A/N: surprise im not dead.
Babies do not magically appear. They are not brought by stalks to the doorstep of an expecting couple. They do not spring from bamboo shoots.
The story is this: Asgard has seen little of Queen Frigga in recent months, but it was mostly assumed to be due to tensions between realms and the need to greet envoys on diplomatic visits, to assuage any fears that the feud between Aesir and Jotnar would bleed over into other realms. During these months, the queen gave birth to a second son, but in the panic and fear of invasion it was kept secret from all, to protect the Royal Family and the All-Father's lineage.
Now the war is over, and the joyous news of Prince Loki's birth has been announced. Asgard celebrates for both victory over the Frost Giants, and for yet another heir to the throne.
They do not know that they cheer for the slaughter of their youngest prince's kin.
In the dark of the night, as Asgard and her rulers sleep, Loki lays awake in his crib. A hologram of twinkling stars and swirling galaxies plays out above him, there to lull him to sleep. Instead, Loki thinks of the Void, of his past, and of his future.
To what end have the Norns sent him back intro this state? What purpose could this possibly serve? On the battlefield, Loki had been more than happy to breathe his last. The years leading up to Ragnarok had not been kind to him; lie after lie, scheme after scheme, forever on the run and wondering when his mistakes would catch up to him.
Ragnarok was supposed to be about death, rebirth, and atonement.
This was supposed to be a clean slate.
So why do I remember?
It plagues him. Frigga has to coax him to eat or drink, and he can see the worry creasing her eyes.
But Loki cannot stop wondering at the pointlessness of it all.
And so he continues on, scarcely noticing Frigga's dampening eyes, or Thor's concerned questions, or Odin's gentle inspecting hands.
Loki continues on.
It makes no sense. Why send him back with his memories when he is trapped in this weak, pathetic, needy body? Unless…
Unless it truly was a mistake.
And one night, while Loki watches the twinkling stars with the quiet talk of Odin and Frigga in the next room, he finds his view obstructed by a head of shaggy golden hair. In the dark he can just about make out pale eyes and a frown.
Thor clambers over the rail and into the crib, sitting at the bottom end, and takes Loki with surprisingly gentle hands and sits him in his lap.
"You're making Mother and Father very sad. They think I can't tell, but they're always looking at you with sad faces. Why are you like this? Don't you like us? I… I thought I was going to be a good big brother," says Thor.
For the first time in weeks Loki turns his whole, undivided attention to Thor.
"I wish I knew how to make it better. I'm supposed to protect you, but… I don't know how when you're like this!"
Loki… He feels guilty. He shouldn't. He shouldn't feel a damn thing for this oaf, for the man who was once his brother in another life, who he renounced long ago. He… Loki shouldn't.
And yet.
Silently staring into blue eyes, Loki can't quite think of the reason why he had been so plagued with worry these past few weeks. If the Norns intended for this to happen, then Loki truly had no idea why. If it was a mistake… He could make the best of this.
He… He could try to enjoy this second life.
Loki raises a tiny hand up to Thor's face.
Thor blinks, surprised, leaning down to allow Loki better access.
Loki takes a fistful of hair and yanks.
With a surprised yelp, Thor yells, "Ow! Let go! Let go!"
The door slams open, Odin and Frigga in the doorway with defensive postures that relax the instant they see the two children.
Loki pulls and pulls and pulls, and Thor lets out a pained shriek, and Loki laughs.
Whether or not this entire predicament was intentional, what Loki knows is this:
One, he can have fun with this; this pre-knowledge, this… enlightenment, if you will, it will provide some simply splendid opportunities for him to make some mischief and spread a little chaos.
Two, his loneliness is an option. He can choose a life of isolation, or he can remain with his family. This is entirely in his control.
And three? Intentional or not, whether this be part of some grand design or a simple twist of fate, he is not one to play by the rules. Loki had been about to die, and die a good death that would lead him to the halls of Valhalla to be reunited with his loved ones, and that had been stripped from him entirely. And, being the vindictive fellow he is, there is only one logical step to take: Loki will make the Norns regret allowing this to happen.
So let the fun begin.