She awoke to a stream of light hitting her eyes from his window. Daylight was a sight she rarely saw from within the walls of his chambers, but even as her mind cleared of sleep, she lacked the panic she normally felt when she left too late.
She rolled over onto her side and caught sight of him near his door. He hadn't noticed her stirring, or possibly ignored her hoping she would return to sleep. He was leaning against the threshold of his bedroom, nude as the day he was born while he watched his apartment fill with the golden rays of the morning sun. She didn't often admire his form by sight, as she spent much of their time together examining it with her hands; in the warm light, he appeared the prince he was raised to be and this caused her a new sort of admiration for his unique attractiveness. His body was long and slender, but the cut of his muscle was still easily visible, emphasized by the deep shadows of the early hour. His face, hardened by time and his recent struggle, was drawn and furrowed as though he was locked in concentrated thought. He appeared strong, but pensive, perpetuating the illusion of someone who might have been a great leader - in some other lifetime.
"Why didn't you wake me?" she asked, though her voice lacked any impatience or anger. Just after their bodies had collapsed in exhaustion, she had seen eastern emerald glow and the lightening of the sky, but as he encircled her waist possessively and pressed his head to her shoulder, she found it difficult to find the willpower to move, and deliberately chose to linger in this fantasy later than she knew she should.
"Why did you stay?" he asked, ignoring her question.
She leaned up on her elbow, clutching the blanket to her chest in contrast to his lack of modesty. "You asked me to."
His expression softened as he looked back towards her, the shadow of a smile spread across his lips, taking some of the years from his features. "I didn't expect you to agree, not after the words your dear friend had for you."
She lowered her eyes, recalling Fandral's harsh insults and his spiteful, angry tone. "That wasn't meant for me; it was intended for some nameless, faceless person in a situation about which he knows nothing," she explained. "If he knew it was me, he…"
"Do you really believe his love for you outweighs his hatred for me?" Loki asked. "If he knew it was you, the words would've been in his mind; he only would have lacked the courage to speak them."
She opened her mouth to argue, but found she couldn't. Her entire world had been inverted in recent weeks. She had found an unexpected helper in one enemy and a lover in another; the man she had once sworn herself to had turned his attention towards a mortal who lacked a single drop of warrior blood, yet Sif saw the potential for good friendship within her; and one of Yggdrasil's weakest realms had become Asgard's greatest ally. She knew from the start she would test her friends' love for her if they discovered the truth. It shouldn't surprise her if Fandral would be embittered enough to abandon his care for her; in this season of change, it would only fit.
"Why do you pose this argument now?" she asked curiously. "Last night you wanted nothing more than my company. This morning, you seem pleased to offer me a reason or two to leave." She clutched the blanket and held it so it covered even more of her chest, dropping her eyes from his enticing form as she considered his disparate treatment of her in the light of day. "If your tolerance of my presence wears thin," she started in a low voice, "it would be better for you to simply say so. I have neither the desire nor patience to cater to your need for puzzles and half-truths."
He dropped his arms from around his chest and turned towards her. His brow relaxed as his lips parted and she could practically see the words come to formation at the back of his throat. "No, I…" he stopped; in a rare moment, he struggled with what he was going to say. He collected himself quickly, dropping his initial answer in favor of one that held less risk. "The veil over this situation is slipping slowly and threatens to reveal our game. I only wish to urge you caution. You were right; knowing those you call still call 'friends,' you would surely be indicted if you were discovered with me and if your station were to suffer for the sake of my trespasses, I would…" he trailed off again, putting back the filter she so hated to see over his lips. "...it would be unfortunate for you."
She resisted raising her lips in a smile in reaction to his warning. It was obvious he very much feared Thor's threat to abandon him to Jotunheim, though he would never admit to it; this was likely what was driving his concern for her at the moment. The fact that he even had her potential danger in his peripheral vision was evidence that he was not so apathetic towards her as he seemed at times. As she explored this thought further, her smile continued to tempt her.
"Hence my reason for such great measures of discretion," she said, dismissing the thought of Thor's threat in favor of the pleasant feelings this exchange had brought. He'd never come so close to admitting his care for her and she wished not to spoil this moment with the hard truth of his circumstances. "Speaking of which, I have outstayed my time. It will be difficult to avoid the eyes of those watching your door in this light - and now that they have been made aware of our nightly appointments, they will have increased their watch."
"It would be better to wait. The guards will change soon. When the fresh ones arrive, you can leave from the front door without care and explain to them that you had only just arrived to check in on your prisoner. You wouldn't have to use the window and chase fading shadows for their concealment."
She chortled softly. "Is your mind always so quick to deceive? You have been thinking about this."
"I have been awake for awhile - and yes, the thought of this eventuality had previously crossed my mind. You do love to sleep."
She smiled and laid back down on the soft mattress, rolling over onto her stomach and revealing the curves of her back and hips to the air and his eyes. "It isn't my fault your bed has become so welcoming as of late."
Her words, a two-folded complement, made him smile sincerely. The warmth it had caused him combined with the tempting view of her skin was too pleasant to ignore. He crawled back into his bed, helping himself under her blanket as he pressed against her back and pulled her hips against his.
"Your skin is ice!" she exclaimed with a gasp.
She felt his chest vibrate with a silent chuckle. "Then you will have to help me warm it," he said invitingly, running his hand along the crease of her spine and kissing the back of her neck. "On the subject of discretion - if you value your secret so much, you may want to avoid leaving your things behind."
"What things?" she asked disbelievingly. "I've been meticulously careful to remember every article I… my satchel," she said, answering her own question. She had intended on taking Jane's book with her to Jotunheim for distraction while she awaited the steward. It had completely vanished from her mind once she left for the ice planet, not realizing she had abandoned it in his chambers days before.
"I hid it sufficiently so it wasn't seen. You're welcome," he said snidely.
She pulled herself away from him and turned to look in his eyes. "Did you look inside?" she asked defensively. It would create disaster if he was ever to learn of Jane's presence in Asgard, and Sif would never forgive herself if she were the one to reveal this to him.
"Of course not," he said. His confused expression suddenly changed to one of subtle mischief. "But now I'm curious."
He opened his nightstand and pulled out the bag by its handle. She lunged for it, but with his long limbs, he was able to keep it out of her reach. He sat up against the headboard and opened it, pulling the thick book from its case.
"Please - respect my privacy in this…"
"It's a book," he interjected sardonically. "What could it contain that you wish to remain so private?" He examined the cover for a moment. "Mythology - from Midgard?"
"You're able to read that?" she asked in surprise.
"I spent quite some time in the company of humans. Learning the written language of the culture I was immersed in was a matter of diligence and its characters are not all that different from ours."
She sighed deeply, realizing the words contained within would not be best for his eyes. The blanket fell away from her as she straddled his lap. She pulled the book gently down, her ego enjoying the way her body instantly and effectively distracted him, despite his having memorized every detail. "There are things far more worthy of your attention at the moment," she said in a low, sultry register. His fingers willingly released the book before he realized her plot. He shook his head in frustration with himself over how easily she'd beaten him.
"Worthy, yes - but I'm currently more interested in the Midgardian text and your reasons for protecting it so insistently," he argued, reaching for it.
She held it away from him. "It isn't meant for you."
He suddenly shifted his weight and turned his body around. As she had still been sitting in his lap, this movement sent her abruptly crashing on her back onto the bed. He reached for it again, but she held it aloft, a self-satisfied smirk on her lips. This was, however, until he did something she did not expect, something she couldn't have predicted that Loki, in all of his evil ways and character, would even try in the midst of her vulnerability: he tickled her ribs. She suddenly gasped and spasmed violently under his light touch, and as she did, he tore the book from her fingers.
"Bastard," she complained breathlessly.
He laughed heartily, but she was almost certain the rare sound had come from fantasy. As she looked up at him, his eyes held a spark of joy, warming their shade of green to a point she hadn't seen since the days of his youth when they played together under the Asgardian star. She acquiesced disappointedly, realizing this moment of idle pleasantness between them would end the moment he began reading.
"Let it never be said that I don't pay attention to your signals," he said in a humored tone, "The knowledge of weak points can be as valuable outside of battle as it is within."
He sat up and opened the book, beginning at the most creased, well-worn pages. She leaned up on her elbow, resting her head in her hand as she watched her prediction come true. The moment of levity between them was gone, his soft, almost contented expression replaced once again by a deep, hard frown. His eyes poured over the words slowly and methodically. She hadn't been able to read the text or its foreign letters herself, but as his face changed from displeasure to disgust, she could almost guess what part he had read based on the summary she'd heard from the others.
His frown turned into a scowl and he suddenly closed the book and threw it hard against the wall, leaving a mark at its impact. "Is that what the humans think of me?" he asked, crossing his arms in front of him.
She nearly chortled, but held it from him. Although his anger may have been well-deserved, he looked as though he'd regressed to a child in the midst of a temper tantrum. "To be fair," she started, "I believe most of them turned from such myths a long time ago."
"But when they hear my name, is that man not the character they envision? Someone who has taken a Jotun woman as a mate, whose children are either hideous beasts or utter lunatics, who has been violated most vilely by a…" he couldn't bring himself to finish. Sif bit her lip, fluctuating between empathy for his humiliation and finding it humorous. "It's no wonder they lacked due respect."
She chose not to voice her primary argument that had flittered in her thoughts - that he had gone to Earth with a message of fear and the intention of subjugation, and he had done so while underestimating them, which was really the reason they lacked respect for him. Instead, she hoped to reframe his thoughts, and perhaps return to that levity they had enjoyed moments before. "Did you see the image of me? You're certainly not the only one who has been insulted."
He narrowed his eyes. "While I appreciate the depth of your vanity, I hardly consider an unflattering portrait of equal severity to a story involving me giving birth," he argued. "How did the Migardians come by such stories? Most of this information is pure fantasy, but some of it is - closer than I would've preferred."
"Thor believes it was a soldier left behind inadvertently after one of the battles with the Frost Giants on Midgard, but - no one's quite sure how he would've known of my betrothal to Thor, or any of the profound and private details within these stories. Perhaps some of it was born from a creative mind that happened to fall close to the truth on occasion. Personally, I wonder if the Allfather sent people to Midgard after the last Great War, even though he claimed to have stopped."
Loki was impressed with her skepticism against Odin, but said nothing in regards to it. "If he is not dead already, the perpetrator of these lies should be put down in the most painful way possible."
She chuckled softly. His lips twisted as he continued to pout. This was, perhaps, the first and only time his temper had entertained her. In fact, she found it only refueled the playfulness she had felt just a moment before. Very carefully, she broached a question that been on her mind since she'd first heard of the stories within the book. "How did you acquire Sleipnir?"
He shot her a sharp, dangerous look that would have nearly alarmed her if the context wasn't so humorous. "I bought him," he said dryly with a whisper of a growl behind his words. "He was about to be destroyed due to his mutation and with a measure of ingenious negotiating, I paid almost nothing for him - a detail the book conveniently omitted."
She smiled and pressed him no further on his answer. She played with the ends of her hair as she debated on asking the other question that had risen to her tongue. "Who is Sigyn?" she asked casually.
He shook his head while he answered. "I have never heard the name before this day," he said. She had no reason to doubt his response, but something in her tone made him cynical of her motivations. "Why?"
Sif would not meet his eyes as she answered. "Whoever spread these tales was not kind to you. Still, in this one character, they gave you a gentle, caring spouse. I was simply curious - what sort of woman could love you as she did, even during such a great fall."
He opened his mouth to retort against her subtle insult, but as he examined her downward stare and the frown on her lips, his response changed. He leaned down to her and rolled over, pushing her back against the bed gently as he did so. He rested the entirety of his weight on her and lifted her chin so she would be forced meet his stare. "Are those specks of green I see in your eyes?" he asked quietly. "This woman was a salve on the scars of my mythical counterpart; she did what she could to comfort him while he was captive, though she owned not the power or will to free him herself." He paused and softly brushed a strand of her black hair from the pale expanse of her chest. "Is this not the role you have taken for yourself?" he said in nearly a whisper, the baritone of his voice vibrating in his torso so she could feel it along the length of her body.
Despite their familiarity with one another and the intimacy they had shared, she felt the heat of a blush rise to her cheeks and neck. "Please," she answered sarcastically with a faint laugh. "What love could Thor's Pet ever have for Asgard's Betrayer?"
He smirked at her reference to his favored slight towards her undying loyalty for his brother. His lips found the edge of her chin, and moved down to her neck. His breath felt cool stirring along the trail of his mouth and she found herself warming to his attentions, despite her body's lingering exhaustion from the night before. "These myths - contain only enough of the truth to make them dangerous. You should give them no more weight than any fairytale deserves."
She moaned and leaned into his lips, raking her fingers across his back as she pulled him impossibly close. "They are right in one fact," she said.
"What is that?" he asked against her skin.
"Your appetite is endless," she said breathlessly.
He laughed softly. "And your own insatiability complements it well."
She smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying what this extended visit had brought her. She never thought Loki to be the type to enjoy a late morning in bed, even if it meant a marathon of activity. However, his craving for her skin lingered with the same intensity as it had the night before. She found herself surprised more than once by his treatments of her since they had begun sharing a bed. With a little more care and gentleness, and less obsession and possessiveness, it was no mystery to her how a woman of Asgard may be enticed into marriage by his endless passion and dark visage, even though he still clung to his role as the rival to the throne's true heir.
"Sif," he said, suddenly ceasing his attentions and pulling away from her slightly. "Where did you come by this text?"
"It was being passed around within the palace," she answered truthfully. "The others thought I would want to see it."
"Who procured it from Earth?"
"Thor," she answered, running her hands slowly down his chest in hope he would not press further.
"When?"
She sighed and considered her options, delaying her answer as she tried to foresee the consequences of each choice. "After his second visit. The Avengers…"
"That is nothing more than horse fodder," he interrupted, "and you are a terrible liar. Unless he has learned how to store items in inter-dimensional pockets, he had nothing of the sort on his person when we left that realm. He's gone back, hasn't he?"
"Why are you so desperate to know?" she asked. She leaned up and kissed his neck in an effort to draw his focus, but he pulled away from her lips.
"Professional curiosity," he answered. "What are you hiding? What else did he return with?"
She tried not to appear startled at how close he had come to the correct conclusion, or how easily he had read her. She fought for an answer, but as the seconds ticked on, she knew his theories would only be confirmed by her silence.
She was never forced to reveal the truth. A knock at the door interrupted her before she had a chance to reveal it.
Sif's eyes widened in fear as she softly cursed. She pushed him aside and stood quickly, looking for her scattered clothing along the floor. He calmly stood as well, pulling on his pants and not caring for the rest. "Don't panic," he said, watching her as she tried to pick up her things as fast as possible, "just dress. I'll make up something for your sake."
"Easier said than done for someone who must put on a full body of armor without the aid of magic," she snapped in a cautious whisper.
The visitor knocked again, but in their impatience, opened the door before he could answer. Sif quickly grabbed the blanket from his bed and pressed it to her chest, hiding herself against the wall behind the doorway to his bedroom so she would stay out of view.
"Loki?" The voice sounded in his common room. Loki glanced uncertainly at Sif who mouthed her curse again. The voice was that of his mother's, whom he had not seen since his time in the depths of the prison.
He sighed in annoyance of the unexpected appointment as he grabbed his shirt from the bed and slipped it over his head. Before walking out to meet her, he pulled his door partially closed to conceal Sif's form and shadow as she hid.
It was unfortunate for the pair that Frigga had been the woman to raise him. Like any mother, it was a point of pride that she learn to spot his lies and deceptions. Although he was excellent at it, she had developed her own tricks for seeing through his mischief and had memorized his tells. She hadn't missed his subtle glance to the wall behind his door and knew his arched brow well enough to realize there was something there he wished her not to see.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly. Besides the problem currently hiding in his bedroom, Frigga's visit troubled him. She had not yet heeded his advice to leave Asgard, and he was suspicious of her reasons for appearing in his apartment the day after Thor had issued his ultimatum.
She slowly stepped towards his writing desk on the opposite side of the common room from where he stood, her eyes drawn towards the floor. She meant to appear as though she was pacing to calculate her response. Although this was true, she had an ulterior motive; her shift to the other side of this area would also change her view and the crack in his door was much wider from her new angle.
"I haven't seen you in some time. Am I not allowed to visit?" she asked. "I am sorry for being so early. I had assumed you still slept as little as you did as a child."
Sif covered her mouth and held her breath as Frigga's voice appeared much closer than it had a second before. She dared not to try and dress now, as the movement of the various pieces of her metal armor would surely be heard. From her peripheral vision, Frigga saw the small shift of movement in her shadow from beneath the door and surmised the rest.
Loki sighed. "There is no use in remaining so secretive, Mother. You can stop pretending you haven't noticed the guest in my bedroom."
She laughed softly. "I've spent many years learning the various ways you try to hide things from me. It seems you could've tried a little harder with this one."
Sif's heart nearly stopped. She envisioned the queen walking through his doorway at any moment in order to appease her curiosity - and with her tousled hair and her blanket as her only cover, she looked as guilty as possible. Her hands began to go numb as color drained from her face. She had accepted the risks, but the idea of the queen catching her in such a state was more humiliating than any hypothetical circumstance she had imagined.
"I only hide what I need to," he said, a double meaning evident in his words. "I keep my secrets for good reason, but she isn't one of them."
"Then why is she concealed from me? Shouldn't I know the small ray of light that penetrates your self-created world of darkness? Is this not a mother's right?" The woman behind the door shifted her weight. As she did, Frigga could see only her pale shoulder, contrasted to a single tendril of dark hair. As the woman leaned her head back against the wall, she revealed the cut of her chin and the curve of her bottom lip. Something began to stir in the back of Frigga's mind, though she chose to archive the thought for a later time.
"She hides because she is smart enough to know any woman discovered in my company will likely find herself burdened with the same accusations I now face," he explained. If any other person had pressed so far, they would be experiencing the sharp blade of his temper. Though he grew impatient, he held his tongue and the retort that had originally formed in his mind.
Frigga smiled and scoffed in soft humor, taking one step closer to the bedroom door. "Then she has nothing to fear from me," she argued, speaking mostly to the dark-haired mystery on the other side of the wall. "I only wish to meet her. I have no intention to…"
"Absolutely not," Loki said firmly.
Frigga looked back at him questioningly, but as theory sank into reality, she quickly understood. She crossed her arms, and as her eyes fell, so did her smile. "You no longer trust me."
He opened his mouth to respond, but found himself at another rare loss for words; Frigga and Sif seemed to share the talent for weakening his speechcraft, though he refused to analyze why. His silence was enough. For a seemingly exaggerated moment, there was a weighted pause between them, until she wiped the water from her cheek that had suddenly fallen from her eyes.
"You must understand my position…"
"I don't care," he snapped.
"I had to give them something," she said desperately, "some glimmer of hope that the Asgardian within you prospers still, despite the traitor that has taken his place. It has worked to soften their hearts, knowing you still held some semblance of love for your family. If it weren't for this small measure of good faith, who knows how much their anger would still burn against you - especially after what you did to Sif."
A stone appeared in Sif's stomach at the mention of his attempt to take over her body. It seemed almost a lifetime ago, but it had barely been the length of a breath in their long lives. She had not forgotten his trespass against her in her dreams, but his late attentions had dulled the memory of the pain he had caused and the dangerous darkness that shined within his eyes at the moment he had nearly taken her. How strange it was that the warmth of his skin and the taste of his lips could inspire such forgiveness in her. A sense of disappointment rose in her chest. Was she really so gullible?
"You betrayed me," he said lowly, confessing what he felt to be true. "You are no different than him."
Frigga's breath hitched in her throat with his harsh accusation, but as she exhaled, she regained her composure, retaining the image of the strong leadership her people had come to respect. "I never promised or implied I would keep your warning to myself," she said, "but if you feel this was a betrayal of your confidence, I will repay you in kind."
He looked at her incredulously. "What could you possibly offer me?"
She stepped closer to him, meeting his eyes firmly. Though their height differed greatly, she seemed, in some ways, taller than he at the moment. "Nothing can negate the position of a prince of Asgard. Though you may not have the blood of the Allfather in your veins, this is still true for you. Odin loves and mourns for you - and as for Thor - he has not the courage nor the heart to relinquish you to anyone who would take your life. He is desperate, but his threat against you was empty. Neither of them would be willing to surrender you to your death. You are as safe here in this moment as you were before your betrayal." She paused to examine his reaction, but his features remained stubbornly stoic. "They have wanted you to believe your secrets were the only thing that could win you their graces again, but the truth is, you sit upon a knife's blade between redemption and damnation, even with your silence. It would not take much to sway either of them in your favor, and I doubt my betrayal of your advice to me has put you in any worse a position."
His expression softened to one of confusion and she placed a gentle hand upon his cheek. He leaned into her palm almost involuntarily and grimaced at his own weakness. "I don't need their favor."
Despite his answer, Frigga smiled, for his eyes differed from his lips entirely. He glanced quickly back towards the wall of his bedroom again, a gesture she did not miss. "Whoever she is - you care for her," she observed. He snapped his gaze back to her, frowning intensely as he adopted a sudden defensive posture. She laughed softly. "Perhaps you care more than you realize. I have not seen such a look on your face since I once confronted you on your childhood affection for Sif."
"Mother," he said sharply, "this is neither the time nor the place for…"
She conceded with a nod. "If I were you, I would be doing what I could to hold onto this goodness. Maybe you should consider what your actions against Asgard mean for her."
He said nothing, but his features still contained the hue of embarrassment as he looked away.
Beyond the wall, Sif relaxed, knowing Frigga would leave her be. Despite her earlier fear and the cold reminder of what Loki had done to begin this game in the first place, she could not keep a smile from her lips in reaction to the queen's words. Even though her dissonance regarding her position was still too great to ignore, a question arose in her mind that she had only allowed herself to consider once before: if he stayed in Asgard and returned to the left hand of Odin's throne, would she take him openly? Their previous appointment had brought assurance that they would never be anything more than what their nights together offered, but Frigga's words combined with the odd lightheartedness of the morning had planted a seed of a pleasant doubt. Perhaps it wasn't as impossible as it seemed.
Frigga stayed for just a few moments longer, asking him inconsequential questions about his wellbeing of which only a mother would think. She noted he kept his patience in balance, but it also did not escape her that he offered her nothing more than what her questions had demanded. The care he had shown before, just enough for him to let spill a warning regarding his allies, was gone and though he still graced her with the simple title of "mother," his eyes lacked the warmth and light he'd once carried for her. She had previously hoped it was an illusion created by the draining darkness of the prison, but even in the light of the rising sun, she could see it clearly.
His earlier accusation still burned her heart and his words would echo within her for a while, but as a strong queen, not as his wounded mother, she remained as visually unaffected as possible. Only in private, would she mourn the passing of their relationship, the fragile, final point in which Loki still held to his family and the love he once felt for them. However, much like the emancipation of a child, there was an ironic sense of hope to it, for whoever owned that shadow held the vestiges of his heart within her hands. If she was loyal to Odin, as most were in their realm, perhaps she would be the catalyst for his redemption.
As Frigga closed the door to Loki's apartment, she looked back at him once more. His downcast stare and the frown on his lips might've only appeared as his normal disdain and anger to some people, but her eyes could see the softness concealed carefully within. If this mysterious woman could start him down the right path, he might find his way to grace once again.
Sif waited until she heard the door close and the diminishing click of Frigga's heals as she walked away before she allowed herself to move. She dressed without hurry, knowing the guards had yet to change their shift. As she gathered her things, she watched him out of the corner of her eye, wishing she knew the thoughts that were stirring through his mind as the result of the queen's confrontation.
Loki didn't leave the common area. While a small part of him remained embarrassed over what had transpired within Sif's earshot, the larger portion of him was fixated on the rest of Frigga's admission. His eyes grew dark and his chin dropped to his chest. Anger rose within him, though it was directed towards his own stupidity. It seemed Thor's words were an exaggeration of the truth and in his own ignorance, Loki had denied the Odinson the credit due for his ability to lie convincingly.
The sound of several muffled voices appeared some paces beyond his door. The fresh watch had arrived to relieve the night guards, signaling that it was time for Sif to leave. She came out of his room with her full armor, working her hair up in her typical ponytail. She said nothing at first, the look of discomfort on his face driving away the desire for conversation. She nearly left without a word, but he broke the silence himself.
"I have said too much."
Sif's recent efforts had been to take some distance from the subject of the waning brotherhood between Thor and Loki. She had gotten too close before, and considering the position she was now in, it would no longer be honorable for her to offer counsel in regard to this aspect. However, she was felt partially responsible for Thor's latest play. It was her own report that had spurred his actions. She had to admit the bluff was convincing enough, and as it had led to a more lucrative reveal than any previous effort, she believed it to have been a good wager on the prince's part.
"I was deceived as well," she admitted. "It was the steward of Jotunheim who asked for your life as recompense for their losses. Considering Odin's sudden empathy for their decline, I had thought it a realistic threat this time. It was wise for you to consider it the same."
"I have nothing left to keep from him - no leverage to use."
She knew the source of his frustration. Even after his return to Asgard in the position of a traitor instead of a prince, he held a strong sense of power that came from withholding information he knew Thor desired. Even that had been taken from him since. She knew what she wanted to say in reply - that this should provide him with the opportunity to begin anew with his family, and that the revelation of these facts would now grant him the ability to heal and mend what had been broken. However, she knew that such words from her lips would make her sound no different than his mother and brother - and it was something he didn't need or want to hear again.
"You haven't lost all," she said. He looked up from his downward stare questioningly. "You know our enemy's name, his face, and tactics. As war draws closer, this information will increase in its value."
The scowl drawing his brow softened. She had managed to comfort him, though it brought her no joy to remind him of the arsenal he still held against her people.
He nodded as a small, crooked smile appeared on his lips. "Perhaps I should count my remaining hand."
She sighed. "Just remember the lives at stake within the terms of your future barters - including your own. Thor is still as protective of Midgard as he is of Asgard."
He seemed not to care for her warning, as his subtle smirk remained. She turned and walked past him, ready to leave once silence stretched between them again.
"I suppose you heard what else she said," he began. "It's a mystery to me what she hoped to garner from addressing such a topic."
Her heart lightened with the change of subject. She chuckled quietly, resenting the smile that had appeared beyond her control. She would not turn towards him and was content to hide how much this had pleased her. "You think I did not know of your interest in me?"
He sighed uncomfortably. "I had made it obvious enough," he said lowly, as though the words pained him, "though you never acknowledged it." He paused for a moment, and as his eyes travelled slowly over her form, she felt his stare. "Why didn't you?"
"When you were a boy, my proximity to Thor made me feel as though you were a sort of younger brother to me as well, but never anything more. I didn't wish to hurt you by telling you this. As a man…" she said, considering her words carefully, "…your attention frightens me."
"You say that as though it still does," he said, placing a gentle hand around her waist.
"When does one fear the bite of a viper? When they are distant and unseen? Or when they are close enough to strike? You have never been as close as you are now - and I am very aware of the razor's edge on which we've been playing this game."
He set his lips upon her neck. "What makes you think I would strike at you?"
She offered no response, and despite the fact that he had asked it of her, he didn't require one. The answer was clear to both: he already had, and if the opportunity arose, he might do so again. They were both keenly aware that their intimacy wouldn't change this dynamic if the situation became desperate enough. Like the bruises he had caused her in their first nights together, his own ambitions and drive could place her in the path of harm. As he slowly became aware that she was not in ignorance or denial of this, a shadow of regret crossed his features, though it was hidden from her view.
"Will you return tonight?" he asked as a whisper in her ear, his voice a register lower than it had been a moment before.
Frigga's words replayed in her mind once again, shrouding her doubt in dissonant warmth. His tone in his question conveyed a continued desire for her, even though she had been there all night, but the ever-approaching end to this fantasy was just beyond the horizon. "Yes," she answered with a great delay, "for tonight, I will."
He said nothing as she left, though his smile fell to a frown beyond her view. She had subtly repeated her threat once again, insisting that their time was at a close. He also felt fate pulling them in different directions, but he wasn't finished with her yet.
Frigga stood in her position besides her husband's throne, watching the room grow dark with the fading light of the day as the guards lit the various fires and torches around the room. The afternoon brought with it a steady flow of complaints as various officers and citizens had approached Odin for whatever business they had come to discuss. She normally tolerated some negativity, but she grew tired with the constant, petty complaints and had more important issues distracting her. She made sure to smile politely at the correct times and attempted to listen enough to understand the chief issue of each argument, but her mind was distant from Odin's Hall and was not present alongside him as it normally was. The Allfather's voice and his slow, deliberate words continued to fill the air, but as the last visitor of the day hung on every syllable from his mouth, she couldn't recall what it was being decided.
"Thank you for your consideration of my predicament, Your Highness - and you, My Queen," said the merchant who currently stood before the steps of the throne. The man bowed to her, the motion and sound of her title catching her attention. She smiled courteously and nodded.
The merchant smiled in satisfaction and bowed again superfluously, thanking the king once more before leaving his hall. The record keeper made a note on his parchment, and once the scratching of his writing quieted, Odin ordered him to leave for the evening. The king sighed heavily and rubbed his face warily, the fatigue from the day appearing in his eye and along the lines of his aged face.
"Do you believe my judgment is sound?" he asked.
Frigga's mind had gone once again in distraction and so her answer was delayed. "Always, Husband," she said.
"I have not dealt with such trivialities in some time, though they used to fill many of my days. As long as our enemy remains quiet, I suppose property disputes and contract negotiations will be what will consume my time. I know not whether I should regret my decision to hear these issues again, or if I should be grateful that our peace continues and there are no more important matters to arbitrate."
Frigga smiled and placed a gentle hand on his as it rested on the arm of his throne. "Thor has done well handling the preparations for our defense - and by resuming these trivial hearings yourself, you can slowly and subtly retake authority from the council. I think this should please you."
He nodded in agreement. "I had hoped my distance from the issues of war would give Thor the opportunity to prove his worth as a leader. This does please me. He has met the challenge to my high expectations - even despite his recent distractions."
Frigga said nothing in reply, but her eyes returned to the window and the setting sun beyond it. Odin looked up at her, his brow drawn in concern. His wife was as gracious a queen as she was beautiful, and though they both had aged in their many years together, she possessed the same passion as she had in her youth. Whatever was pulling her focus from him at this moment could only have been an issue of the heart.
"Tell me my wife, what is it that distracts you so effectively on this night?"
She turned back towards him. "It's nothing," she answered, even though her words failed to convince her own ears.
"Of anyone, it is you who should know how far my eye sees," he said. "You've gone to him again, haven't you?"
"Do you always watch me when I'm not by your side?" she asked in mocked defensiveness.
He smiled. "No - this was a guess drawn by my instinct and confirmed by your own mouth."
She chortled. "After all this time - some of your ways still surprise me," she said. "Yes, I went to see him again. I hope you'll think no less of me, but I've missed him."
He sighed again and tapped his fingers against the arm of his throne as he considered the source of her confusion and her motivation. "What did you speak of this time?"
She rubbed her neck, willing down the lump that had formed in her throat. "He feels I've betrayed him. I sense his love for me is beginning to falter."
"I am sorry," he said with sincerity, imagining how this would have wounded her, "but we knew this would be unavoidable if he continued down this path."
She shook her head. "No, that isn't how a mother thinks. I will continue to see hope for him until my last breath." He stood and placed a hand on her arm. Despite the lack of privacy afforded in the hall, she turned and sank into his embrace, allowing her tears to flow freely as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I wish it was within your power to return him to his boyhood. I would trade Asgard itself to hold him as an innocent child once more."
Moved by her broken voice and his deep love for her, he opened his mouth to speak, but the answer he wanted to grant her as her husband was not appropriate as the king of a realm on the brink of war. Asgard could not afford the great, though temporary expense on his power that would result from it. "I'm sorry there is no such option," he answered.
She pulled away and wiped her tears. "Has it done any good," she asked, "knowing what he told me of the Tesseract?"
He ran his calloused hand along her soft cheek, wishing he had something of greater comfort to offer her. "It is impossible to know until the appointed time arrives if it will give us enough warning."
"Then I have done nothing of value."
"My wife," he started, "perhaps you should heed his advice and travel to another realm. The distance would be better for you, I think."
"I am not accustomed to fleeing," she answered, the strength returning to her voice. "No wife of Odin should be."
He nodded and smiled gently at her. "There may come a time when I regret your tenacity, but for now, I am glad of it. Our people would grow suspicious of your absence and those who know of the pending threat would be discomforted," he said, taking her hand. "However, do not be dismayed or angry with me if I send you thence at a later date. If our enemy is as strong as Loki purports, it will avail us nothing for you to remain here."
She rolled her eyes at his insistence, though a playful smiled graced her lips. "I see I have an argument to look forward to in the future. I will not abandon our people so easily and I haven't forgotten how to hold a weapon."
"Good," he began as a retort, "I do enjoy our little contests."
He leaned down and kissed her hand; Frigga laughed at the underlying meaning of his tone. Her heart had been lightened by his words, though she knew it didn't change the circumstances that troubled her. More so, she felt as though she had deceived her husband by omitting the fact that she had revealed his and Thor's bluff to Loki's ears. She feared what might happen if Odin learned of this revelation, for it might inspire him to renege on his deception and carry through with Thor's vacant threat himself.
"Is there anything else?" Odin asked. "Has he given you any additional signs for which I should watch?"
"No, but…" she started hesitantly, "are you aware he has a consort?"
"Yes," he answered. "Thor has spoken of her and has voiced his opinion that he believes her to be a harmless distraction."
"She was there," Frigga said, "hidden from me beyond the bedroom wall. I saw only a glimpse of her, but there was something familiar…"
"I disagree with Thor," he said abruptly, a hint of anger or impatience lining his words. "Her presence there is in violation of Thor's orders and my will. The guard we set over him should have made this obvious to any woman of Asgard."
She regretted her decision to share this with him immediately. "I believe she will be an anchor for him here. Perhaps she will help our purposes…"
"No, at best, she is a convenience and comfort he should be denied; at worst, a traitor and an accomplice to his plans," he stated firmly. "You said she appeared familiar - could you find her?"
She shook her head; her eyes fell to the floor and she hoped Odin would not be able to read through her words. "Perhaps my eyes were deceived. It was early - and there was little light. Husband, if you are so concerned, why haven't you watched him yourself?"
"The protections around his quarters make it difficult, and since I have given Thor the charge of his guard, I have been reluctant to intrude on his authority."
"Good," she said. "Thor knows that side of Loki better than either of us. I will trust his own judgment and leave them be."
"Do I detect a note of approval for this woman?" he asked, noting the change in her speech and her sudden shift from her nosiness to the support for his privacy.
She smiled softly at her husband and squeezed his hand. "Anything that can bring him happiness in this dark time will have at least a modicum of my support. For the greater part, I will reserve my judgment until we know more. I have no desire to steal this small joy from him now, even though it is how it might end - that brings me fear for how much further he may fall."
The twilight of the sky faded to indigo as the last vestiges of the day vanished and the bright stars reached the pinnacle of their brilliance. This particular Asgardian sunset had been no more or less breathtaking as the others she had seen during her stay there, but it held a bittersweet nature, which made her reluctant to acknowledge its end. This was likely the last one she would see, if Odin still hadn't changed his heart regarding Thor's love for her.
A chill rolled in from the northeast in the form of a gentle breeze, reminding them both of the late hour. The unavoidable moment had come, despite Thor's efforts to stall and delay it as long as possible. He helped Jane up from the tall, soft grass to her feet and offered her a dim smile, though his lips held few words. He had been uncharacteristically quiet in the midst of their last days together and had politely declined her offer for one more night of her intimate company. She held fast to his assurance that this was not the last time she would see him, but she could almost swear this was his attempt to ease the finality of their parting. Although this seemed like a childish effort to her eyes, she couldn't blame him. It been her decision to return to Earth, but it caused her great pain as well - enough to make her wish their goodbye would end so she could immerse herself in the sweet distraction of her work.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah," she answered quietly. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, grateful that he lacked the harsh armor around his chest so she could embrace him securely during their turbulent return to Earth.
The blue gas created by the device once again lit up around them, followed by its intense, though bearable flames. She closed her eyes and held her breath as the vacuum sensation appeared, pulling them abruptly through space. The air left her lungs in defiance as she felt herself being pushed and pulled in every direction at once and though she tried to open her eyes and observe the passing of the stars and the appearance and behavior of the energy transporting them, they disobeyed and remained tightly shut. She was grateful when only a moment had passed before her feet touched solid ground again.
Because they had left from Albuquerque, Thor was able to return to that location and avoid a long, uncomfortable flight across the country from Central Park. Landing here held another advantage as well; either this city was too far from SHIELD's reach, or they felt safe enough to assume the return of the energy signal in Jane's hometown was most likely due to his business there and not the nefarious activity of an invader. The grounds of the college were quiet in the late hour, and at the moment, there were no agents to be seen.
He released her slowly so that she wouldn't stumble. Taking a deep breath, she finally opened her eyes and appeared relieved when she recognized her surroundings. "Are you able to find your way from here?" he asked, knowing she would understand his desire not to lengthen this unpleasantness by following her.
She nodded, but it was followed by a long pause as they both fought for something to say. It was apparent to her that he wasn't accustomed to such partings. Considering he lived among beings that were thought to be immortal, this was not entirely surprising to her. She doubted there were many goodbyes to be said when everyone you loved had an impossibly long lifespan and rarely moved from the same, relatively small world in which they were born.
Despite this knowledge, she realized she wasn't being quite honest with herself. This was just as difficult for her, but she had no such excuse. "Thor," she started apprehensively, ignoring the hardness in her throat, "this isn't the end…"
He smiled in relief as she trailed off, thankful to hear the evident desire in her voice to keep what they had built from being threatened by the evident hardships ahead. "I hadn't hoped it would be."
She stepped closer to him. "Then - you'll see me again - when you come back?"
He brushed her hair back from her face and leaned down to her level, resting his forehead against hers. "Even the long-reaching eye of my father cannot see what the future may hold - but I swear to you, if it is within the realm of my power, I will return as often as possible," he said, his regal tone firm with the sincerity of his words, "though I can make no promises on when that may be," he added quietly.
"I think it'll be sooner rather than later," she said, shaking her head. Thor did not miss the sudden, troubled look that crossed her features, or the downturn of her brow.
"What's wrong?" he asked, pulling away to examine her suddenly worried expression.
"I've just - I've been thinking about what you're doing for Asgard and the pending war and… It doesn't make sense. Why are you so sure you'll be the first ones attacked?"
Thor narrowed his eyes and looked towards her skeptically, but he gave her the benefit of the doubt and explained to her what he had thought was obvious. "Asgard is the strongest realm in Yggdrasil and by far our enemy's greatest challenger. He will want to take us down first, as we have acted as guardians for Earth in the past. Aside from this, Loki has likely sought rescue from him and will be plotting revenge…"
"But Loki knows how much you love Earth and we - we beat your enemy's army," she said. "I think we've proven we're a little stronger than their assumptions and maybe - that's pissed them off enough to get their attention."
"How long has this been in your thoughts?" he asked with a wry, subtle laugh. He meant not to denigrate her words, but she was hardly a military tactician.
She seemingly ignored his question. "Thor, if he comes after Earth first, he'd be able to cut you off from your new help and…" she bit her lip and cut her answer off before its completion, sighing as she crossed her arms for warmth and looked down towards the ground. "I'm sorry," she said in a softer tone, realizing she was spoiling the moment with her own theories. "This is all to say that I think you'll be back soon and - I hope you won't forget us before then."
He smiled and lifted her chin with her hand. "For better purposes, I hope you're right about my return, but believe me, I will never simply forget Earth. Part of my heart has been left here, and for this reason, you will always have my protection."
She smiled at his gentle words and as her expression softened, he leaned down slowly to kiss her one more time. "Fare well, Jane Foster."
A thousand words came to her mind at that moment, expressing everything she wanted to say, including her gratitude for the opportunity he gave her and reassurance of what she felt in her own heart for him. Her words failed her, however, and none of them sounded right to her own mind. Before the mist in her eyes could worsen, she slipped out of his arms and walked into the dark night. She would have to trust that he already knew, and that he would keep his word that this was not the end for them.
He waited until she was gone before making a quarter of a turn towards the shadow of a nearby building and approaching it slowly. With a slight turn of Mjolnir in his grip, he leaped onto the second-story rooftop. "Did you need something from me?" he asked.
The figure he had seen only moments before from his peripheral sight revealed itself; the shadow of a man, smaller than he, with the silhouette of an arrow quiver resting against his shoulder emerged from his cover of darkness. "Sorry," Agent Barton spoke as he stepped out to where he could be seen by the light of the street lamps. "Fury still gets a little nervous when the Tesseract's energy signal shows up."
"How did you detect our arrival so soon?" Thor asked. "We only just left Asgard moments ago."
"We didn't. This signal appeared over a month ago in the same spot. I've been assigned to the neighborhood since. We figured it was you, but - we can't be too careful right now."
"I understand," he said lowly. "Have I earned Earth's trust then? May I come and go as I please?"
"I can't say," Hawkeye answered honestly, "but I think Fury's been able to silence your chief critics, for the time being."
"Then I will gratefully accept whatever grace I've been afforded by your leaders."
"Why?" the agent asked. "Planning on visiting your girl again?"
Thor chuckled. "Yes," he said, allowing his laughter to fade subtly with the sadness that remained, "though I'm not so certain I could claim her as such."
Hawkeye cleared his throat awkwardly, having nothing of value to say in return. His latest relationship was complicated, even in the friendliest of terms, and so he felt he had no right to offer advice or comfort on that subject. "She had a point - about the Chitauri's boss."
"Yes - she is very clever, and I will carefully consider her thoughts on the matter."
"We're preparing for it," he admitted, looking as though he was sharing information he had been ordered not to divulge, "but we'd rest easier knowing Asgard has our backs."
Thor nodded towards his one-time ally. "And you shall have us," he answered. He pulled the device from his belt. "You have my word, Archer; Midgard will not fall unless Asgard does first."
The words sounded as weighted as they were intended. The Prince of Asgard would not casually offer such a promise, and though the agent from Earth had little context surrounding the intricacies of office in a realm he had never seen, Thor's tone had conveyed their profound meaning. Hawkeye nodded in acknowledgement, offering a half-smile as a simple return. Without an additional exchange, Thor activated the portal again and his form disappeared from Earth in a blue inferno.
The great Hall of Odin came back into his view, darkened by night and illuminated only by a single fire near the throne itself and a few dying torches along the walls. His body felt numb as his eyes adjusted to the shadows. He heard the scrape of metal behind him, but did nothing in reaction. The guards had been alarmed by his sudden appearance and the explosion of light and fire in the throne room of the king and had rushed to defend the realm against the unexpected intruder. The flames and gas dissipated quickly, and as his unmistakable form came into view, they immediately dropped their weapons and bowed.
"Leave us," the voice of Odin spoke from the far end of the room; he had been waiting up, despite Thor's great efforts to keep their departure secret.
Thor looked up as his father slowly approached; he paused in silence as he appeared either to be considering his words or simply allowing his son time to speak first. His eye watched Thor steadily; the young prince had an insincerely apologetic look on his face - like a child who only felt sorry because he was caught, but even in the dim lighting of the room, Odin could see an underlying sadness to it as well. His temper diminished, and he abandoned his original intention in awaiting his son's late return.
"I wasn't aware of your plans until you had already left. Even though the device merely borrows on the Tesseract's power, we should not activate it at every idle whim."
Thor took a deep breath, preparing for the challenge before him. "I am sorry, Father."
"I had no opportunity to recharge it for another use."
"Sif used very little energy in her last effort. It had no need…"
"That's very fortunate," Odin swiftly interrupted him. "I might've stranded you there for your actions, though I wager you would have entertained yourself sufficiently."
Thor's gaze returned to the ground. "I will not use it again without your knowledge," he said, his normally strong voice wavering slightly in tone.
Odin nodded, leaving it evident that this was not his sole concern in this conversation. "Am I correct in assuming you've returned her to Earth?"
Thor didn't respond immediately. "I thought it best to leave quietly. I wanted to save her from the gawkers and gossipers that greeted her upon her arrival. It was difficult enough for both of us without an audience, especially one filled with those who have been waiting for us to fail."
"I see," Odin said in thought, "and tell me, was this her decision or yours?"
"It was hers," he answered, "though after our latest council meeting, I have come to understand the timing was probably for the best." Thor sighed, debating on an argument, as he was certain he knew the thoughts of his father at that moment.
"Then I suppose this is the last I will hear of it."
"Father," he started carefully, "we would both wish to continue being with each other - if it is possible."
"You choose to continue this foolishness?" Odin asked, a sharp edge suddenly in his tone.
"She does care for me as I care for her - and I am more convinced with her potential now than I was when we first met. She has only stated her desire for more time, as it would be difficult for her to leave her life on Earth after mere weeks here."
"What business does a mortal have asking for time? Her days are short. If she truly loves you, I see no reason for her hesitancy."
"Then you are less familiar with the mortal realm than you think," he argued. Odin furrowed his brow, a warning of the loss of his patience, but Thor felt the argument was one that needed to be made, and there was no better a time than on that quiet night. "It is because their days are short and their lives, ever fleeting that they take such care making the decisions that truly matter to them. In the midst of their short lives - they have no room for mistakes."
"You've romanticized her doubt; you've allowed your vision to be clouded by her and your fond memories," Odin argued.
"Father, how many mistakes have you made that have only been cured by the passing of centuries?" he asked in a rising voice, though it was a cautious escalation. "How many indiscretions have you…"
"Do not court my anger in this late hour," Odin snapped, "it will gain you nothing."
Thor took a deep breath, but even though he remained calm, he was unwilling to relent. "If you lived as little as they did, would you have considered your choices with more caution?"
The Odinson braced for his father's wrath, but his temper didn't flare, despite the look of impatience still on his features. "You are content to grant her such time? Even if it means you will be apart for longer?"
"Her delay is evidence to how carefully she weighs this choice. That she would use such care - it shows her respect for my position and for Asgard's future."
Odin made a noise of displeasure in his throat. He walked over to the large windows and set his eye to the sky as he often did while he considered a decision carefully. "I am done telling you what choices you should make," he started with his back to his son. "You are not ignorant to the number of ways this may affect your reign. I have doubted your thoughts before on issues I've entrusted to you, but since your reinstatement, you haven't disappointed me. You may have this decision too, but in your time apart, consider your choice as carefully as you believe she will."
Thor released a breath of relief. "Thank you, Father."
"Regardless, I'm glad to know she is back on Midgard," he said. "The timing of this experiment wasn't favorable - and its end eliminates your distractions."
Thor nodded. "It will be a relief to deal with the issues that beg my attention without worrying about her," he said honestly, "but I aim to go back to Midgard when I'm able."
Odin nodded, though the his face still held evidence of his displeasure and skepticism of Thor's actions with the mortal. "Since you have returned, I will need the device from you so it may be imbued with more power."
Thor handed it to him. As he had suspected, the blue light emanating from the device had faded. Thor hadn't much to spare for his return journey, but the privacy he'd won as a result of his timing was worth the risk. "Jotunheim?" he asked. Odin had left him out of the decision-making process when it came to the negotiations with the Frost Giants. However, their request for Loki's extradition and the danger it posed for Sif spurred his involvement the effort naturally, and his father voiced no complaint for it thus far.
"I see no reason to delay our answer. They will not win Loki as reparation. I will send Sif once more to deliver this decision and to gather the people who wish to be transported from their dying world."
"That doesn't give them long to decide whether they wish to abandon their home."
"I know as much," he said, "but the longer we delay, the more likely it is that it will interfere with our defense efforts. I wish to avoid creating additional vulnerabilities."
Thor nodded. "I'll let Sif know to prepare."
Their conversation seemed to be at its natural end, and so Odin turned to return to his bed for what remained of the night. "Father," Thor started, "will you ask Heimdall to include Midgard in his watch for our new enemy?"
"For what purpose?"
"It is a mere theory, but since you have trusted me thus far, I ask for this additional grace."
Odin nodded in agreement, and let the issue be without further question or expression of doubt.