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), slavery, sex trade (maybe), some mild original character/Loki M/M pairings.
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.
Chapter 30 had the MOST REVIEWS TO DATE! THANK YOU GUYS! I ALMOST MADE 10 reviews for one chapter! SO AWESOME - AND ENCOURAGING!
A big shoutout to: ClaMiAl, Winter Cicada, Double Gemini, Hrosanna (welcome~), Kai Maciel, Ellie (sorry about the cliffies!), wbss21, Immortal Sailor Cosmos, DragonsFlame117!
In other news... THE THOR 2 TRAILER IS TOOOOOOO AWESOME! I HAVE TUMBLED IT TO DEATH! LOKI'S EYES ARE SO GREEN! HE IS SO AWESOME! HIS SMILE! HIS EYES! HIS MAGIC! HIS FACE!
HIS FACE!
*spasms and flails and dies*
*ded*
Warning! Slavery! Warning! Angst! Warning! OH MY! Warning!
Distortions In Time
[Bitter Desolation, Incandescent Harmony]
Chapter 31
Sun's Ascension II
Thor was in the middles of putting a young insect-humanoid hybrid Ugaro Enforcer, known as Ko'en of the Southern Gates, into a rather embarrassing headlock when the first alarm rang out – barely heard beneath the usual rhythmic, pulsing dance music, screaming spectators and boisterous announcers who hadn't stopped talking. Kol'la, a few paces away, turned his head, caught Thor's eye, nodded, flipped and easily turned his opponent, knocking the poor, young Kree off her feet and flinging her to the hard-packed dirt. Thor sighed.
Once again, he toys with his prey, Thor thought, eyeing his sneaky shieldmate. Kol'la always enjoys letting them think they have won. The blonde warrior winced as Kol'la coolly brought his heavily spiked boot down on his opponent's sternum, jamming the metal breastplate downward in a rather painful way. A vicious, underhanded way to fight – and entirely without honour.
Yet another part of him, sounding much like Kol'la added, but it is effective.
"Ah... now... Exon," Kol'la sauntered over easily, a smirk on his face. His tall, bejeweled spear glittered dangerously – a wicked thing like its incorrigible, heartless owner. It was made of dark metal – with various coils engraved into it – designs of sea serpents and magic runes to entrance its uses. Near the keen blade, which curved gracefully at the top, four gems of varying shapes and sizes. A slender weapon – yet, Thor knew, strong and able to strike from up close and also from far away. The bottom came to rest before Thor and Kol'la peered down at the blonde warrior with a small arrogant smile.
"You do realize this battle was to submission – not death, right... Exon?"
"Or course," Thor replied with a frown. "I would not forget -"
"Well," Kol'la shifted onto one foot, a fist on leather clad hip. "I often wonder how you keep any kind of information in that vacuous mind of yours. It is a veritable miracle."
"Now, Kol'la –"
"And it is a necessary question," Kol'la continued on ignoring and running over Thor's objection, "since you appear to be bringing Ko'en to an unglorious end. Strangulation. Did the warrior's code transform during the interval of this hour, I wonder. Not that it matters what I think –"
Thor glanced down and realized with a start that the young Ugaro was wildly flailing now. Easing back, Thor let his now very defeated opponent fall forward, gasping 'forfeit! Forfeit!"
"I apologize – " Thor paused, scratching his head as he eyed the coughing Enforcer. "Kol'la says I do not know my own strength."
"Indeed," Kol'la interjected repressively.
"- but it is indeed difficult to remember in the heat of battle –"
"An alarm sounded – ah –" Kol'la sighed, eased back, hands raised disarmingly as the security detail for Ring Two swarmed in. "We will come along – No -"
His calming words were cut off as the guards jerked the beaten Ugaro and wounded Kree to their feet and dragged them off through one grill passage way. A slight pause and then other guards from the second set of doors poured in and uneasily prodded the two victorious fighters into the dim hallway which led to various rooms underneath the stadium. Usually, there was a cool off period in one of the side rooms. Armour was divested, weapons were "locked" away (but easily enough retrieved Kol'la knew, especially for any self-respecting Mage) and then there was a half hour of drinking water and taking refreshments before heading back upstairs to meet the excited masses who had cheered them on (or booed them).
During such events, Thor's easy-going, come-what-may nature and Kol'la soothing, yet sharp and witty silvertongue garnered much attention – to their competing warriors' dismay and Shax's delight. The hearts of the crowd was the heart of coins.
Today, however, it was different.
Something has happened, that much is certain, Thor thought as he allowed himself to be herded through the short halls to waiting elevators and then downwards to a waiting High-Security facility room in which stood a rather puzzled Fandral and Hogun, dressed casually for a night of servicing tables.
"What happened?" Fandral asked, blue eyes flashing with worry. He scratched nervously at his weedy attempt of a goatee. "You did not kill someone, Thor, did you?" He turned to Hogun and shook his head. "He never did know his own strength."
"Or know restraint," Hogun shrugged.
"Same difference, do you not think?" Fandral rolled his eyes at his monosyllabic friend. "Always splitting hairs, Hogun."
Kol'la turned and raised an eyebrow meaningfully at Thor who laughed sheepishly in confession.
"Something happened," Thor shook his head. "What I know not. I merely put Ko'en into a particular hand-fast hold -"
"A smothering one – you nearly killed him."
"So speaks the man who broke the breastbone of a woman needlessly!" Thor glared at Kol'la. "No honour as usual."
"Ha. She is no more woman than I am," snorted Kol'la. "And we are slaves, remember? Who speaks of the honour of slaves?" A pause, then he answered himself bitterly. "Only fools."
Hogun stared at Kol'la thoughtfully and stepped on Fandral's toes hard just as the vivacious blonde was about to give the usual quick rebuttal to Kol'la's quiet cynicism. It was the usual game between the two and Hogun had no time for it. Not today.
Thor shook his head, "I am no slave -"
"Oh, sorry, I do apologize," Kol'la snorted. "I must be faint from battle for I thought I saw a collar on you and a prison around you. My mistake."
"I am no slave," Thor repeated mulishly, fingering his collar and then paused. Stopped. Cocked his head and eyed his friend – the pale-skin, dark-haired, green-eyed young man he now counted as a shield mate.
All his life, no doubt, he has belonged to someone – but Kol'la does not speak of his past. And his eyes... Thor did not know what to call it. Instinct however told him that behind Kol'la's cool gaze there was only pain.
"I am no slave – and neither," Thor sighed, stepping forward to grab Kol'la's shoulder reassuringly. "And neither are you."
-0-0-0-
... I am no slave – and neither are you...
... neither are you...
For a moment, Kol'la did not move, allowing the weight of Thor's large, warm hand to steady him, almost calming him down and Kol'la bridled at the thought. I am no beast to be tamed by such simple, trite words - With that, Kol'la moved away, shrugging off Thor's hand and words.
"At any rate, the alarm was not due to Thor and his usual foolishness," Kol'la switched the subject. "Not us. This time," he added darkly.
"They did not even let you undress," Fandral mused. "Nor did they remove your weapons!"
"Did not the Madames at least lock away your weapons?" Hogun gestured at Thor's blade still clutched in his fist.
"This is most unusual," Thor agreed.
"I believe we covered that already," Kol'la replied dryly. "Glad to see you catching up."
"Has this happened before?" Hogun interjected quickly before another flyting battle spouted between Kol'la and the other two.
"Hm, yes," Kol'la nodded, looking speculatively toward the ceiling. "there was that one time a mage detonated two megablocks away..." A pause. "And there was a leak that needed to be 'locked down' – a radiation leak – not that your kind would be worried about such small things like radiation," Kol'la went on with no small amount of sarcasm lacing his words. "Hm... and there was that other time a fiber-fusion cable failed and there was no electricity for half an hour. That was next door – I mean, the megablock to the south. I was locked into the dorms with the rest for three hours... oh... and that time two Kree went mad with battle-rage and there was a disturbance thanks to some visiting Chitauri – two clubs down. I was on the dance stage when blaster fire erupted across the street..."
Kol'la trailed off at Fandral's, Hogun's and Thor's blank expressions and resisted the urge to smack them on the head.
"Did they ever bundle you into this prison even with your armour and -"
"No," Kol'la cut Thor off. "But that is under -"
"Wait, wait," Fandral burst out. "Then something very dangerous must have happened – perhaps an invasion -"
"Hm, yes, you could call it an invasion," Kol'la agreed calmly. "It is time."
"Sorry, pardon?" Thor blinked.
Hogun's eyebrows rose and a small smile formed on his lips as he realized what Kol'la had been holding back on them. In response to Thor's question, Kol'la sighed, shook his head and glanced at his fighting partner. An eyebrow twitched with annoyance as he thunked his spear's end rather heavily on the concrete flooring.
"Seriously, Thor, you were there – the announcers were mentioning sightings -"
"I did not hear them because you were talking on and on -"
"You have ears and they can work for a variety of purposes, can they not? I swear, Thor -"
"And if I do not pay attention to you -"
"One track mind, I see -"
"Sightings of what?" Hogun asked, realizing that his hard-earned patience was slipping from his grasp.
"Aesir."
"Why did you not say so before?" Fandral's exasperated exclamation clashed with Thor's "Father has come!"
The husky young warrior's face lit up immediately and Kol'la's face soured in response.
"As I said he would. Admit it, Kol'la, I was right."
"You were right," Kol'la admitted grudgingly.
"And we did not have to wait so long!"
"Indeed."
"Come now, Kol'la. Why the long face?" Thor's arms widened and his face split with a great smile. "This is your chance to come to Asgard and taste the sweet delights of freedom! Quests! Honourable combat!"
"Fresh fruits and vegetables," Hogun added.
"Beautiful maids," Fandral sighed dreamily. "Enough to whet any man's appetite."
"Yes! Eating! Drinking! Feasts which last all night long! Wenching! A glorious life of -"
"I am to go with you to Asgard?" Kol'la asked, green eyes carefully blank.
"Of course," Thor drew back, disconcerted. "I thought you wanted to come. Where else do you have to go?"
An awkward pause ensued and Hogun grimaced, rubbing his eyes. Kol'la's face hardened in response as he contemplated Thor's thoughtless words.
Where else do you have to go?
That familiar ache spread throughout his chest – the hurt he had lived with so long it was as natural to him as the air he breathed. And yet, and yet, it was as if the knife of Truth could still twist itself deeper within Kol'la's dead heart and give him grief.
Where else do you have to go?
He is right, Kol'la. There is nothing for you on Sharda'aa... and only the wilderness of Jotunheim waits for you if you wished... but on Asgard, the Glorious Realm Eternal – there is much knowledge and magic to learn. And this offer comes freely from the Prince himself. Kol'la hesitated. Not that he may keep his promise, such is the way of those in power. Still...
With that thought, Kol'la's right hand rose to his collar, pressing his long slender fingers along it in a row while his left hand clasped the staff tightly. Closing his eyes and ignoring the questions which spewed out of his comrade's, the young mage inhaled – exhaled -
Inhaled.
Air and power and memory and life.
Exhaled.
Power tenfold – running through his staff and his arm, feeding into and growing with the other energies about him. He could feel it – the additional power he had stored over time and everything he could use within and without himself. So much power – Kol'la could taste it on his tongue and feel it expand within his lungs. It burst outward in every direction, barely controllable, a mighty avalanche roaring down a mountain, a reckless river plunging over a waterfall to its new path miles below, a brilliant comet burning its way through the Void itself.
Attempting to collar it, bridle it seemed nearly an impossible thing, but Kol'la -
Inhaled.
Exhaled.
- rode the storm, bursting through his layers of power to a new level of understanding and sight. Ah – what heady release it was – no longer there in body and yet feeling so one with his world.
Inhaled.
Exhaled.
All those years in the dark, dim light of Tarnax and among the gaudy delights of Poison Paradise and wrecking havoc in the training halls of the Battle-House. I was right, he thought, laughter slipping out – wild and dark and free. I was right, the world is so much bigger outside and inside than I knew. Blinkered and bridled, but certain there was more – so much more –
And Kol'la knew that Asgard would have to be – must be the next place for him –
He could not go back. Breaking free and soaring above his plateau, power vibrating through him, Kol'la was certain his destiny would not be bound to some lower kind of pursuit.
Inhaled.
Exhaled.
It hummed within him now and bursting out and up, the green magic poured from his fingertips engulfing the collar, overwhelming the inlaid sorcery within. With an ominous cracking, snapping sound, the rune-engraved metal blew apart in four pieces. As the rest of Kol'la's natural magic began to return, the young mage began to pant as he attempted to bring the rest of his burgeoning magic back into control.
The spear, now emptied of its hidden prize, fell out of his grasp and clattered to the ground. Kol'la opened his eyes, raised his hand and touched Thor's collar. His eyes were nothing natural now – a living green flame and when his mouth opened the usually soft voice seemed even more ominous than usual. Before Thor could say anything a shock of energy and magic ran through his collar, overriding the circuits and inlaid magical charms, burning away the runes right off the metal and blasting it apart.
Fandral and Hogun were similarly released – but just as Fandral was about to say something about getting the door open, Kol'la raised his hand upwards. A short verbal command issued from pale lips, his right hand formed a sigil and a beam of energy blasted upward, destroying the ceiling.
"Very well," Fandral nodded, stunned. "That works."
"Indeed," Hogun said dryly.
"Impressive trickery," Thor smiled at Kol'la. "Ah, not a trick, I know. Perhaps we should leave now – since I have my sword with me and daggers."
Kol'la picked up his spear and extended his hand.
"Hold on tightly to my arm," he said. "It has been a long time since I attempted this – and never with companions."
Unhesitatingly, Thor took hold of Kol'la's thin arm. After a moment and a glare from Kol'la's flaming green eyes, Hogun and Fandral also took hold. Then they were gone. Barely one second passed before all four found themselves six floors above in Shax's office, where the stunned businessman sat, clearly in the middle of a comm call. Everyone froze – but Shax moved first, hand darting out to press his security button – Thor ran forward to the door and batted down the hulking guards who hustled in, allowing Hogun and Fandral to seize the fallen guard's weapons. Kol'la loomed over Shax with an impish smile.
"Well, Master Shax," he said politely, fingers running along the edge of the fine, imported wood. "I am afraid that this is goodbye -"
"Kol'la -"
"Hush," Kol'la laughed then, mockingly. "Do not ruin your moment with something so pitiful as begging."
"I do not beg," Shax replied equally calm.
"You should." Kol'la's smile was wide and wolfish and sharp as glass. "You should."
The ensuing explosion took the roof off.
[... there are some things which, once lost, can never be found...]
[... some things that can never be forgiven...]
"Speaking of showing no restraint," Thor sighed, kicking away some rubble and helping a steadily swearing Fandral to his feet.
"We needed access to the roof -" Kol'la pointed upward.
He easily leaped onto the desk and jumped up, snagged a crumbling edge of roof and a few bent metal struts and then heaved himself up. Thor followed suit, shaking his head – helping Fandral and Hogun up as well. Below the guards were attempting to get past the badly bent iron office door.
"Access to the roof, yes," Thor agreed, coughing as the smoke and dust rained about him. He squinted as he looked through the gloom about them. "But this is madness -"
"Effective. The explosion will have caught the eye of your -"
"SIF!"
Fandral and Hogun's voices rose at the sight of someone slender running toward them in the smoke, yelling something rather incoherent. Kol'la gripped his spear tightly and then, noticing Thor's returning smile, relaxed.
"SIF!" Fandral was saying again, drawing a dark-haired woman into his arms and kissing her brazenly on the cheek. "You came to rescue us? But we did not need it truly – Where is Volstagg?"
"Back at the camp," said the dark-haired warrior women shortly. She clasped Thor briefly and drew back with a smile.
"The camp?" Thor asked confused.
"Your father, the King, Odin Allfather brought a mighty force to this Norn-forsaken planet when we finally traced you here. We had waged war on the slavers and their kingdom, bringing their emperor to his knees and taking his family hostage. Thus peace was forged - and the Mahko'nai released the spells of protection and concealment upon you three just now and Heimdall located you. But enough, we must go and at great speed, should a war break out – well, I feel that His Highness would not approve of making war yet another day."
With that, the companies gathered around and there was much back-slapping and congratulations and a variety of explanations and short stories which did not make much sense thanks to the overlapping conversations and a weedy, looking native of Sharda'aa was released (apparently) with a small bag of gold – and then they were all off, running breakneck back over the flat megablock roofs toward the camp of the Aesir. At the approach of their group, the rest of the Aesir raised a voice of victory – and Thor marched up to his father in an impromptu parade which he led with great panache and style, raising a fist now and then.
Lady Sif, the dark-haired woman warrior, shook her head and sighed, muttering something like, "Here we go again..." Fandral and Hogun on either side of a very fat, incredibly bearded, jolly warrior laughed and Kol'la, standing on the fringe of the crowd, felt even more out of place than usual. There were hard stares sent his way, which he met with equal (if not more) venom, unwilling to budge from his place. Kol'la would hold Thor to his word if that was the last thing he would do.
Odin welcomed his son with great formality, but underneath, Kol'la could read anger, disappointment, sorrow, fatigue – and beneath all of that, joy and love. A son returning to home to the open arms of his father, Kol'la swallowed and glared at the stone beneath his feet. Laufey-King of Jotunheim would never accept me like that. And it does not matter. It never matter. It never did.
But it did.
Then the great King drew his son in for a small embrace and, pulling away, they conversed for a few minutes. Odin's single blue eye fell then on Kol'la's dark head. A blue eye met a pair of green – and for a few seconds, their gazes were caught - then after a moment, Odin nodded wearily. No one could hear the exchange between father and son, but Kol'la's heart grew a little lighter. Thor had kept his promise.
After that, there was a flurry of activity. Ordered chaos and not a little bit of confusion as armour and weapons were double and triple-checked. The temporary camp was brought down efficiently. Thor was bundled off in one direction, the three warriors in another – leaving Kol'la to stand, at the command of a suspicious, darkly-tanned one-handed general, with a company of soldiers until called for. Eventually, the Bifrost opened – again and again, drawing the golden people of the golden land back to bosom of Asgard.
[... darkness fell on Sharda'aa...]
[... blessed with Asgardian mercy...]
[... to live to die another day...]
[... yes, one day...]
Kol'la did not look back. He did not need to, even though he had never seen the topside of Sharda'aa before, the now ex-slave had no desire to know more of the place he had called 'not-home' for so long. It was a desolate grey place, a desolate grey sky and beyond, the hungry Void leeched from it, feeding on the minds of its soulless inhabitants. Underneath the dirty, monochromatic crust was another world – equally empty. Illusions and mists of dreams and drugs and brassy music and the girls, like Glo-Glo, and the boys, Silvertongue once upon a time, kicked their heels towards the stars.
So, Kol'la looked forward. There was only the Road of What Is Not ahead.
[... magic tearing through the Void...]
[... triumphant...]
Travelling along the Bifrost was like pressing oneself against the window panes of existence, Kol'la thought, so close to What Is and What Is Not – screaming with magic, both beautiful and destructive.
Then there was a rich dome, gilt and carved with ancient pictures and a stern-faced dark man who stood facing the stars, sword in hand – and beyond, the Bridge of Many Colours. The Bifrost itself. And beyond it – beyond it –
The eternally youthful sunlight of Asgard broke across Kol'la's face.
[... a golden place...]
[... a golden cage...]
AND KOL'LA IS IN ASGARD! YES!
Thank you so much guys for reading! I hope you continue to enjoy - and if you do, please review!
Author's Note: On Odin
I love reading fics with Odin in all forms - evil!Odin, bad-parent!Odin, awesome!Odin... but when it comes to Distortions in Time, I prefer to try to keep to what I see in the MCU-verse (not Earth-616 or Ultimate Avengers), which is a father who isn't perfect but isn't the worst piece of crap. He is a King who is attempting to keep peace, although he does give his sons mixed-messages. He is, mainly, tired. So, in this fic, the only planet the Aesir smack down is the Mahkonai Empire (the Slavers) and NOT Sharda'aa which is a messed up planet but not the real problem. I don't think Odin is really the genocidal type, really. I kinda read a lot of political stuff into Odin's character - and that should make him a little more complicated than just being a mindless, war-hungry dude. Also, this hopefully explains why there is more pomp and ceremony for when he receives Thor back - instead of publicly reaming out his son, Odin maintains his image. I hope this makes sense and doesn't seem too out of character for you guys... this is just my interpretation of a movie character...
Thanks for reading and for being such troopers hanging in there!-KI
Numbers (for this quadrant):
0 - nai
1 - sa
2 - tho
3 - frei
4 - ah
5 - ko
6 - yul
7 - vee
8 - mah
9 - lei
Alien Glossary:
'auzha – fucker
Dou'ma – idiot
r'senk'ne – a kind of deer/cow hybrid
n'ch'nka – a kind of cow
chi'iano – a radioactive piece of rock similar to uranium
kol-sava'atha – a titanium-rich ore
Morning-star - a mace.
oma'auzha – mother-effer
udji'oo – a drug, like opium