgardians were gone, leaving Jotunheim to drown in darkness.
Reaching the golden city, Odin did not return to his chamber immediately. Rather, his weary steps took him to his wife's chambers where Frigga sat in the pink of health with a heavy bundle in her arms – a loud, cheerful bundle of energy and warmth. Thor. That was what they had named him. A powerful name for a powerful king who would one day be as mighty as the force of Nature itself.
"How is he?" he breathed looking down at the blue eyes which stared back at him holding a wonderful sense of glee and innocence.
"How is he?" Frigga rose right away and put the baby in the small, intricately carved cot by her bed. "Thor is well enough – but you look like you have been in the wars," she joked a little, trying to lighten the mood. She paused at the sight of his face and his still red and sore empty eye socket and her voice rose a little in pitch and strength. "Oh... Your eye!"
"It was necessary," grunted Odin. "It will heal – in a manner of speaking."
"Why did you not go to the healers? You know how this kind of thing –" Frigga didn't complete her sentence as she rushed to the doors of her room and called a servant to fetch the Royal Healers. "Dearest, you must take better care of yourself or little Thor will have no Father to look up to! Next time, you will lose a leg or some such –"
"There will be no next time," Odin said heavily. "The news will spread even now – our battle with Jotunn has ended. The war is over. Much loss on Utgard – and many will join their forefathers in Valhalla, but we have won."
"My dear..."
"So much death," Odin shook his head and then allowed his wife to lead him to a chair by the hearth where she eased him back and began to take off his armour, throwing it carelessly aside. "I did not know where to look. Numbing and horrific and overwhelming. The blood of our warriors mingled with theirs – in the end – it was as if everyone was... the same... brothers in death. And for what? So meaningless."
"But it is over now. It is over."
"Yes," Odin closed his remaining blue eye and sighed. "It is over. The Casket of Ancient Winters was taken and Laufey's people will never know power again. Their kingdom will fall into shadow and eventually the Void will take it – unless some kind of understanding can be brokered and a new King comes who will rule it with honour and better care."
"I am sorry to hear it," Frigga whispered. "Without it –"
"It has to be this way. You know it. But we do not have to like it. Still, we have peace."
"We have peace."
"At great cost, we have peace. Peace for their people, in a way, and more importantly, peace for our people. Peace for Thor." Odin exhaled and then smiled at Frigga, lifting a hand to caress her cheek tenderly. "That is why I came directly – to remember what was most important in the end. You... and he. Our family." A pause and he frowned. "But it is odd – I feel as though I left something behind on Jotunheim," he sighed again, shaking his head wearily, "merely the musings of an exhausted mind, I fear."
"Then rest, dear heart," Frigga said softly, humming a magical melody which eased the tension in her husband's war-weary muscles as her hands ghosted over his under-tunic. "Rest."
-0-0-0-
And thus, the spirit of the realm was broken in two. A double blow for Jotunheim, although it knew it not. The Gothahus and the Aldinn Stathr of Utgard, lay empty now, filled only with Jotun dead as yet to be gathered. Servants and younglings trickled back into the city in search of their masters and parents – and discovered a desolation only found in nightmares.
Yet, the Heimsrsal is not so easily broken. It is the backbone of the world. It is the breath of wind and the snow and the ice and the light of the stars. It is the voices of Jotunheim.
[... the silence was broken by a child's cry – but none heard it...]
[... the spirit of the world stirred...]
[... again...]
SOOOO SHORT! GAH!
There you go. More epic-ness - but soon it will get a bit more personal - as you can see from the small scene I put in there of Odin and Frigga and stuff... and you know, she's not Thor's mother in reality, but it's not made clear in the movie and I'm not going to make it clear here. She's with Baby Thor, yes, but Baby Thor's real mother could've died... and Odin got hitched to Frigga really quickly. Believe what you want.
Next chapter will be better/more interesting. Next chapter... Baby Loki and... someone...
Glossary:
Gothahus – temple
Aldinn Stathr – Ancient Place
Atfirth – energies
Heimsrsal – Soul of the Realm
For-Eldra – Ancestors