Discovering Truths

The Warriors Three and the Lady Sif were sitting in the Healing Room later that day, Fandral healed from his wound to the chest though Volstagg still had the black burn on his arm. Sif was sitting on a small bench, Volstagg on another as Fandral tended the roaring fire in the middle of the room. Hogun, who was preparing a small salve for Volstagg, glanced back when he heard footsteps approaching to see Loki escorting Kona into the room.

The blonde woman rested a hand on Loki's arm before she stepped away from him, over to Volstagg, coming to a stop beside him, on the side of his good arm, "Are you in much pain Volstagg?" she asked, concerned.

Hogun saw Loki smile softly at Kona's consideration, before he made his own way over to Volstagg with the salve.

"Tis just a scratch," Volstagg tried to reassure her, reaching out to pat her hand.

Volstagg had always been the more…jovial of the Three when it came to Kona. Where Thor and, by association, Sif were a bit tense with her, short at times, he was more silent. He didn't particularly get involved with the affairs and relationships of others but reserved his own judgment. He was naturally quiet and didn't speak much at all to anyone really. He had no quarrel with Kona. He knew Fandral had tried to woo her ages ago, but upon failing that tended to leave Kona alone. The man, for all his charm and tendency to try to flirt with other women, when it became clear that Loki was courting Kona in an official capacity, had backed off and begun to treat the woman with more respect. Oh he respected her yes, he respected all women and would never ever try to fool them or force them or anything into something they did not want, but he could charm them. He treated Kona with more the respect befitting a Lady of the House of Odin, which she very well might be should the courtship lead to something more.

Volstagg, on the other hand, was the one of them who was kindest and warmest to Kona. He merely accepted everyone as they were, he never let his anger or resentment or the thoughts of others get the best of him. He was just happy to be around people and enjoy their company. He'd invite Kona to join them at banquets and sit with them around a fire as much as Loki would, even if he knew it would upset Thor in a way. He was just accepting like that, truly out of the Three of them, the one who treated her most like she was just a person. Which they all knew Kona appreciated for how much she railed against being treated with particularity after she'd lost her sight.

"Loki said a Frost Giant burned your arm," Kona frowned at him, before glancing over where Fandral had paced, as though knowing he were standing right there, "And that you had been stabbed Fandral."

"Aye, my Lady," Fandral nodded his head at her before straightening realizing she wouldn't see it, "But the Healers have lived up to expectation."

"Not quite so much if they couldn't heal Volstagg's arm," Sif muttered.

"Are you sure you're alright Volstagg?" Kona gently reached out to his arm, brushing the lightest of fingers along it to feel for herself, but the man winced and hissed in pain, "You do not sound it."

As they all looked at Volstagg, none of them noticed Loki look down at his own arm, the one that had turned blue, turning it over before the flickering light of the fire, examining it from different angles of the flames. It was peach, it was skin once more, it was…warm. But…why had it turned blue before, why turn blue when a Frost Giant grabbed him. He knew that he was very skilled at changing his image, appearing to be someone else, but it was an illusion, that was ALL it was.

This time though…he could truly feel his body changing. He felt his heart slow, his skin cool, his blood turn to ice in his veins, he felt it spreading through him from his arm and that…worried him. He had never before truly changed like that. He swallowed hard and glanced at Kona, knowing she hadn't seen any of them there with Thor, that she had likely not seen his arm turn blue or even the attacks on the others, he knew she would have warned them for certain, found some way to do it, to stop them, if she had. He looked back down at his hand…he knew there was only one way to test a theory that was burning in his mind.

A Frost Giant had touched him, tried to use their own magic on him…the only way to see if it was magic or something else, was to use another source of a Frost Giant's essence…the Casket.

But did he dare?

"He shall be fine," Hogun spoke, pulling Loki's attention back over to see the man rubbing the salve onto Volstagg's arm, the man hissing at the sensation.

"We should never have let him go," Volstagg muttered.

"There was no stopping him," Sif sighed, they all knew, better than most that when Thor got an idea in his head almost nothing could deter him besides Odin literally standing in his path.

"At least he's only banished, not dead," Fandral added, walking over, "Which is what we'd all be if Odin hadn't come after us."

"How did he even know we'd gone?" Volstagg wondered.

Kona looked in the direction of Loki, knowing he was looking at her as well. KNOWING he was going to open his mouth and lie to them so they wouldn't know her own hand in it all. He knew that the Warriors Three, Sif especially were loyal to Thor, that they would be outraged that SHE had had something to do with his banishment even if it was unintentionally. Despite their own feelings for her being different than Thor's, they would still react negatively to the thought of their friend being banished because SHE had 'told on him.'

But she couldn't let Loki lie about that, "I told him," she answered just as Loki opened his mouth to speak.

"What?" Fandral looked at her, alarmed, his eyes wide though she couldn't see.

"I had a vision," Kona said simply, clasping her hands before her, "Of Thor, in Jotunheim. And I KNEW what he would do, why he was there, what would happen. I had hoped to alert the Allfather quickly enough to stop Thor's attack. It appears I was too late."

"You told Odin?" Volstagg frowned at her.

"She saved our lives," Loki defended, moving to Kona's side, hearing a note he did not like in the man's voice, seeing the looks they were directing at Kona, "AND Thor's. And I'm glad she did," he stared them down, "I had no idea father would banish Thor for what he did, but I would have done the same as Kona and told him even if I had known."

Sif's jaw clenched as she glared at Kona, as though blaming her for Thor's plight, if the girl hadn't said anything…they'd all be dead, she knew. The Bifrost would have remained closed, and they would have died at the hands of the Frost Giants, she really HAD saved their lives…but that didn't mean she had to be happy about the other outcomes, "Loki," she turned to him instead, "You must go to the Allfather and convince him to change his mind!"

"And if I do, then what?" Loki shook his head, "I love Thor more dearly than any of you, but you know what he is. He's arrogant. He's reckless. He's dangerous. You saw how he was today. Even Kona saw it," he reminded them, that for her to see a vision OF Jotunheim, the lair of the Frost Giants, for her to be able to SEE him there…it had to be a powerful vision indeed, "Is that what Asgard needs from its King?"

He looked at each of them, seeing them exchange looks, the Warriors Three admitting that he DID have a point, but Sif was as defiant as ever in believing him about Thor.

He sighed and turned to Kona, "I will see you soon," he told her, kissing her hands, squeezing them before he left the room.

Kona's head turned as though to watch him go, knowing that when he said 'he'd see her soon' that it meant he really just…needed a moment to himself. And she could let him have that. Not for too long as she was rather a bit impatient and selfish. She'd come to find she delighted in Loki's presence and that the time they spent together wasn't as long as she'd like it to be. If she could she'd tie their hands together and never leave his side, but alas, he was a Prince of Asgard and had duties to see to. She knew sometimes it got a bit overwhelming and he would go on a short walk to clear his head. He needed one now.

So she could wait, for him, she'd wait an eternity.

"He may speak of the good of Asgard," Sif muttered darkly under her breath, "But he's always been jealous of Thor."

"That is enough Sif," Kona cut in, a firm not in her voice, "He is right about Thor and you know it."

Sif rounded on her, "What is it about him that makes you so quick to trust every word he says?"

Kona's jaw tensed but she tried to refrain from slapping the woman for doubting not just Loki's intentions but HER integrity as well, as though she hadn't had a purpose and a reason to agree with Loki. Not that she could really tell Sif or the Warriors Three about what she'd seen, Sif would refuse to believe it. And that thought made her want to slap the woman even more. She knew that Sif was a trained warrior, if she was quick enough she might get a hit in, but then Sif would have her pinned to the ground in a heartbeat, if she didn't stop the attack first. And it was…unladylike to slap someone. She…she had been meeting with Frigga a few times, recently, since Loki had asked Odin's permission to court her, whenever Loki was busy. Frigga would sit with her and they'd talk about…propriety. She had been born a servant, elevated to Seer, and now…appeared close to being a Lady and…she wasn't quite sure what to do or what that really meant. Servants worked all day, every day, at their tasks, Seers just sort of…sat there and saw things and did whatever they wanted in the time between visions but…a Lady would have responsibilities. Frigga was trying to teach her how to be a proper lady and…right now she was finding it VERY hard to remember those lessons on decorum.

"What is it about Thor that makes you so blindly faithful to him?" Kona countered, "Did he not JUST march you all into Jotunheim and start a war with the Frost Giants, with no thought to YOUR lives or what it would mean for Asgard?"

"He was trying to protect Asgard!" Sif argued.

"So is Loki," Kona countered, "I know you may not understand it now Sif, but Thor being on Earth…it is for the best."

Sif scoffed at that, about to open her mouth when Volstagg cut in, "Let it go Sif," he warned her, "We should be grateful to Kona, not arguing with her, she saved our lives."

Sif rolled her eyes at that but refrained from speaking again.

"Laufey said there were traitors in the House of Odin," Hogun murmured quietly as the others looked at him, even Kona turning to face him, "A master of magic could easily bring three Jotuns into Asgard."

"Do NOT tell me you are implying Loki is a traitor," Kona's eyes narrowed at him.

She knew that was what it would look like, what Loki had done in setting the three Frost Giants into Asgard, in tricking Thor to Earth. But he truly had NOT known they'd go after the Casket or that Thor would be banished. He was truly trying to keep Asgard safe, in helping Thor become a better king, a king that Asgard needed.

To do all that, to KNOW what could happen to him if things went wrong or if he was discovered too early, if he wasn't given a chance to explain…to risk all that and STILL do it, for Asgard, for Thor…that was NOT the makings of a traitor.

"Loki's always been one for mischief," Fandral seemed to agree with her, "But you're talking about something else entirely."

"Loki is NO traitor," Kona said firmly, turning to stare each of them down with her unseeing (and admittedly unnerving) eyes. She nodded to herself, "Now if you shall excuse me," she let out a breath, striding out of the room, her hands curled into fists.

If only they knew the lengths Loki was going to give them the best king Asgard could have…they would not be so quick to judge him.

~8~

Loki slowly pushed open the doors to the Vault, pausing in the doorway to look down the long hall that led to the Casket at the end. He took a deep breath and stepped in, walking right up to it, stopping before it as he stared down at the glowing box. He hesitated only a moment before reaching out and lifting it up only slightly, his hands clasping it tightly…watching with mounting horror as the blue of the Frost Giants spread up his arms once more…

"Stop!" he heard someone shout, Odin he knew, he could recognize his father's voice anywhere.

He held the box up a moment longer before he gently placed it down once more, "Am I cursed?" he whispered, staring at the blue of his hands as he turned around to look at Odin, his entire face and body blue as well, though it had started to fade back to peach as soon as he'd let go of the Casket.

"No," Odin said simply.

He looked at his hands, waiting till they were 'normal' again before looking up at his father, imploring him, "What am I?"

"You're my son," Odin replied, stiffening.

But Loki shook his head, "What more than that?" but Odin remained quiet. He didn't even really have to speak though, he could see it on his father's face, how burdened he looked, and the truth dawned on him, "The Casket wasn't the only thing you took from Jotunheim that day, was it?"

Odin took a breath and looked him in the eye, "No," he sighed, "In the aftermath of the battle, I went into the Temple, and I found a baby. Small for a giant's offspring. Abandoned, suffering, left to die. Laufey's son."

Loki looked down, feeling tears prickling his eyes, "Laufey's son…" he breathed, shaking his head, feeling like he couldn't breathe as he tried desperately to make sense of it all, "Why?" he looked up at Odin, "You were knee-deep in Jotun blood. Why would you take me?"

"You were an innocent child."

Loki stared at the man he'd thought of as a father…only to let out a disbelieving breath, seeing it…seeing the…lie in his father's face, "No," he realized, "You took me for a purpose, what was it?" but Odin was silent, "Tell me!" he demanded.

Odin sighed, "I thought we could unite our kingdoms one day, bring about an alliance, bring about a permanent peace…through you. But those plans no longer matter."

Loki shook his head at the betrayal he felt raging inside him, to find out what he was…a Frost Giant. A monster. He'd been raised on stories, so many terrible stories about them, their brutish ways, their evil, how they were truly nothing but savage beasts…and HE was one of them. Did it matter that he'd been raised in Asgard? Did it make him…different? He was a Frost Giant, he was…nothing but a monster, wasn't he.

And worse yet…he was nothing but a tool to be used. Odin hadn't taken him out of kindness or love or even pity but…to be used. He'd taken him as a means to an end, to end the wars, to create peace. Now he realized why the man had always said both he and Thor were destined to be kings. HE was meant to be the king of Jotunheim, the one who'd make an alliance with his 'brother' the king of Asgard, to make peace. That was all he'd ever been to Odin, wasn't it? Just a…tool, not a son, not even a subject, not even Asgardian…just…a tool.

"So I am no more than another stolen relic, locked up here until you might have use of me like Kona!" he shouted, glaring at Odin.

He felt his stomach drop at that, at the reminder of his Kona. Had she known? Had she known what he was? She was a seer, she always said that she saw him, that she saw who he truly was…did she mean that he was a Frost Giant? Was THAT what she meant? He felt the world starting to spin at that, he felt ill, he felt…even more betrayed to think SHE might have known than that the man he'd looked to as a father had kept it from him. Had she known? Had she?!

"Why do you twist my words?" Odin shook his head.

"You could have told me what I was from the beginning," Loki argued, fighting desperately not to cry as the man before him finally told him the truth, a truth he wished he had never learned. What was that Earth saying? Ignorance was bliss? How true that was, "Why didn't you?"

"You are my son," Odin insisted, "I wanted only to protect you from the truth."

"Why?" he shook his head, giving up, feeling just…devastated, what point was there? What other reason could there be to hide the truth from him but that revealing he was a monster might turn him into one. Would that happen now? Would his true Giant roots take hold now that he was aware? He was…scared, truly and utterly scared, because the man he'd trusted more than anyone, more than even Thor…had lied to him his entire life, "Because I am the monster who parents tell their children about at night?"

"Don't..." Odin tried to cut in.

But Loki wouldn't have it, more and more realizations hitting him, "It all makes sense now," he nearly sneered, feeling more disgusted with himself than Odin. How did one go on when they knew their very life was an evil that was meant to be wiped off the face of Asgard? That was what they'd been raised to believe, that the only good Frost Giant was a dead one, but that they couldn't war with the Giants at the moment, because of the treaty, "Why you favored Thor all these years. Because no matter how much you claim to "love" me, you could never have a Frost Giant sitting on the Throne of Asgard!"

He cut off suddenly when he noticed that Odin had stopped speaking, his eyes widening as he saw the man had collapsed to the ground, reaching out to him, struggling to move, struggling to breathe…before his eyes fell closed. He rushed to Odin's side, checking on him, gently placing a hand on the man's arms, terrified he'd somehow done this.

"Guards!" he called out, knowing there were some just outside the doors that would be able to help him get Odin to the healers, "Guards please help!"

~8~

Loki strode through the palace, having just left his father in his chambers, having watched the guards carrying his father, weakened, limp, unmoving, to his chambers, having seen his mother weeping for him, as he was laid to rest on his bed…a golden glow surrounding him, the Odinsleep. It was like a healing trance his father fell into at times, to heal himself, rejuvenate himself when the weariness of age got the best of him. He would wake one day, stronger, refreshed, but for now…he could hardly think on that, on his father's plight, on his brother's banishment, all he could think about was how…betrayed he felt.

His father…he winced, no, ODIN…had lied to him. Had lied to him ALL his life, had kept the truth of his heritage from him, had kept the truth of how much a monster he truly was from him…and he was…devastated. He was angry and hurt and terrified and frantic and…so many other things he could barely sort through the emotions running through him.

So he went to the calmest place he knew…only to throw the doors open with such force that they banged against the back walls. Hild, standing off to the side, leapt to her feet, a small dagger in hand, ready to protect her mistress, as Kona gasped and jumped up from her bench, turning to face him, a hand to her heart.

"Get out!" he snapped at Hild, the girl glancing at Kona for a moment as the woman nodded at her. Hild dashed past him, shutting the doors behind her as he strode over to Kona, "Did you know?" he asked her, trying VERY hard not to shout at her too.

SHE was NOT the one he was angry at but…if his own FATHER (or the man he thought to be his father) could lie to him like that…what was there to say Kona hadn't as well?

"Did I know what?" she shook her head, standing before him, looking truly confused.

"Did you know…that I was a Frost Giant?" his voice broke.

Kona frowned, "Loki what are you talking about?"

"Did you!?" he snapped, before flinching when he saw her flinch, taking a breath to calm down, "Did you know, Kona?" he asked, his voice lower, but still…so hurt.

But Kona just looked at him, "What do you mean…you're a…a Frost Giant?" she reached out to touch his face, "You're Loki, MY Loki, you're an Asgarian…"

"No," he swallowed hard, reaching out to take her hand off him, unable to bring himself to let go of it. He could see it in her face, in her expressions, she had NO idea what he was talking about, she truly hadn't known, "Fath…Odin," he corrected, "Has lied to me, lied to us all…this entire time. I am not Loki Odinson…" he looked away, blinking, feeling tears in his eyes to have to say this, "I am…Laufey's son."

"Laufey?" Kona breathed, stepping back and falling to sit on the edge of the back of her cushioned bench, but he felt her clutch his hand tighter, unwilling to let go…which he had to admit was a comfort he couldn't express, "I don't…" she shook her head, blinking, as she looked up at him, "How is that possible?"

"Apparently F…Odin took more than just the Casket from the Frost Giants," Loki said, his voice shaking with tears he refused to let fall, "I am…nothing but a lie."

"No," Kona stepped up to him once more, "That is not true…"

"Isn't it?" he let out a bitter laugh, "We all should have realized it," he began to ramble, half stuttering as he spoke which Kona knew was a sign he was truly and deeply upset, "I don't look like Odin, or Thor, I don't act like them. I'm as…tricky and slippery and deceitful as those…monsters. And you can't see me Kona," his jaw tensed as he refused to let the tears come, "You can't see Frost Giants clearly…and you've never seen ME clearly…Oh I should have realized that…"

"That's not why," Kona said quietly.

"Not what?" Loki looked at her.

"That's not…the reason why I cannot see you Loki," she told him.

"Now I don't understand."

She smiled at him but he could see it was a sad one, a hesitant one, like…she was about to admit something she was not ready to admit, or that she didn't want to say just yet, "It is not that I cannot see you…it is that I choose NOT to look."

He blinked, feeling his anger abate for a moment as confusion set in, "You…choose…not to look for my future? Why?"

"I am afraid."

"Of what?" he breathed, feeling his heart break at the thought that she was as scared of seeing his future as Thor's.

"There are two things I am…" she shook her head, "Utterly terrified I might witness should I look," she took a breath, "The least frightening of the two…is you dying. I do not want to see that Loki. I could not bear it," her own voice cracked at that, "If I saw something happen to you and tried to prevent it and MADE it happen or warned you and you did something and avoided it, only to be harmed in a worse way. It would kill me."

He stared at her a moment as her words registered, "What could be worse than me dying?"

She looked down, hesitating to say.

"Kona?" he whispered, lifting her chin to look at him, "What is it?" for something to frighten her so badly she refused to look into the future it had to be…

"You…falling in love," she murmured.

"How is that…a bad thing?"

"You did not let me finish," she took a breath, "You, falling in love…with someone who isn't me," her voice cracked at that.

Loki just blinked, staring at her, startled. He'd just told her he was a Frost Giant and she…she was admitting to…

"I…I love you, Loki," she told him, "More than anything."

"Then why are you crying?" he wondered, his thumb absently brushing away a tear as it fell.

"I don't know," she sniffled, "I just…I love you."

"Still?" he had to ask before he could tell her something equally as important, "Even knowing…what I am?"

"I KNOW what you are Loki," she took a breath, gathering herself again, "More importantly, I know WHO you are. You are Loki, you ARE Odin's son, if not by blood than by every other way that matters. Thor is your brother, Frigga your mother. You are a true Asgardian at heart. You are Loki, just...Loki. Frost Giant, Asgardian, human, it matters not to me, you will always be MY Loki."

"You…you really mean it don't you?" he searched her face for any sign of falsehood though he knew he wouldn't see any.

She nodded, "It doesn't matter WHAT you are, but WHO you are. If it did, I would just be a poor, blind servant in a pretty gown…"

"No," Loki cut in, "Kona that's not who you are."

"See," she smiled, reaching up to touch his face, "WHO I am, not what."

He felt himself let out a small, relieved, laugh at that. He'd been so…afraid that he'd confront her and find out that she'd known, all along and hadn't told him, or that he'd tell her what he was (there wasn't anything he'd ever keep from her anyway) and that she'd abandon him. He'd been a fool. No, he'd been afraid. But he should have realized, he should have known, Kona would be with him forever.

She had trusted him about the Frost Giants being let in, trusted his plan of tricking Thor to Jotunheim, defended him against the whispers of the Warriors Three and Sif that he knew would come after he'd left…she truly was his, in every sense wasn't she?

"Perceptive as ever," he murmured.

"Thank you," she nodded.

"Though…" he started to smile, feeling his heart lighten to know she hadn't known, to know that even now that she did she didn't treat him differently, "You are unaware of one rather important thing, I think."

Kona blinked and frowned, "What?"

He leaned in, his nose just barely brushing hers as he looked at her softly, "That I love you as well," he whispered, his heart thudding wildly when he saw her let out a small gasping breath, her eyes shooting to his and widening, her mouth dropping open. He had to shake his head at that, it wasn't often he could surprise her. It wasn't how he'd planned to tell her but she'd rather beaten him to it, hadn't she? And now...to hear her say that to him...he couldn't imagine not saying it back. He knew what he felt and he knew what he felt for her, he DID love her, very much, what point was there to hide it?

"You do?" she asked in a shaky voice and he could see tears gather in her eyes.

"With all my heart," he lifted her hand to kiss the back of it, before placing his other hand on her cheek, leaning in to press his lips to hers, kissing her gently, deeply, sighing in contentment as he pulled away to rest his forehead to hers, watching her face, her eyes having drifted closed, his thumb brushing away the lone tear that fell from her eye, a happy tear this time.

She reached up and took his hand, holding it tightly, before she turned her head to press a kiss of her own to his knuckles. He pulled her gently into his arms, wrapping them around her as he just…held her, one of her hands gently resting on his chest as he rested his chin on top of her head, closing his eyes…so, SO thankful he had her to anchor him, to remind him.

He wasn't a Frost Giant.

He was Loki, just Loki.

A/N: Awww :) I really wanted to show more of his thoughts on what Odin told him and his fears for Kona, there's still more to come about his thoughts on being a Frost Giant, but he'll have plenty to deal with beyond just that as well ;)

In other news, I can't believe this story is halfway over! O.O Wow, time flies lol :)

Some notes on reviews...

They might call it that, but since, in the movie, they call it Earth (like when Fandral says "This isn't like a journey to Earth where you summon a little lightning and thunder and the mortals worship you as a god") I just stayed with Earth :) It made sense to me, no worries ;)

Tom's voice is very nice, I agree ;)

It'll depend on how much of a hand Kona might actually have in what Loki does that'll determine if she goes against him }:)

I'm glad you're enjoying the blind/foresight thing :) I can say that we'll be seeing quite a bit of Loki's thoughts on everything and I have a definite twist for Avengers that revolves around Loki for that, but we'll have to wait about a week to get to the Avengers version of the edda ;)