Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait again. My Internet is still not fully fixed so I'm trying to update when I can (I don't even know what the problem is). But I got an interesting question from Fiskars in a review and I would've replied via message but they weren't logged in. They asked whether I listen to music when I write chapters and I do. A lot of times music gives me my best ideas regarding anything I write.
But for this fic, this group Digital Daggers has really helped me recently and I always choreograph fight scenes listening to Skrillex or something like that. For Your Equal, I had so many fight scenes in my mind and only a couple actually made it in so I hope to include more in this sequel. But yeah, Fear The Fever by Digital Daggers and Bad Intentions by them too are really good and really help me with getting into characters' heads and in Your Equal I always listened to some Adele or really heartbreaking songs and I have no idea why but they were really inspiring. Haha, but as usual, I only own Charlotte.
The room was silenced when Odin began speaking again. I squeezed Thor's hand for reassurance and I was secretly glad he was one of the only people I knew who didn't mind close physical contact. I needed the support and Thor's skin was warm and the only memories I'd felt from him since sitting down were happy ones from his childhood. I could manage that.
Loki openly slumped in his seat when Odin spoke, still bitter. His pale skin looked luminescent in the dying sunlight and his eyes glittered as he looked between me and Thor cautiously. He was probably sensing how nervous I was and I knew he'd seen me change after seeing one of Thor's memories earlier. Thor probably hadn't had the time to tell him something had happened to me before he arrived on Earth for me and Jane. I wondered if Thor was the only one who visited Loki. That would be sad if it was true and frankly, I knew it had to be. Loki had been clear that he'd never been favored here, even by he and Thor's mutual friends. People tired of his trickery and games easily. Somehow, people had sensed he was different from the beginning.
"This feast is in honor of our two guests from the realm of Midgard," Odin's booming voice continued. I turned my head and stared at him, holding my breath when I realized he'd been looking at me, Jane, and Thor this entire time. "Thor's favored companion, the Lady Jane Foster." Odin had extended his hand to show Jane off and she stood up at Frigga's nodding. My nails dug into Thor's skin and my other hand shook so uncontrollably that I put it under my thigh on the grand chair. What would my moniker be? Surely not "Loki's favored companion" or anything of the sort.
Meanwhile, Jane received applause and she graciously smiled before sitting down again. She turned and looked at me, giving me a face that showed she'd been as nervous as I was. "And the woman who saved my younger son's life, the Lady Charlotte Kent." I heard Loki make a noise of disgust at being described as Odin's son. I stood, still keeping Thor's hand in mine, and smiled. I was good at acting. I certainly knew how to look pleased. It was part of my job description. But it was hard to pretend when the only acknowledgement I seemed to get was from Sif, the Warriors Three, and Frigga.
I sank down into my chair quickly and tried not to openly sob. I couldn't appeal to these people. They hated me as much as they hated Loki. I didn't belong here, that was obvious enough. I let go of Thor's hand finally and I ran my hands over my dress to stop their incessant shaking. I didn't hear Odin tell everyone to begin eating and sit down. In fact, I was barely registering where I was. I put my hand to my throat as Thor leaned closer to me.
He put his hand to my face, as he'd done so many times, and put his mouth to my ear. "You will make them love you the way you charmed me. It is only a matter of time before they give in to your skills and your voice and all of your other delicate Midgardian charms. They will love you, Charlotte," he whispered. I nodded slowly.
When he moved back, I pulled him back closer, this time forcing my mouth to his ear while touching his neck. "How do they know about me, Thor? How could they possibly know anything? Why do they hate me?" I whispered. I knew this wasn't dinner table conversation and it looked like we were drawing some kind of attention. I felt Loki's eyes burning into the back of my dress but I didn't stop touching Thor.
Thor pulled back but pressed our foreheads against each other. "They do not hate you, Charlotte. How could they? You are a hero. I have all but said it hundreds of times in front of everyone." I nodded again, already reassured. Thor had that gift. "We will speak fully later."
"Thank you for helping me, Thor," I said when he pulled back. "I owe you."
"You owe me nothing. I only want your help for Loki's behalf."
"You didn't tell him I was coming, did you? He was so shocked. When you told me to come with you, I thought he'd asked himself. And you would never tell me but your memories… I don't think he's pleased. I don't think he cares." Thor grabbed both of my hands now and I saw a flash of him and the Hulk taking down one of the Chitauri serpents.
"Do not think that way. Loki rarely speaks in that cell. I think it drains him as much emotionally as it does physically. He refuses to respond except to declare that he despises me and our father. The only time he seems pleased is when he hears about you. I will take you to see him as you wished." I nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry I'm ruining this feast for you," I said. "I just have so many questions. There's so much I don't get."
"I understand, for there is much I have not told you. But these are words for private." Thor jerked his head and I caught the drift that he didn't want his father overhearing.
Thor turned his attention to Jane. I felt bad that I'd hogged him this entire time when she was probably as nervous as I was. She was already eating and then Thor went to it, eating the way he was known for. When I looked at the food in front of me, I lost my appetite. There was a whole lot of meat and I'd never been that big a fan of it to begin with. I had been right in my snarky thoughts, there were pheasants, whole other birds that I didn't recognize, and boar. I decided on eating bread and cheese because it was the only thing that seemed remotely appealing.
Frigga filled the goblet next to my place without asking. I felt like I was sitting at King Arthur's round table with this plate and odd silverware and huge golden goblet. "You must try the wine," Frigga said when I looked at her. I shook my head.
"You wouldn't wanna see me when I'm drinking. I don't- I'm not- I can't hold it well," I responded.
"It is delicious," said Thor from beside me. He grinned and I smiled back, grabbing the cup with both hands. Maybe Asgardian wine was like the wine they used to drink in Roman times and stuff; extremely watered down. When I took my first sip, I realized that wasn't true. I tried not to cough at how virulently alcoholic it was. I just gave Thor a weak smile so he could turn back to Jane.
I set the goblet back down and picked at my bread. The alcohol had already flooded my senses. I prayed that I was not going to lapse and start telling these random Aesir I loved them. Evidently, wine was the only thing they had to drink. I missed Dr. Pepper.
Frigga stayed silent beside me through the meal and I felt bad for it. She probably wanted to talk to me; it was why she wasn't sitting by Odin. Odin and Jane seemed to be bonding down beside Thor. To distract myself from it, I went back to eating a little and I drank a little more of the wine, which was still way too strong for my tastes. The goblet was also too large for my hands. In fact, everything here seemed like it was built or made for giants. Apparently, the average height of Asgardians wasn't below 6 ft.
Halfway through the meal, I broke down and looked at Loki. I'd been trying to avoid it because the temptation to go over there was almost overbearing. I wanted to know what had happened since he left Earth but more than anything, I was dying to see the memories I'd get from touching him. I had never forgotten the conversation I'd had with Jane and Darcy at the diner; that there was so much I didn't know about what had happened. How had the Bifrost really been broken? How did Loki stop Thor's coronation? Why was Thor banished in the first place? What kind of deal did Loki make with the Chitauri, with Thanos? If I knew the answers to any of these questions at one point, they weren't in my mind's bank now.
Loki was slumped against his table that happened to still be empty, pushing his food around on his plate much like I was. Every few seconds he lifted his eyes and looked at me and Thor. But earlier, where he'd smiled back at me, now he just seemed rather depressed. Maybe he didn't think there was anything I could do. I was doubting it at this point. Maybe if I wasn't so wary of Odin and if the Asgardians had taken to me the way they had to Jane, I'd feel a little more confident. But it seemed just being associated with Loki was enough to get me a bad rep.
"I know this is a heavy burden for you to bear, Lady Charlotte, but I am glad you have agreed." Frigga's kind voice shook me from my negative thoughts. It was like she heard them. "Loki is still my son whether he believes it or not and I hold a great deal of love for him. It is quite obvious that you love both of my sons and I know they both love you. For that reason, I hope that this is made easier on you." I nodded.
"Thank you so much," I said. "I promise you that I'll do everything I can. I'll say everything I can think of to help him but I'm just not sure what I have to say is anything Od- I mean, the Allfather hasn't heard already." Frigga smiled at me and it made me feel warm. It was clear that she was indeed Thor's mother.
"We know so much about you, dear, that is true but your being here will help. You know things that we do not. You can prove that he is not lost to us." Her voice shook on the last sentence and if I'd doubted it earlier, I knew for sure that she loved Loki now.
"I'm gonna do my best," I responded and I took her hand. Her skin sent the electric shock through me that was familiar to me now. I was in the throne room again but there were more people than I would've thought would've been able to fit in the room there. And Thor was walking down the middle of the aisle, twirling Mjolnir and wearing a pretty silver helmet. It was a good look. I felt immensely proud, as Frigga, and I realized that I was at Thor's coronation. My eyes fixed on Loki and he seemed as proud as I was.
I let Frigga's hand go. As memories went, that was fairly pleasant. It was certainly better than the memories I'd accidentally felt when I touched Bucky. I'd seen him kill someone. "Are you alright?" Frigga asked. My hands shook again and I just nodded.
"It's nothing. I'm fine." I looked over at Loki again and he was simply staring at the table, his green eyes fixed on me. He could tell something was happening when I saw someone's memory, that was the only solution.
The feast winded down and I finished off my bread, only drinking a little of the wine. Then I heard Odin's voice ring out again, calling the room to attention. I turned my head to look at the Allfather. "In honor of our lovely guests, I hope you all have a wonderful night," said Odin. I heard a noise in response and I knew it was from Loki. I choked back a laugh. "They will be staying with us in the palace for a fortnight, until such time as my son's punishment is decided. Please make them welcome." My small dinner rose in my throat and I grabbed Thor's hand again when he offered it.
Loki was the first person to leave. It must've been ceremony to have him escorted out first. A group of six guards, including the one who'd tried to hold me back earlier, were assigned to him. Loki's hands had been bound the entire time but they forced the muzzle onto his mouth before even letting him stand up. I moved to get out of my chair but Thor jerked me down, shaking his head. "But that's humiliating," I whispered. Everyone in the room was staring at Loki, seeming to dare him to misbehave. He just kept his eyes on the floor and then they walked him out, surrounding him in a circle.
"It is the point," Thor responded. I bit my lower lip. Of course, it was the point. Embarrass him even more. It was bad enough he had to wear it during the trial proceedings. But I knew they were only being smart. This room at least wasn't draining his powers. He had to be regarded with care.
I stood when Thor did and he, Jane, and I left next. I tried not to run to the back door to get away from everyone staring at me… and also to catch up to Loki. But all in all, leaving hadn't been as bad as it could've been. The only comment I could actually make out was someone skeptical on the amount of touching Thor and I had done throughout the meal. Even I had to admit that it was excessive. But Thor was really filling in for Steve here… and Thor knew a lot of stuff going on that I didn't.
There was no sign of Loki when we exited the dining room and I shrugged. Thor had promised he would take me to him so I just needed to be patient. I also needed to get my head in the game for what I would say when they started asking me the questions.
Thor stopped by a tall set of golden doors and pushed them open. "These are your quarters, Charlotte," he said. "Jane is staying next to you." I nodded because I didn't feel like I could say anything else.
The bed was probably the size of a king and it looked nicer than anywhere I'd ever stayed in my life. There were huge windows that looked down onto a courtyard of some kind and a lavish garden. There was a connecting room where it looked like there was some kind of tub. That made me grimace because I knew they'd want women to help me bathe and help me get dressed and basically be with me every moment I was in the room, except sleeping. But I would just have to get used to their customs. Loki and Thor had adjusted to Earth's. It was the least I could do, what with being a special guest and all.
"This is absolutely gorgeous, Thor," I said. "Thank you so much." He smiled and nodded. Jane was grinning to the side of him.
"There are all manner of clothes for you," he said.
"And they're all our size," said Jane, like she couldn't believe it. But she hadn't had the express experience with Asgardian magic that I had. It wasn't too hard for me to believe that they knew the kind of clothes that would fit us.
"That's cool," I said slowly. I had to admit that the idea of wearing these dresses for the next two weeks wasn't all that appealing. It took a while for me to even get into one of them and from then on, it was hard for me to breathe. But I supposed that had to do with how nervous I'd been that night. On a normal day, I would've loved to wear them but I was in Asgard on business. I wasn't here to drink tea with Frigga and ride horses down the Rainbow Bridge with the Warriors Three.
"There is also armor for you," said Thor. My mouth dropped open.
"Armor?" I asked. He nodded.
"Yes, much like Sif's. I have no doubt that you will love it and that it will fit you splendidly."
"I am so excited," I said, practically rubbing my hands together, waiting to run them over all of the dresses.
"Sleep well," Thor said with a wink. Jane gave me a wave and Thor shut the two doors to my chambers.
I walked around a little more, wandering aimlessly. Sitting on the dark green bedspread was the belt I had my blades in and a floor-length white nightgown with sheer white sleeves. I almost gasped. It was so perfect. Someone arrived at that moment to help get me out of the gown I had worn to dinner. These people were practically psychic.
She left and after I got in my new princess-y nightgown, I crawled in bed. I needed the rest but I knew I wasn't tired. I had to think of what was going to happen during Loki's trial. At some point, I would probably snap on someone; it was inevitable. Then I was going to have to relive every moment that Loki was on Earth with me; from when I heard a loud boom and rushed out, expecting to find Thor but instead found Loki lying in the desert to when I'd stood in Central Park, holding back tears as we sent Thor and Loki back to Asgard with the cube. Speaking of, where was the cube being held? I wanted to see it. I suppose that in the absence of a Bifrost, they'd been using the tesseract as a means of travel between realms.
After a while, I wasn't even sure how long I'd been laying there. I heard the door to my room open and I shot up in bed, grabbing the tool belt holding all my knives. I'd hidden it underneath the bed in case of the strange event that something like this happened. Once I'd pulled one, I realized that it was only Thor. He was pressing his index finger to his lips and I stood up. "You do not need that. No one here will hurt you. Now come quickly," he whispered. I dropped my knife on the bed and followed him out of the room. There was no one in the hallway, not that there'd been earlier. We passed by securely closed golden doors that were identical to the ones that led into my rooms. I assumed they were to Jane. Thor gripped my arm and guided me down other dark hallways and down stairs. I didn't need to ask where we were going. After some time we arrived in a completely black corridor, outside a door that clearly was meant to be a prison. I turned my head and looked at Thor. My heart felt like it would stop pumping blood at any second. "This is the only time I can bring you to him. It is when his guards take a break," said Thor. His version of whispering was my version of plain talking.
"You come to visit him in the middle of the night?" I asked.
"For the most part, yes. But Loki rarely sleeps, therefore it is easier for me to come now. They would let me whenever I wanted but my father believes being alone is the largest part of his punishment. He knows that Loki feeds off of interaction." I gulped. I understood that Loki needed to be punished; he deserved it for what he'd done to New York and what he'd planned to do to the whole planet, but if they didn't want to permanently lose him, I would think Odin would realize that isolating Loki would only make him believe he'd been in the right the entire time. "But they would never allow you to be here." I didn't need Thor to explain why.
"How long do we have with him?"
"A half hour, maybe more. Be kind to him, Charlotte. He knows what the odds of his punishment are." I nodded again. I was nervous, maybe more than I'd been earlier that day. Thor's hands wrangled with the door and I couldn't see whether he was breaking the hinges or unlocking it. When I heard it open, I sucked my breath in and Thor pushed me in. "I will let you know when we must leave," Thor whispered and his hand left my waist. I stumbled when I heard the door shut and my hand grasped at the wall. It was stone and it felt soggy, like it had been raining. My eyes slowly adjusted to how dark it was.
"L-Loki?" I whispered.
"You know you are not safe here." My hands started shaking. I hadn't heard him speak this entire time. In fact, I wondered if he'd taken some sort of silence pact as part of his punishment. Other than one memory I'd picked up from Thor, Loki hadn't spoken at all and Thor had said the only times Loki said anything was when he wanted to curse Odin and Thor.
"I'm here to help you," I responded, keeping my voice low. My eyes finally adjusted to the lighting and I saw a shadow of a form against the far wall.
"I know," he responded, being short with me. "But I do not want your help. You cannot do anything for me now. Why would you want to? Tell Thor to take you home and you stay there."
I tried to muster up a laugh but that failed. "Have a little faith in me. If I can play a part in this, I'm going to." Even though he was enshrouded in the darkness, I could make out that Loki shook his head.
"Go back to Earth and live out your life. It is much too late for me and you owe me nothing. Have Thor take you back and forget all of it. It is not safe."
"What's going on?" I said, trying to move forward but stumbling again instead. I caught myself but I saw Loki's arm reach out. He could see better in this than I could. "Have you given up? I don't get it. Maybe I can get you out of this." I dropped to my knees when I was close enough to him and I felt the cold come off in waves. "Thor said they were contemplating the Silent Realm, whatever the hell that is, and all I got from the name is that it would be terrible for you. I can try to get them to give something less… less severe so let me do what I want or give me some straight answers." Loki cut his eyes over at me finally. I hadn't lost my touch at babbling apparently.
"The Silent Realm is certainly not the worst that could come of this." His voice sounded like he was weighed down by thinking of all of the possibilities. "I did irreparable damage to your realm of mortals and the Asgardians are not like to let me forget it."
"Your mother and Thor wanna reconcile." I saw the corners of his mouth turn up in a smirk.
"Leave, Charlotte. I did not ask to see you; indeed, I did not ask Thor to bring you here. He has quite a bit of gall. I do not want nor need anyone's help, especially not yours. Now go!" His voice sent shivers down my spine when he yelled and I stood back up.
"Evidently, you do need it," I said. "And I'm not here because of a favor to you; I came because Thor asked me." My voice sounded hurt and in a way, I was. I had expected Loki to be fairly happy that I was in Asgard but maybe that was my self-centered way. Loki wasn't one to beg or accept pity. I should've known.
Loki laughed at me and somehow, that only stung worse. "Oh, of course, we all saw that Thor is the one you came for at the feast. You did not let go of his hand the entire meal and when you spoke to each other, you were more intimate together than he was with Jane." My hands balled into fists to stop their shaking.
"You know that's a lie," I whispered.
"Do I? Or better yet, do they? You do not belong in this realm, Charlotte. Neither of us do. Leave!" He'd raised his voice again and I flinched.
"No," I said back. "Lashing out at me won't make you feel better about yourself. I'm gonna stay until your punishment is settled and even if you deserve getting your lips sewn together, for Thor's sake, I will make sure it is lesser. Then I will go back to Earth and live my life and forget about you." My voice cracked but I was surprised I'd made it this long without breaking. The entire day's events on top of this. Loki was right; I didn't belong in Asgard. That couldn't be more clear.
"Lashing out? I am simply stating the truth."
"For once in your life," I replied under my breath.
"I was not the only one who took notice of the way you and Thor are with each other. You will only embarrass yourself further if you prolong this visit. I do not want to see you." I gulped.
"I'm not asking you what you want. You said it wasn't safe here when I walked in, what did that mean?" Was that why he was trying to push me out? Something was going on that I didn't know about?
"It is not safe for you to pretend you know what you are speaking about." I shook my head.
"No, I didn't ask for you to toy with words. I'm done with that for now. You tell me why you want me gone or I'll come back with my knives." He laughed again and I tried to fight off thinking of how charming the sound was.
"What happened during the time I have been gone that has made you become so like me?" I didn't feel like I could respond. "What a burden it must be for your so-called friends and your new beau to realize that you are simply the way I am." Loki had always said it, especially when he'd wanted me to join him before the final battle in New York, and deep down, I'd always known it was true. The two of us were a great deal alike.
"I don't have a new beau," I responded quietly. "I don't have anyone. I do my work during the day and then I try to sleep at night but when I sleep, I'm haunted by terrible dreams and during my waking hours, I have to pretend that I don't care about you or Steve anymore. I've gotten to be pretty good at lying and I'm pretty good at detecting them too. So why isn't it safe here?"
Loki didn't seem to react but then again, I couldn't really see. "I have already told you that it is too late for me."
"Why do you think that? Are they gonna do that poison thing from legend where it falls on you in streams and it burns you? I'd try to catch it." I doubted I'd taken a breath in that sentence and from where I was, I saw Loki smile. "Is that even vaguely true?"
"Unfortunately so but no, my punishment here is not what I am worried about." His voice trembled on the last word and he finally stood up. I'd forgotten how tall he was.
"Are you- Are you scared?" I asked. Loki grumbled a noise that didn't give me an answer either way. "Oh, my God, this is about Thanos, isn't it?"
"He promised me a lifetime of pain if I failed and there are many things he wants." I raised my eyebrows.
"Has he talked to you?" I asked. Loki shook his head.
"It is worthless worrying on my part, something I am not known for."
"Well, you don't get a choice in any of this. I am staying and I am doing everything in my power to help you." I moved closer to him and I could finally really take him in. He wasn't wearing that beautiful emerald cape but otherwise, he was wearing the same leather outfit as usual. It was just worn and dusty. His hair seemed longer and his skin looked sickly.
"You are a stupid and naïve girl," he said. I shrugged.
"I've been called worse. In the last 24 hours as a matter of fact." Everything with Bucky ran through my mind and I wondered about the clusterfuck I would return home to. "But I'm not leaving you to deal with this alone. You need someone on your side."
"What kind of information could you possibly offer that would trump anything I have done?"
"You're not the things you've done, Loki. What if I can make them see that?"
"I have not changed! I do not plan on reconciling with my 'family.' I am not good," he said definitively and turned away from me. "You would be lying to them if you claimed otherwise."
"Tell me to my face that you don't want that and that you don't love Thor. You tell me that and I'll let you be alone." I grabbed his hand to turn him back and at the cold contact, I saw something.
God, it was cold and desolate wherever this was. Everything was barren. In fact, it was like a really cold version of the Grand Canyon. I leaned out from behind a rock after I heard a yell and moved my right hand quickly. One of Loki's projections disappeared and I ran off. Huge things were running around and I knew they were Frost Giants. As Loki, I was extremely mad at Thor. He'd recklessly gotten everybody involved in this fight and Fandral was already injured. I pulled a knife out of a sheath on my leg (wow, I could get used to being this tall). Then I heard Volstagg yell, "Don't let them touch you!" Loki had told me about this before; a touch from a Jotunn could seriously injure an Asgardian. He'd known he was different when one touched him and he didn't feel pain.
I heard a noise and flipped the long knife. As Loki, I may have been over 6 feet tall but the Frost Giants were easily two or three feet above that. This one seemed particularly interested in me. Without thinking I grabbed a smaller knife in my left hand; the smaller knife was more at home for me, at least. When the Frost Giant approached me, I had to remember that this wasn't really happening to me in real time. I used the small knife and knocked back the Jotunn quickly. He dropped to his knees and I dropped the smaller knife because he'd grabbed my forearm. I stared in stunned disbelief as the guards on my forearm disintegrated and left my hand exposed. Cold raced up as the skin around the Jotunn's touch turned blue. My eyes grew big as I realized it wasn't hurting me. The Frost Giant seemed to raise his eyebrows at me as the blue quickly began to fade. I got him in the gut with the blade in my right hand and he let go of me.
I knew I was making the movement in real time. I stared at the palm of my hand and flipped it over as the blue finally faded. I looked up then, realizing no one had seen anything. What did this mean? Why wasn't I hurt? What the hell am I? God, everyone was right. I am some freak of nature. Why didn't I know? I felt pure agony and confusion overtake me. I felt lost.
I gasped and quickly let go of Loki's hand. I moved away from him and made my back hit one of the walls. My breathing was fast paced and I put my hand on my neck to try to calm myself down. Normally memories weren't that intense for me. I truly felt like it was me it was happening to and not like I was reliving some other person's life.
"What is it? Are you alright?" asked Loki. His voice had gone shades down than from before. He'd lapsed into caring about me again and that made me very pleased, I was sad to say. His hands grasped my upper arms and I could feel him through the sheer sleeves of my gown.
"I was taking a bath the other day and I got electrocuted and now when I touch someone's skin, I can see one of their memories through their eyes." His eyes grew big. "It's a temporary kinda thing but it's there. I'm learning to control it but sometimes, the images assault me and that's sorta what just happened."
"You saw me in Jotunheim. I saw you move your hand like I had. It was all so familiar." I nodded.
"Yeah, I did. It was so real." And it had been. Truly, I hadn't been as shaken when I saw Bucky kill someone as I had when Loki had been grabbed by that Frost Giant. Maybe it was due to emotional content. When I had seen Bucky kill someone, he'd been under the Soviets' influence and he hadn't even thought anything of what he'd done. But Loki had gone from having a frivolous problem (that actually wasn't all that frivolous, I had to admit) to feeling lost and like he didn't know anything about himself. I'd seen the start of Loki's downfall and I feared what I'd see the next time I touched him.
"It happens every time you touch someone?" he asked. His hands were on my shoulders now and I greatly appreciated the contact.
"Not every time, if I can help it. Like I said, I've slowly grown to be able to slightly control it. And I don't know how long I'll have it. It could be gone tomorrow for all I know."
"For your sake, I hope it is. I cannot imagine the things you have seen by touching Thor." What the hell was that supposed to mean? What had happened to Thor that would be brutal to see? Surely not anything worse than Jotunheim.
"What are you talking about?" I asked. Loki only released my shoulders and turned away from me. I heard the door creak fast and I turned.
"Charlotte, we must leave if you are to get any sleep tonight," said Thor. The guards must've been coming back soon.
Loki didn't react at all, just kept his back to me. I wrapped my arms around his tall frame from behind and pressed my head against his back. The only response he gave me was touching my forearm, carefully avoiding bare skin.
I slowly let go of him and walked out of the cracked door. "Are you alright?" Thor asked. I nodded. In a way, I was alright. But I had wanted so much more time with Loki, especially after seeing what I had. There was no way to bring up that memory in conversation with Thor. He probably knew nothing about it. Beyond that, it just wasn't my place to mention anything that I saw when I wasn't supposed to. So I focused on something else.
"He wasn't exactly happy to see me," I said when Thor and I began walking back to my rooms. Thor made a noise in response. "He wanted you to take me home. He said it wasn't safe here." I was prompting Thor to see if he knew anything of the sort. But it didn't look like he knew anything that I didn't.
"I believe he is scared of the retribution he will receive for his actions and therefore, he is worried for you. Our people's anger is unparalleled in the Nine Realms, Charlotte. Surely, you understand that," he responded.
"Yeah, sure, I get that. But has Loki ever told you anything about Thanos?"
"Nothing more than what was known when he and I left Earth. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that Loki refuses to speak to me about anything other than cursing our father. But that does not mean that I do not know he is terrified."
"Well, what kind of punishments is he up for? What kind of punishment should you and I be trying to get them to consider? He's not exactly happy that I'm here to help either. I think he thinks I'm pitying him."
"Surely, he knows how desperate the situation is. He is not naïve. But Loki does not want you involved; indeed, I doubt he ever wanted you to reach Asgard. He is not fond of this place anymore and he hates everyone here. The people, and our friends, did not accept his erroneous rule kindly when my father was in the Odinsleep and I was banished. But he still feels he was wronged." My mouth dropped open. All of this was entirely new information to me.
"Wait, are you telling me that he was king of Asgard when you were banished? What the hell is an Odinsleep? And why was it wrongful rule? He's still a prince of Asgard." Thor shook his head at my many questions.
"He did not tell you what happened to cause him to fall?" I stopped walking when we reached the doors to my rooms and my mind started racing as Thor pushed open the doors and let us inside. Thor had expected me to know all this? Is that why all of these people stared at me and were seemingly afraid of me? They thought I supported all of the bad things Loki had done?
"No, Thor, no, he didn't. He didn't tell me anything. He lied. He is an A+ liar and for the most part, that's all I ever got out of him. I knew he didn't like you, I knew something went wrong at your coronation, I knew he discovered he was a different race before Odin had the chance to explain anything, and I knew the Bifrost was broken but not how. That is the beginning and end of the truth Loki told me. So if you'd please fill in some blanks."
"I never knew, I never realized that he kept so much from you. I do not understand why he did not explain more."
"He had every reason not to tell me when I picked him up in the middle of the desert and when I was protecting him from S.H.I.E.L.D. for all those months. He didn't tell me a whole lot of anything during that time period because he was busy making deals with the Chitauri and Thanos. At the time, I probably was nothing more to him than an ally."
"Charlotte, that is not true at all and I will tell you why tomorrow night. You, Jane, and myself need to have a discussion if you really do not know these things."
"Well, I don't know them, Thor. And I don't wanna be thrown to the dogs tomorrow during that trial for not knowing everything that I could." Thor shook his head.
"You will be fine tomorrow. All you have to do is talk about your time with Loki, the things you saw that made you like him. If you did not know what happened on Asgard, it will only endear you. You continued to care for my brother even after he had wronged you. You just have to tell them why."
"You make it sound like that's gonna be easy and I can tell you for a fact that it won't be. But fine, I'll accept that you'll tell me everything tomorrow. But let me go back to one of my other questions; what kind of punishment are we aiming for? Loki has to have one." Thor paced around my room, contemplating things.
"I do not have many strong ideas. The only one that appeals to me is the same punishment I bore for storming into Jotunheim; banishment to Midgard." I put that down as another question to ask. "He can stay there, without his powers, and repay his debt to your realm by working with our friends; Stark, Barton, Romanov, Banner, and Rogers." I shook my head,
"One, Loki will never ever work with them, powers or no powers. Two, none of them would go for the idea, especially since we're not consulting them."
"It is a lesser punishment that is still hard on Loki. I am hard pressed to think of another that would fulfill what my father would want and what we want." I shrugged and Thor came to a stop in front of me, putting his hands on my upper arms. "If I can convince the Allfather to banish him to Midgard, he will be closer to you."
"Don't you think they've already thought of that? It's not so much a punishment as free reign to hang out with me and my friends. Never mind that he doesn't like any of them."
"It is a way for him to prove himself to the Asgardians and your realm."
"Yeah, that's true but I don't know that I can convince them it's a good idea. Regarding the rest of the Avengers, it clearly isn't one."
"If we explain the situation to them, our friends will have no choice. In fact, they may approve of it."
"The Avengers aren't even assembled right now, Thor. The only ones still in New York are Bruce and Tony. Clint will come back and so will Natasha but it won't be right now. And I haven't seen Steve in months. He's still the leader of the initiative and he won't go for this, I can promise you. I'm not gonna go for the idea. I don't want Loki around Steve. Okay, I don't." Thor smiled at me and I felt heat rise to my face. "I want to figure this out on my own time and talk about all that later. But seriously, the fact you didn't mention this before we left is gonna put a huge roadblock in our plan. I just don't feel good about deciding something without consulting Director Fury."
"Since when do you care what he thinks?" I snorted out a laugh.
"He's my boss. I answer to him now more than I ever have. I am not putting my future at S.H.I.E.L.D. on the line for this half-assed plan we've got."
"If my father makes this decision, no one in Midgard will be able to oppose it." I put my hands over my face and began walking around. "If I come with him, will it matter as much?" I dropped my hands and put them on my hips.
"You'd do that?" I asked. Thor nodded. "Well, I can't ask you to do something like that for mine and the other Avengers' peace of mind. You have duties here. We all understand that. Earth doesn't have express need of you right now. I doubt it would if they take Loki's powers." Thor made a face.
"I know I said without his powers but I just do not know. Magic is Loki's livelihood and it is clear being in those chambers has a huge effect on him." My mouth almost dropped open.
"Thor, he is dangerous," I said.
"It is why I will make a bargain to go with him until he has proven himself. And if you promise to help him like you have, I see no reason for this not to work."
Okay, I made at the top too. So I'm sorry. But I wanted to let ya'll know that hopefully Asgard will be done in the next couple of chapters and I can get started on the fun stuff on Earth.