Chapter 10
The Split
"So, young mortal!" Volstagg placed another plate of meat in front of Jenny. "Have you ever eaten at an Asgardian banquet before?"
"No…" Jenny admitted nervously, looking over at Odin. She was sitting at his right hand, as his honored guest. "But, I like to try new things."
"This is your lucky day." Thor said.
For some strange reason, the person in charge of the seating wanted to have Jane and Thor sitting across the table, facing each other. Odin had insisted Jenny sat at his right hand for the evening. Thor moved down to sit across from Jane. And guess who Jenny had to sit across?
Loki.
On the bright side, he didn't really look up from his plate, and he didn't seem to have the appetite that Volstagg had. The warrior sat down a little further away, after handing Jenny her food. He laughed and indulged himself with his meat and his ale. The rest of Jenny's team sat close by, cheering him on.
"Well, here goes." Jenny said, before she began to stuff her face with meat.
"You must be starving…" Odin mused.
Jenny swallowed before answering. "I honestly can't remember when I last ate."
"The noddle shop, this morning," Jane reminded her.
"Right, thanks." Jenny mumbled before shoving another piece of meat in her mouth. She picked up a chicken drumstick and took a large bite of it.
"Your appetite hasn't changed Jenny…" Jane commented. "First, inhaling a hot dog at that summer trip, eating fourteen ousters… now this…"
"Fourteen ousters?!" Loki finally looked up at Jenny, who seemed to be a very happy person at the moment.
"She likes to eat a lot." Jane replied. "And yet… never gets fat…"
"Quick metabolism?" Thor asked. Jenny nodded her head in reply. "Hm… or she may just have the appetite of a true warrior! Get her another plate! She's made her ancestors proud!"
"Yes!" Jenny cheered as she swallowed her last piece of meat. "Another!" She grabbed her empty plate and tossed it like a frisbee across the room over Loki's head. It crashed into one of the candle posts, knocking it over and causing a loud crash that echoed throughout the room. Everyone at the banquet table went silent and stared at Jenny, who looked horrified at what she had just done.
"Yes!" Thor cheered out. "Another!" The other guests cheered along. Jenny sat in her chair and sighed in relief. Thor held out his fist to her. She swiftly met it with hers and smiled triumphantly. When she turned her head to see Odin smiling at her, Thor waved his hand as though it was in pain.
Jane and Loki both shook their heads and rolled their eyes.
~jb~
Loki sat alone in the gallery, staring blankly at the painting that had been completed so many years ago. He looked at the beautiful woman, holding one of her sons in her arms. Her gentle face looked happy and calm, and her blue eyes sparkled. Loki sighed and looked away from the painting. Those certainly were more happier days.
"Loki?" A gentle voice came from behind him. He turned to see Jenny standing there. He hadn't noticed her dress from earlier. He excused himself from the feast early to spend some time in the gallery, and he hadn't been in the mood to be social, so he wasn't paying a lot of attention… until she started gobbling down the chicken. Her dress was gold, and fit her very nicely. She was still wearing that yellow scarf, only, it was draped around her shoulders, instead of tied around her neck.
Loki tried not to think too much about Jenny's dress. Instead he began to build his walls… as usual.
"What do you want, mortal?" Loki grumbled.
Jenny sat beside Loki. "I just wanted to apologize for earlier."
The two of them stayed silent for a moment before Jenny continued. "I also thought you were getting lonely…so I thought I could give you some company."
Loki nodded. "You seem to be a very forgiving person."
"I try to be…" Jenny shrugged. "So… who's that woman in the painting?"
"That's…" Loki hesitated. "That's… Frigga."
"Wife to Odin?" Jenny asked.
"That's right." Loki said.
"And who is she holding?"
Loki hesitated once again. "That's me." He said quietly.
"Aw, you were so cute!" Jenny smiled. Loki ignored her comment.
"It seems no matter how much I wish, I can't go back to those days." Loki sighed. "Before I even knew…"
Jenny stayed silent for a moment. She stared at the painting of the woman with the infant held in her arms.
"Jane and Thor told me everything." Jenny said. "I didn't want to bring it up, but it seems like you could use a positive boost."
"About what?"
"Well, about the fact that you weren't born a full Asgardian." Jenny began. "I think your parents never told you because… they were afraid of hurting you."
"Is that so?" Loki grumbled. "He took me for a purpose. I was nothing more than a stolen relic…nothing more."
"Maybe his purpose changed." Jenny said gently. "I think that over the years…as Odin and Frigga raised you…they grew close to you and loved you as their real son… perhaps even forgetting that you were adopted."
Loki stayed silent.
"Loki," Jenny continued. "Maybe your dad saved you because…he saw something worth saving."
Loki lifted his head slightly at the word worth. Did this mortal really think that he was worthy? Of anything?
Loki smiled. Maybe he didn't feel worthy, but at least he wasn't feeling anger towards his father anymore, and this mortal made him feel like he could be himself-even though she had a short temper and liked to punch people.
"Thank you, Jenny," Loki said, standing up. "I needed to hear that, and I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot earlier." He held out his hand to her. She took it and he helped her to her feet. "Will you walk with me?"
"Of course." Jenny nodded. They walked together throughout the hallways. Eventually, they came to the stables, and Jenny finally noticed Loki had a small bag with him.
"Wait… are you leaving?" Jenny asked.
"I had been planning exile for a long while." Loki replied. "I've served for Asgard for a time. Now it's time I figure out what it is that I would want from my life."
"And you think leaving would help?" Jenny asked. "But what about Thor? He needs you."
"He may be a big oaf, but he is mighty." Loki replied. "If anything, he needs you. You would make a fine Avenger."
Jenny stayed silent, unsure if she was convinced yet.
"I wanted to just sneak out and leave without anyone noticing." Loki admitted, opening a stall and guiding his horse out. "But now, I wanted you to see me leave…I'm not sure why. Odin would've known why I left when he found out I was missing. There's no reason to bring you along only to watch me leave. I suppose I just wanted someone to say goodbye to." He fastened the small sack onto the saddle. "I guess… maybe because…it's you."
Jenny's cheeks turned pink. She looked at the ground and shrugged. "Well…"
"Farewell, Miss Robinson." Loki said, mounting his horse. "Take care of yourself."
"Yeah…" Jenny looked up at him. "You too."
Loki urged his horse to go, and the steed ran out of the stable. Jenny ran out to watch him until he disappeared from her sight.
~jb~
"Jenny!" Summer was shaking Jenny awake, who had accidently fallen asleep by the opening of the stables.
"Huh? Summer?" Jenny yawned. "I'm so sorry, I was just-"
"Are you okay?" Summer asked, seeming to be frantic.
"I'm fine. I just fell asleep." Jenny replied. "Is everything okay? You seem…scared."
"I was," Summer replied. "One of the Long Fang members snuck into the palace. When we couldn't find you, we thought…"
"Something bad happened to me…" Jenny finished. "I'm so sorry! I'm an idiot! I shouldn't have fallen asleep-"
"What were you doing out here anyways?" Summer asked curiously.
"I was saying goodbye to Loki." Jenny admitted.
"He left? Why?"
"He wants to find himself…" Jenny replied. "But I also think he's having trouble living here. Maybe it reminds him of his failures… I can relate to that. After my mom died, I traveled to California a lot during holidays. Those trips made me feel… closer to her."
"Well, on a positive note, Odin got the guy to tell him everything. We know where their secret base is located. We're hoping to go there and try to take them all out before they can hurt the Nine Realms any further. Thor figured you'd like to join in." Summer said.
"Of course!" Jenny said. "Let's go find Thor! Not a moment to waste!"
Okay, things are starting to go down! Jahoo! I hope you enjoyed!
