We have (sorta) reached the Thor 2 portion of the program so spoilers.
All you readers and reviews and followers are so very lovely. Thanks for sticking with me!
Part II: In the Dark
Chapter 7: The Rest of Your Days
"Can you move the piano?" she asks, surveying the room that now holds all her instruments. The area was formerly some sort of reading lounge, but Eleanor claimed it for the high ceilings and the drapes that open up to the balcony beyond.
Without a word Loki removed the furniture to help her settle in and he hasn't spoken since they were left alone in his rooms. His silence is unnerving. "Are you mad?" she asked right away. "About the commands, are you mad?"
He simply shook his head and Eleanor started to unpack their belongings, just to keep herself occupied.
Now Loki moves to the piano, placing it to give Eleanor a view of the sea in the distance. The sun – or suns, she doesn't really know how it works here – is just rising and it is beautiful.
"Thank you," she says.
His silence makes her insecure and for one moment she thinks maybe that this was a mistake, that she did the wrong thing.
"I didn't," she mutters to herself. Loki hears anyway, turning to her with arms crossed over his chest and a single eyebrow raised. "I didn't make the wrong decision. You can't go back there, Loki. I know you hate the command thing, but I couldn't let you go back there!"
He does nothing but watch her.
"You are doing everything you can to keep me safe and I'm just doing the same for you," she whispers. "That's why I broke my promise."
Loki nods but Eleanor wants more. She wants to hear him say that everything will be okay. She wants him to understand why she broke her promise to never give him another command.
"And—" Her voice breaks. "And I can't be without you. Neither of us will be alone again, not if I can help it. I don't care if you're mad. You can just get over—"
"Come here." His tone is quiet, but no less of a command than the one that now traps him in his luxurious series of rooms.
With great trepidation Eleanor closes the distance between them. As she moves to stand in front of him, he leans against a golden column and Eleanor feels like a chastised child.
"I'm sorry I broke my promise," she murmurs, dropping her gaze to his boots.
"Eleanor," he replies, tilting her face up and forcing her to make eye contact. "I am not cross. I am in awe. I am stunned speechless. You were brilliant."
She feels a million pounds lighter. "Will you kiss me?"
His cocky grin is the last thing she sees before her eyes flicker shut as he obliges her.
It starts sweet, full of his professed awe and her relief. It's her fault, really, that it escalates so quickly. She is scared in the realm of her father, where the people hate her nearly as much as they hate her boyfriend, so she kisses him to forget and because she wants to.
She always wants to.
Sex has always been her first choice in distractions and she is in dire need of distraction.
The sun is bright behind her eyelids as she crawls up his body, demanding more of his mouth, groaning when he finally lifts her and presses her back into a golden pillar.
Maybe if he agrees to touch her forever she'll never have to deal with where they are and what comes next. She will continue to kiss him to keep from crying and hating that the simple little life they built is over.
"Eleanor?" He breathes against her lips.
"I'm fine," she says, urging herself to mean it. "I'm fine."
Loki frowns and Eleanor silently begs him to just let her be, to just let her fear sit there unacknowledged, because if he forces her turmoil into the open she'll shatter.
And she can't shatter yet, not with Odin's response to Eleanor's defiance an unknown.
"This seems to happen with much greater frequency than it should." At the sound of the Queen's voice Loki scrambles away, leaving Eleanor to lean heavily against a gilded column, trying to get her legs to support her.
"I will be on the balcony," Frigga says, sweeping away in an elegant swath of pale blue silk.
Loki and Eleanor stare at each other for a moment. She breaks the tension with a giggle. Right now he is the God of Embarrassment and there is something so damn adorable and rare about that.
"We should probably go talk to her," she says.
"I need a moment," he says, blushing slightly. Eleanor gazes at the bulge in his pants. "Staring is not assisting matters, Eleanor!"
It's difficult, but she turns away.
"Sorry about that," Eleanor says, coming to stand beside Frigga at the railing of the balcony. The sun is still low in the sky and the early morning light makes Asgard appear more beautiful, if that is even possible.
"No need to apologize, my dear" replies the Queen, stroking Eleanor's hair absently. "I may be ancient, but I do recall what it was like to be recently wed."
Eleanor's smile only falters slightly. She didn't even flinch when Frigga caught them at it, again, but being called Loki's wife for the second time in as many hours makes her cheeks burn.
Loki doesn't do anything without a reason, but he certainly is going to need to explain this one.
"Although an invite to the nuptials would have been appreciated."
Eleanor's never seen the Queen pout before. The expression makes Eleanor smile. "No one was there," she says. This is not totally a lie, being as no wedding ever occurred.
"Just the two of you," Frigga says.
"Yeah." That's more of a lie.
"And whoever officiates such Midgardian ceremonies."
"Yeah." That's the biggest lie of all.
"Well, I suppose it is long overdue at this point," Frigga says. "If circumstances were altered, I would have enjoyed a proper celebration. You would make a beautiful bride, Eleanor."
"Thanks, Frigga."
"I am ever so happy to have you here," she says, hugging Eleanor. "Even if you are not, and I understand that the situation is far from ideal, it is such a relief to have my child home. These years have felt so long."
Eleanor gets it. She remembers what it was like when he was jailed here. After that it was such a relief to just see him safe.
"Tell me, how is my son?" Frigga asks. "It's been several months since I last stayed with you on Midgard."
"He's as good as can be expected," Eleanor says with a shrug. "He doesn't want me caught up in any of this."
"He is frightened."
"Yeah."
"He is frightened and chose to come home. There is significance in this."
"This was never my home, Mother," Loki grumbles as he joins them. Ignoring his crankiness, Frigga hugs him tightly. It is a testament to his progress when Loki returns the embrace.
"I see you've made it up to your rooms after only a few moments home, my son," she says, chastising him gently.
"That was not my mischief," he replies, grinning at Eleanor. "For once my hands are clean."
"Oh?"
"This is all Eleanor, Mother."
"I'm not letting him go back to the place where he lost his mind," Eleanor replies, feeling slightly guilty. "He doesn't deserve that."
"I agree," Frigga says and Eleanor immediately relaxes. "Although I am quite looking forward to witnessing your attempt to convince Odin of such. He is very angry."
"Bring it," says Eleanor.
Odin doesn't arrive all day. No one comes at all, and after Frigga leaves, they crawl into Loki's absurd and awesome circular bed. They sleep for hours, until a pair of servants arrives with dinner.
They bring the whole spread out to the balcony, settling down at a table under the rapidly darkening sky, and Loki frets over Eleanor's confinement.
"It is I who am imprisoned, not you, Eleanor," he says, pouting.
"Technically," Eleanor replies, indulging in Asgardian wine that is much more potent than the Midgardian version, "I'm free to go. I could just walk out of here, walk for miles before I breach the boundary of our bond."
Loki drops his grapes, digging the heel of his hand into his chest. "Do not jest. My anxiety is high enough without thinking on my lover wandering around amongst my enemies. It defeats the whole purpose of our move."
"I'm not going anywhere," she replies with a sigh. "But I can handle myself."
Loki rolls his eyes. "Even the most frail, low-born kitchen wench could snap your neck with ease."
Eleanor finishes her wine and moves to sit in his lap. She likes to think that her touch dissipates some of that anxiety.
"I miss ice cream," he murmurs as she rests her head against his neck. "My version is just not the same as this Ben and Jerry."
"Yeah, because it's better."
Loki sighs. "I suppose I can make it for you. If you insist. Although you must remind me to eat it in front of you only."
Eleanor lifts her head to blink at him in confusion.
"It turns me blue, as you well know."
A surge of anger rushes though her as she thinks of the contempt and hatred with which the fucking guard spat the words Frost Giant at Loki like it was the most vile of slurs. She's never been much of a fighter, but the look on Loki's face made her want to lash out in violence.
Instead she snuggles a little closer. "You know what racism is, right?"
"Please, Eleanor, not now. It has been an extremely taxing day. I've given them plenty of legitimate reasons to loathe me, far removed from what I am. Not all are as forgiving as you, my love."
"Well, they should be," she mutters.
Loki chuckles.
"Is there anything here that you missed? That makes you happy to be back?" she asks.
Loki is quiet for a long time but eventually he answers, much to her surprise.
"The wine," he says, making her giggle. "Lumar. My full collection of texts. My mother. These rooms."
"In that order?" Eleanor teases. Loki rolls his eyes.
"The sky," he continues. Eleanor follows his gaze up. "There is your something brilliant, Eleanor."
"Something brilliant," she murmurs. Even if they are trapped here for the rest of Eleanor's life, she will never stop being in awe of the bright lights and swirling colors above her. Here on Asgard, the brilliance of space seems so close, a tangible, real thing.
"And there is a scent," he says.
"A good scent?"
"Neither good nor bad," Loki replies. "Just familiar. It is not readily noticeable, but there it is. I find it soothing."
She doesn't mention it, but he has a smell too. Eleanor can't sleep without it.
"Do you think Odin will stop by tomorrow to yell at me?" she asks. Her eyes are heavy again, despite their nap.
"To yell at me, more like. And I am sure he will have us summoned to the throne room to bow at his feet."
"Why would he yell at you? You didn't do anything. I didn't even tell you about it so you wouldn't get in trouble." She is alert and lifting her head once more.
"They will think me behind this, I assure you." Loki smiles sadly, resigned to his reputation.
This is one possibility she foolishly failed to consider. Eleanor has a habit of thinking the best of Loki, a strategy that has yet to fail her, but it's the opposite with Thor and Odin. They assume the worst, and maybe after everything that's happened they have that right. They certainly don't trust him – not that she expects them too – but that distrust extends to Eleanor as well.
"Well, shit," she mutters.
Loki sighs. "Although I will enjoy watching your attempt to convince them of such."
In the morning Eleanor opens her eyes to see Loki, already awake and watching her. His face is not far from hers and Eleanor blinks several times to bring him into focus.
"I'm dry," she says, voice croaky. "Did I try to get to London? Did I go into a trance?"
"No," Loki says, stroking her hair. "Did you dream?"
"No!" She grins so wide her face hurts. "I didn't dream! I didn't sleepwalk! Does this mean the move got me out of harm's way?"
"Difficult to say for sure," Loki says. "We will need more time to tell for certain, but this is a very promising start."
Eleanor lets out a relieved giggle and Loki looks relaxed for the first time since Bragi's warning.
"Breakfast is here," Loki says.
"Awesome. I'm starving."
"Just do what I do but an octave lower," Eleanor instructs. She watches Loki's long fingers splayed out over ivory keys. They finished unpacking yesterday and now there is really nothing to do but wait for Odin to get his shit together.
They've spent two days in his rooms with no appearance of the King or the Crown Prince. It's been strangely relaxing, like a vacation spent in bed and eating awesome food and playing music.
Except it's really not.
"Do not mock my lack of skill," he says for the third time since sitting down at the piano with her.
"Do what I do," she repeats. "Only start right there."
She checks the position of his hands before slowly playing a series of notes. After observing as she repeats the phrase twice, Loki does the same. He matches her perfectly and they play in unison for a few minutes, repeating the same simple phrase of notes on an endless loop.
"Up the tempo," she murmurs.
Again, he adjusts flawlessly. They speed up once more until the notes match those that popped into her head this morning.
"Keep going," she murmurs, removing her hands from the keys. He falters for a moment as he adjusts to the sounds of his low notes without the accompaniment of her higher register.
"Do you have it?" she asks after allowing him to play on his own for a few minutes.
"Of course," he says, scoffing. "I could do this and doze simultaneously."
Rolling her eyes at his typical arrogance, she layers on a new part on top of his steady phrase of low notes. She starts with a basic melody, experimenting to see if Loki can continue to keep time when her part alters from his.
He can.
They play on and Eleanor weaves in more complex phrases, always returning to variations of her established melody. For a long time she closes her eyes, keenly aware that it is Loki accompanying her, maintaining a steady bass line that provides the foundation for their hastily composed ditty.
The song is light and jubilant. It stays hopeful, even when she adds a melancholy movement. She returns to the original phrase maintained by Loki, playing unison with him once more, with the exception of a few fun little embellishments.
When she opens her eyes it is to see Loki smiling.
For the first time Loki's fingers falter and the song falls apart. She abandons the piano in favor of grinning at her God of Spontaneous Piano Playing.
He nods at something behind her and she turns, not even shocked to see the royals gaping from inside the main room. In the hall is a gaggle of guards. Eleanor can make out their faces even through the gauzy fabric that hangs down between the columns separating the music room from the sitting area beyond.
Frigga and Thor stand inside the room while the guards and various warriors wait in the hall beyond the open door, staring. Thor jumps and quickly shuts the hall door so it is just Eleanor, Loki, and his family.
"You Asgardians really don't knock, do you?" she mutters, sighing heavily. Loki chuckles. With great reluctance, she gets to her feet, rubbing Loki's shoulder as she does so.
"That was immensely beautiful and I would not interrupt," Frigga says. "And why do you not wear any form of leg coverings, Eleanor?"
"The hour is early," Loki snaps, standing behind Eleanor. He hands her his robe and she slips it on. "And you failed to alert us to your presence, nor did you inform us that you would be arriving this morning."
"We owe you no such courtesy as you are prisoner here, Loki," says Thor, his voice a deep rumble. "Lady Eleanor's attire would not be considered indecent on Midgard, Mother. Truly, it would border on modest."
Eleanor tries not to laugh as Loki glares all over the place.
"The Allfather requests your presence," says Frigga, sounding stern and serious. "You are, the both of you, to appear before the throne."
"I'll go change," Eleanor says, going on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
"Change quickly," he calls after her.
"Eleanor, if you continue to frown like that your expression will get stuck," Loki says, repeating what she told Heimdall when they touched down on Asgard.
"I don't like this," she replies, continuing to frown as Thor tightens a fucking collar around her boyfriend's neck. "Thor, I really don't like this."
"Would you rather talk to the Allfather alone?" asks the golden god, connecting Loki's manacled wrists to the fucking collar with a heavy chain. "Because this is the only way Loki will be permitted to enter the throne room."
"I don't like it," Eleanor repeats.
"Really, my dear?" asks Loki, tilting his head down and smirking at her. "There is nothing about this you find even the slightest bit appealing? Me, bound. Totally at your mercy."
The voice combined with the way he rakes his gaze down her body makes Eleanor's skin heat up. It's horrible timing, what with the pack of heavily armed guards that wait in the hall, not to mention the presence of his mother and brother.
His playful, trickster mood makes her nervous for the upcoming meeting with the Allfather. The act is a good one, but Eleanor sees his nerves.
"Maybe I should go see Odin alone," she says, tearing her eyes away from the absurdly attractive chained god.
"Oh, have I displeased you, love? Have I been bad? However will you punish me?" says Loki, voice husky.
Eleanor groans and hides her face in her hands.
"The Allfather specifically requested both of you," Thor mutters, attaching a long chain to the manacles on each of Loki's wrists. They are then wrapped around to connect at the small of Loki's back. Another chain connects his wrists to the cuffed ankles.
"Behave yourself, Loki," says Frigga. "This is your wife. It is inappropriate to address her with so little respect in such company."
Eleanor keeps forgetting to ask him about the whole wife thing and disrespect is not really the issue here, as far as Eleanor's concerned.
"Yes, Mother," Loki replies. His ears turn pink. Eleanor wonders if he forgot the presence of the Queen.
"Really, Loki. Please, don't make things any worse," Frigga says, quiet and serious and pleading.
"Define worse," replies Loki.
"Uh, try them forcing you into a fucking white cell!" Eleanor says, losing it a bit. She pulls at her hair and Loki finally stops smirking.
"That is inevitable, my dear," he says.
"I know how you get with the Allfather. Don't make it worse," Eleanor says, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Come here, my love," he says with a sigh.
She does with great reluctance, continuing to glare at him. Hands bound, he is unable to embrace her, but his fingers fist in the fabric of her dress and Eleanor drops her arms, stepping closer to him.
"Thank you," he whispers in her ear. "Your effort here is truly appreciated, my sweet songbird. Even if you fail, your attempt to keep me with you has great meaning to me."
She nods and takes a shaky breath. Loki kisses her temple and steps back.
"Shall we? Wouldn't want to keep Odin Allfather waiting, now would we?" he says, smirking once more.
They make slow progress to the throne room. Loki's escort is measured and careful, prepared for Loki to start rampaging at any moment. Thor bops off somewhere on some princely business, leaving Eleanor and Frigga to trail behind the morbid procession.
"You must also take the same advice we gave my son," murmurs Frigga, resting her hand on Eleanor's shoulder. "Do not make things worse, Eleanor."
"Yeah, okay. I know."
"And I know that you are angry and I am glad that Loki's found such a staunch ally in you, but do remember his crimes, against this realm and your realm and the realm of his birth. They are real, Eleanor, and something we cannot forget."
"Yeah. Okay. I know."
After they were interrupted at the piano, Eleanor dressed very carefully for this meeting with Odin. It's not a dress she wears often because it's a bit too much, but it is regal and makes her feel stronger. The green and black gown has gold metal accents and it's obviously similar to Loki's standard leather getup. Her arms are bare, the collar is high, and in it Eleanor is powerful.
This is the best way she can think to present a united front to Odin.
She remembers the throne room differently. On her last visit to the Realm Eternal it was packed with Asgardians, all watching avidly to see the fate of the dark prince. It made her sick then, how everyone around her was fascinated and giddy to see Loki so mentally and physically weakened.
Now it's just Odin perched on his throne at the end of the golden hallway, back straight and eye narrowed. Morning sunshine flows through the great circular windows at his back, bathing him in a glow that only serves to make him appear more royal and godly.
Eleanor would really like to approach the Allfather at Loki's side, a united front, but when they reach the base of the throne they are separated by guards. Frigga is at Eleanor's side and Loki stares up at Odin with an expression of amusement and total lack of interest. Eleanor glances back and forth between the two, thinking that they should have just taken their chances on Midgard.
"Eleanor Bragadóttir," Odin booms, making Eleanor jump.
She is shocked that he addresses her first and then offers a clumsy bow because Frigga warned her not to make things worse. Although she's grown to really hate Odin – mostly for raising his adoptive son to hate himself through a lot of fucked up, internalized prejudice – she needs to suck it up and fake some respect for the man for Loki's sake.
"Or, I suppose, you are now Princess Eleanor Bragadóttir," he says as Eleanor straightens from her bow. She doesn't like his expression. It is too blank.
"Uh, say what now?" she blurts, squinting up the king.
"Congratulations on your nuptials," he continues, with a trace of amusement in his tone now. His congratulations don't sound particularly congratulatory. "Quite the accomplishment for once such as you. Outcast, disgraced as he may be, you still wed a prince of Asgard, making you a princess."
"Right. Yes. That is something I did. Totally married him." Now even the guards are giving her funny looks and Eleanor can hear Loki sigh. "And thank you, my king."
Loki sighs louder.
"I will start with you," says Odin.
Eleanor has no idea what that means, but she manages a nod.
"I will grant you refuge here from whatever mysterious threats haunt you, but it will come at a price," he says.
Loki's chains rattle but Eleanor stays silent.
"You will remake yourself into one befitting your new title."
"Remade? No," says Loki, objecting to this word choice.
"Silence!" Odin's yell reverberates off the columns of the throne room.
"It's okay, Loki," Eleanor murmurs. She peaks around the guards separating them to give him a reassuring smile. "Let's just listen."
He gives her a hard and long stare before scowling at Odin once more.
"Frigga will assist you in this, through a series of lessons," continues the King. "You will learn our etiquette, our history, our customs, and you will not bring further shame to this house. There are diplomatic duties that you will be expected to uphold with behavior befitting of one with your new title."
Princess Lessons hold little appeal for Eleanor. She glares at Loki as he studies the ceiling with an air of boredom he can't quite pull off and for a moment she considers coming clean on this whole marriage business, but keeping Loki out of the white cells is her sole priority and there is a reason he lied about this.
Still, that sounds like a shit deal.
"I'm not really big on school," Eleanor says. "And homework. Does this include homework?"
"What is homework?" Frigga asks.
"Eleanor," Loki says with obvious irritation. "You excel in school. You were well on your way to an advanced Midgardian academic degree."
"Okay," she says, turning to Loki and forgetting for a moment the current situation, even with all the guards separating them. "First of all, my bachelor's degree was faked and second, I actually liked it because I was studying music and music is awesome."
"This too could be awesome," Loki replies. The guards look nervous, as if they aren't sure what is happening. "How will you know if you refuse? Tell me, my sweet songbird, how will you fill your days with me locked up if not in this way?"
He makes an excellent point and she opens her mouth to tell him so, but then Odin is yelling again.
"Stop!" he demands. "You discuss this as if you have choice in the matter. There is no choice. If you wish to stay, you will do what is asked of you."
"I thought perhaps you might be interested in musical lessons, and it would serve you well to train with Sif as well," Frigga says, much more kindly than her gruff, asshole of a spouse.
That at least sounds like something Eleanor can get behind, but she doesn't need to hear about mandatory Princess Lessons when there is the much more urgent matter of keeping Loki out of the white cells on the table.
"Okay. Fine. I'll do whatever you want. But what about Loki?" she asks, turning back to the king. "There are plenty of reasons for him to stay out of the white cells. I—"
"Enough," says Odin, waving off her well-prepared arguments. She forgets herself for a moment and glares at the Protector of the Nine Realms. The title does not seem wholly earned to Eleanor. "There is no argument you can make that I have not already thought of and dismissed in the face of Loki's most recent crimes against Asgard."
"Crimes?" Eleanor asks. Her anger is getting away from her once more. "There have been no crimes. He hasn't even been on Asgard."
"He wrested control of the Bifrost from the Realm Eternal!"
"Giving us mortals a little control of who enters their own realm is illegal? I would really like to read this supposed law myself, if it's not too much trouble," Eleanor insists.
Loki chuckles and she shoots him a glare. Laughter is not the way into Odin's good graces.
"Who are you to demand anything of me?" Odin booms.
"A Princess of Asgard," Eleanor says, bowing slightly. She is nothing but polite. "You said so yourself, my King."
Odin looks at her as if she is something foul that he could not avoid stepping in.
"Enough," he says with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I would speak to the prisoner alone."
Eleanor opens her mouth but Frigga is on her in an instant, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leading her away. She flashes Loki an encouraging smile but he is too busy smirking at the Allfather as if nothing has ever or will ever actually matter to him.
They don't go far. Frigga pulls Eleanor into an alcove close to the throne. Although Eleanor can no longer see her God of Smirking, hearing will not be an issue.
Frigga brings a finger to her lips. "Shush," and Eleanor nods. In this moment it is very apparent where Loki gets his deviousness.
"I really don't see what all the fuss is about," Loki drawls. Eleanor bites back a groan because this really isn't going to end well.
"Do you truly not feel the gravity of your crimes?" asks Odin. "Wherever you go there is war, ruin, and death."
"Must we speak of this?" Loki replies. "It's been ever so long. I hardly even recall these alleged crimes, the most recent of which is not even truly a crime, despite how it burns you so to know that the mortals now have a little scrap of power. As for the rest… well, I have nothing to say as time has eroded my memory."
That might just be true, although it is not a matter of time but one of the severe mental imbalances and delusions that plagued him in the aftermath, the ones Odin never acknowledged.
"And besides," Loki continues. "I went down to Midgard to rule the people of Midgard as a benevolent god. Just like you."
Eleanor rolls her eyes, sharing a look with Frigga.
"We are not gods," says Odin. "We are born. We live. We die."
"Of course," Loki says. Eleanor can clearly picture his face. The smirk. The squinty eyes. The slight tilt of his head. "Give or take five thousand years."
"This discussion is long overdue. If you were not pathetically weak the last time you stood in this room, we would have had it already. You succumbed to your poisoned mind then, but now insanity is not excuse. You destroy lives completely on your own volition, causing mayhem and panic and death on Midgard."
Loki stays silent. Eleanor wants to kill the Protector of the Nine Realms.
"And all this because Loki desires a throne," Odin continues when Loki does not respond to his insults.
"It is my birthright."
Eleanor can't figure out if he really still means this or not, but Odin did have Loki convinced for the vast majority of his life that he would one day sit on a throne.
"Your birthright was to die! As a child!" The rage is a sudden consuming thing and Eleanor doesn't even realize that she's moved until Frigga is pulling her back into the alcove and covering her mouth with a palm. The Queen looks pretty fucking angry herself and Eleanor stills, listening intently. "Cast out on a frozen rock! If I had not taken you in, you would not be here now to hate me."
For long moments Loki says nothing. Eleanor tries to contain her anger, but fails.
"If I'm for ax then for mercy's sake, just swing it," Loki says. "I know you made your decision the moment Eleanor issued her command to keep me out of the white cells. She will undo it, if you ask it of her, but enough of this. It's not that I don't love our little talks, it's just… I don't love them."
"Frigga is the only reason you are still alive," says Odin. "The only reason for your last few years of vacation on Midgard with your pet."
The Allfather is supposed to be this supremely wise being of god status, but in this moment he is purposefully and malevolently baiting the man he once called son. It is clear to Eleanor now that Odin is saying all the things he can to deliberately hurt and enrage Loki. There seems to be no point to this except to punish.
"Wife," Loki corrects, sounding miraculously calm. "Did you not just call her a princess?"
"Frigga is also the sole reason your trollop is welcome here now, and you will never see her again."
"See who? Mother or my wife?" There is genuine panic in his voice now and the chains rattle. Eleanor feels it too, like a black tide rising in her stomach and overtaking her lungs. Frigga tightens her grip on Eleanor's arm.
How could they have misjudged Odin? The Bifrost situation seems like the last straw to the Allfather.
"Both. This bót mannaforráð arrangement has failed to punish you and under her watch you managed to further weaken the might of Asgard by giving the mortals a means to control our Bifrost," Odin says, voice rising.
"I was making amends," Loki murmurs. He sounds so small. "Atoning. Giving them agency for I could not replace the lives I stole. Is this not the directive of the bót mannaforráð?"
"Your so-called amends was in direct and willful opposition to the good of Asgard and as such you will spend the rest of your days in the dungeons," Odin replies.
Frigga's hand covers Eleanor's mouth once more, keeping her dismayed cry locked inside.
"I…" Loki takes a moment to collect himself. "And what of Eleanor? She will be safe? She will be protected, come what may?"
Loki is desperate and pleading, and although Eleanor's heard that tone on a handful of particularly painful occasions, Frigga certainly has not, if her gaping expression is any indication.
Odin is silent for a long stretch of time. Perhaps he is shocked to see Eleanor's God of Pride begging to the man he hates most.
"So there is something left in the universe that Loki does care for?" Odin murmurs.
"If that were not the case, I would not be standing before you now."
"And you corrupted the bridge to the mortal land of New Mexico to further mock Thor and to anger myself, did you not? Just a bit of fun, a child throwing a tantrum in the hopes that his betters pay him a bit of attention?"
"Annoying you, Odin Allfather, was merely a side benefit, and believe me when I say I no longer have any need or wish for your attentions." Loki sounds like he's barely holding back, but in this moment his forced-calm is admirable.
"What is your main reasoning, Loki? For passing such knowledge to the mortals you once sought to rule without mercy?"
"I thought that would be obvious."
"It is not."
"For Eleanor. As with most things, I did this for Eleanor. Not only to please her with my so-called rehabilitation, but to keep her safe in the event any would use the bridge to come for her," Loki replies. He is quiet and earnest. Frigga smiles down at Eleanor, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Silence stretches once more. Eleanor feels the dread coiling in her belly and she wants to be back home in New Mexico. The end of the universe seems worth the risk in comparison to Loki locked away for the rest of his days.
"I have changed my mind," Odin says abruptly.
"Pardon?" asks Loki. He has to clear his throat twice to get out the question.
"Your old rooms will serve as your prison. Your new wife will reside there with you, under the condition she takes part in anything Frigga asks of her."
"Of… of course," manages Loki.
Eleanor sags in relief.
"This is your final chance, Loki," says Odin, gravely serious. "If you betray Asgard again and commit further crimes, not even the love of your mother will keep you your head."
"Of course," Loki says again.
"Take him away," Odin says and Frigga is hustling Eleanor out of the throne room through a small side door.
"What the hell just happened?" Eleanor asks.
Frigga simply beams.
The same procession of guards that led Loki to see Odin leads him back to his rooms.
Eleanor slips in between them when they emerge, rushing to Loki's side. With hands on that damned collar, she tugs him down for a kiss and in it she can feel his relief. He shakes slightly and – like her – he truly thought Odin would keep them apart.
A guard tugs on a chain looped around Loki's waist and he stumbles, breaking the kiss. They move through the hallway again and Eleanor links arms with Loki.
As they reach the door to Loki's rooms, Frigga appears, pressing a key into Eleanor's palm before embracing her son. She whispers something in his ear that has Loki hanging his head and breathing raggedly. He nods once and Frigga moves away, discussing something logistical with the guards that Eleanor so does not care about in the slightest.
"I will give a few days for you to settle in," says the Queen as she turns to leave. "Perhaps we will start with your lessons in one week's time."
Eleanor murmurs her agreement.
Gathering the heavy chains in her arms, she pushes open the door. Loki steps in behind her and she murmurs a new command that will trap him here. Loki stares at his feet, shocked and pensive, as Eleanor uses the key to rid him of the heavy metal. When he is free he rubs his wrists and wanders over to the couch in a daze. She kicks at the chains and they scrape on the floor.
Moving to the door, she thinks to discard them in the hall, but Loki speaks.
"Are you sure we will find no further use for those?" he asks, voice hoarse.
The door stays shut with the chains coiled by it and Eleanor joins Loki on the couch. He sits still and straight, staring at nothing. Eleanor pulls her knees to her chest, sitting sideways on the cushions and waiting.
"Coming here was dangerous," Loki murmurs, still staring straight ahead, green eyes unfocused. "I knew this, although I did not expect the Allfather to increase my imprisonment to a life sentence. He really must be displeased with your work, my dear."
"Fuck him."
"I would rather you didn't."
"Dude, don't be disgusting."
"Still," says Loki in the same creepy calm tone. "I see no other alternative, to taking the risk. Nowhere else is nearly as safe as Asgard, even with Odin holding all the power."
"The Allfather is a giant bag of dicks!" Eleanor says. "He was purposefully cruel. It's like he wanted to cause you as much pain as possible. What the fuck kind of fucking fuck does that?"
Loki cracks a smile and studies his hands in his lap. "I thought Mother would hide you away to listen. I am glad, as I have no desire to relive the conversation once more. "
"Odin is a bully, Loki. No one deserves to die alone on a rock."
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
"It's the best thing that's ever happened to me," Eleanor says. "Him picking you up. Even if he did a shit job with the parent gig, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Loki sighs, reaching out to rub her knee through the leather of her ridiculous dress. "The moment I learned of my true heritage explained so much as to why he never treated me like Thor. He saw me as a political prop and nothing more. The majority of that conversation certainly proved this, yet he changed his mind. I understand it not. Why did he change his mind and let me return here with you?"
He turns to look at her now, as if she magically holds the answers he seeks. The grip on her knee tightens.
"I don't know, honey," she says, shrugging. "You have changed. Maybe he saw that. Maybe he finally figured out the white cells could potentially destroy all that progress. Maybe he doesn't want to fuck up his marriage any further. Who knows?"
"Pardon?" Loki blinks at her. "You think my parents have marital problems?"
"Oh, yeah," Eleanor replies. "Your mom was furious. The way he talked to you made her furious. But it's more than that. I get the feeling that they've been fighting about you for a long time."
"Huh," Loki says, slouching slightly. "Regardless, I no longer care to know Odin's motivations or feelings. He will keep you safe and we will remain together. That is all that matters."
It smacks into her chest suddenly, the knowledge that they were so close to losing. Odin almost permanently separated them, and Eleanor is sickened just imagining it, even if they've escaped that fate.
For now.
"Oh," Eleanor says, pushing the heel of her hand into her frantically beating heart. "Oh, God."
"Eleanor," he says, tugging on her elbow until she gets the hint and crawls into his lap, straddling his thighs. "All will be well."
"But, he almost… he could have… we wouldn't—"
"I know," he murmurs, stroking her hair. "I know. It terrified me as well, but all will be well now, Eleanor. We are together and that is the way it shall remain."
Eleanor is elated. Her laugh makes Loki smile.
"We're together," she repeats.
"Yes."
"So, what now?"
Loki smirks and eyes the chains by the door. "Your turn."
"You cannot be serious," she says, her own grin growing.
Loki just continues to smirk and Eleanor knows they will be okay. They really will.
1st beta: Heather
Final beta: Erica