A/N- I honestly didn't change this chapter that much from the original. Just added a few things here and there. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel.

I had been in Loki's cell for about two months. It was kinda starting to get annoying. I had stopped with my excursions around the castle since my run-in with Thor. My only real consolations were the lessons Loki gave me and the fact that I knew Thor would be coming any day now to break Loki out. Or, at least, I hoped he would. I honestly didn't know how much longer I could stand being in here with him, though.

I didn't have to wait much longer, however, as today new prisoners were introduced.

There was one in particular that caught my eye. He was led by two guards, and wore armor the color of dried blood. His mask was gruesome-looking, but familiar to me. It filled me with a simultaneous sense of horror and relief.

The Kursed.

Loki chuckled, watching them pass. "Odin continues to bring me new friends. How thoughtful."

I huffed, and was about to say something, but a soft voice from behind interrupted me. "The books I sent, do they not interest you?"

We both turned to face Loki's mother, Frigga. She had come many times before, and it hadn't taken long for her to notice me here. I explained to her most of my situation, and she kept me secret. I was still held in the cell, however, as she didn't know for certain that I was trustworthy. That, and I think she thought I would be good for her fallen son.

"Is that how I am to while away eternity?" Loki asked. "Reading?"

"I wouldn't have a problem with that," I said.

Loki rolled his eyes. "Your mortal life span is also much shorter than mine."

"True," I shrugged. "But, even still. Granted, I'm also here to entertain you."

"For a few decades, perhaps," he shot back. "What of in a hundred years, when all I am left with is a haggled corpse?"

"Well, that would be rather uncomfortable, now wouldn't it?" I said.

Loki sniffed. "Quite. Not that I'm entirely comfortable now, but what can one do?"

"I have done all I can to make you comfortable," Frigga interrupted.

Loki turned his attention back to her. "Have you?" He leaned forward, a small smirk playing on the edges of his lips. "Does Odin share your concern? Does Thor? It must be so inconvenient, them asking after me, day and night."

"You know full well it was your actions that put you here," the queen said.

Loki stood straight. "My actions. I was merely giving truth to the lie I had been fed my entire life. That I was born to be a King."

"A king?" Frigga asked. "A true king admits his faults. What of the lives you took on Earth?"

"A mere handful compared to the number that Odin has taken himself," he pointed out.

"Your father-"

"He's not my father!" Loki yelled, interrupting Frigga. I flinched slightly at the amount of anger in his voice, stepping quietly to the corner. I knew where this conversation was going, and it upset me every time. Even more so in person.

Frigga was silent for a moment, before speaking quietly. "Then am I not your mother?"

Loki took a breath. "You're not."

"Hm," she replied simply. "Always so perceptive. About everything but yourself."

Loki didn't say anything, simply stepping forward to wave his hand through Frigga's illusion, dissipating it. I couldn't let that happen, though. "Wait."

They both turned to me, confusion and sadness written across their countenances. Frigga stepped forward. "What is it, child?"

My gaze flicked to Loki, and I clenched my fists. "Say something nice."

Surprise flashed on his face for a moment. "Pardon?"

"Say something nice," I insisted, my voice shaking slightly. "I don't care what, but if you don't do it now, you will regret it later."

Loki narrowed his eyes. "And what are you to decide this?"

I shook my head sadly, tears welling in my eyes. "Just… please, Loki. Trust me on this."

Frigga smiled sadly. "It's alright, my dear. He speaks only what he believes to be true."

"But that doesn't make it right," I replied quietly. "I'm sorry. But I can't let him not say goodbye. Not this time."

"Rachel, what are you talking about?" Loki asked, concern lacing through his even tones.

I sighed. "I can't tell you. But you'll find out, soon enough."

They both gave me another confused glance, before turning back to one another. Loki took a breath. "Goodbye, Frigga."

With that, he waved his hand through the illusion, causing the queen to disappear. Then, he sat on one of the chairs, pointedly facing away from me.

Loki tossed the cup into the air, catching it in one hand with ease. Up, and down. Up, and down. Toss, catch. Toss, catch. I wasn't paying attention to this, however. My focus was on the Kursed, who was standing near one of the walls of his cell. I watched his movements closely, tensing as he reached for his abdomen. He pulled his hand away, fist covered in dark blood. Clenching it, he began to tremble with the power that began flooding through him.

His cellmates began banging on the walls, trying to alert a guard to the now-glowing prisoner. Loki paused in his motions, listening to the noise caused by the others. The lights flickered, and I flinched as a dark cloud burst through the cell of the Kursed, causing the other prisoners in the cell to drop. He began to writhe as a reddish glow took over him, and the Kurse took hold. Loki came to stand beside me, a hand placed on my shoulder. I shuddered from the familiar tingle of foreign magic flooding through me, watching my reflection melt away as Loki turned me invisible. Only he would be able to see me now.

The roars of the Kursed caught the attention of the guards, and they came running over. The Kursed pushed a man against the wall, straining it. He punched it, and, with a white flash, his imprisonment faded away. He sauntered out, easily killing the two guards, not affected in the least by their attacks. He began breaking the other prisoners out, pausing at our cell only to look at Loki. I knew he wouldn't release us, however.

He and Loki eyed each other, sizing one another up, while I simply sat on the ground, eyebrow raised at the beast in front of me. In all reality, I probably should have been scared, but I knew I wouldn't have to face him. Not yet, at least.

The Kursed took a few steps forward, eyes still locked on Loki. He turned away, however, deserting us as two of the few prisoners condemned to remain.

"You might want to take the stairs to the left," Loki advised simply. The Kursed looked at him over his shoulder, before moving to follow Loki's words, leaving the other prisoners to deal with the guards.

I watched the fight with amusement, chuckling slightly at the fact that Loki was simply lounging on the floor, reading a book, not even flinching when someone slammed into the wall of the cell. I also laughed at Thor's arrival, and his words to the fighting prisoners.

"Return to your cells, and you will not be harmed. You have my word." This was answered with someone hitting him across the face, to which he took the prisoner by the neck, and looked at it, speaking before hitting it with his hammer. "Very well. You do not have my word."

Thor fought his way through the hordes, working alongside Sif, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg. They paused when there was rumbling, and debris began falling from the ceiling.

"Oh," I chirped cheerfully. "The ship arrived."

Loki threw me an odd glance, but said nothing. Rather, he watched in idle curiosity as the guards began running to the bigger fight upstairs, now that this one was handled. Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three also left, and I closed my eyes, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. I knew what was happening now. Frigga was dying.

There would be no action, now, not for a little while. There would be the funeral for Frigga first, and then, later, Thor would come to free us.

"Thank you," I spoke quietly, my voice thick with emotion.

Loki turned at my words. "For what?"

"For saying goodbye."