Imitations Carved Deep: Chapter 18
Guys! SPRING BREAK! It is a magical sleepy time place with food and puppies and kittens! I'm happy. Carry on. :) Also this is a direct continuation of the last chap, so you might want to re-read the last couple lines of that one before this. Thanks!
Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own them...so sad.
Warnings: Severe angst. Torture (in the past). Implied rape (in past). Don't read if any of these trigger.
Hold Your Head High
Director Fury actually did blow a blood vessel. It was a little one in his eye, but that still counted. He full on stopped in his tracks at seeing Loki sitting casually amongst the Avengers. His hand went to his side arm, but he suddenly found the entire team of super-heroes (sans his agents) standing protectively in front of the Asgardian Nut.
"Whoa, hey! Pretty sure I have a rule about no shooting my guests. If I don't, now it's official. No shooting my guests." Fury's eye twitched at Stark's rambling, but he didn't take his hand off of his gun. The Director looked around the room and was surprised at the gore on the floor.
"What. Did you. Do," Fury ground out. Tony looked affronted, but before he could open his mouth again, Steve intervened.
"We did what you wanted, Director. We got answers." Fury growled at the Captain. Sometimes, Fury questions whether bringing Steve Rogers out of the ice was a good idea…and then Coulson's voice would ring in his head. You won't find a man more devoted to what he believes is right, and to Steve that's defending the innocent. Phil had gotten to what ever shriveled part of Fury's heart still clung to sentimentality. He's a good man. The world needs more of those.
"Besides," Bruce chimed in. "Are you really going to shoot an Avenger?" Everyone's heads flicked around to stare at the doctor, including Loki's. Tony got it first, obviously. He gave Fury a smug smile.
"That's right. We decided to make Kira an Avenger. Boy Wonder convinced you to say yes. Turn's out Kira and Loki are the same person. Ergo, you made Loki an Avenger. No take backs!" Fury had to take a deep breath to not act like a child in retaliation to Stark's taunting.
"I never would have said yes had I known that it was Loki." Tony shook his head.
"You know that wouldn't hold up in court."
"Tony, enough," Steve admonished. Yes, he would stand by their decision of having made Kira/Loki an Avenger, but Fury could disband the Avengers legally if he so wished. Tony needed to stop poking the bear.
"Sir, if I may-" Fury swung his glare back around to the injured God of Mischief on the couch.
"Did I say you could speak?" Loki, instead of being intimidated, only lifted an unimpressed brow. Fury growled in frustration.
"Fine. What," he barked. Loki pursed his lips and did his best not to roll his eyes.
"I can tell you exactly who attacked your planet, and I can track them. Or I can just leave, if that would make you feel better. Keep in mind, he has escaped from Asgard and will likely return." Fury didn't answer right away. He just kept glaring at the Norse god as he contemplated his next decision. After a solid five minutes of holding strong, Fury caved. "Tell me." Loki was surprised the Director gave in so fast, but understood the urgency.
"His name is Calder. He is a sorcerer, who during our friendship, developed an unhealthy obsession with myself and with becoming king. He planned to kill Thor, take over Asgard, and have me rule by his side. I managed to get him banished for treason. I believe he either fell into Thanos's service or approached him on his own. The man is not what you would call sane. Thanos charged him with retrieving the Tesseract from your planet, but when I fell into the Chitauri world, Calder saw his chance to take revenge on me. He carved a curse into my skin and used my own magic to 'become me'." Fury snorted and rubbed the skin above his eye patch.
"Well, what I'm hearing, is that this is still partially your fault." Loki rolled his eyes.
"If believing so makes you sleep better at night, then go ahead. In any case, I can help you track him. If you haven't guessed, I am quite motivated to see his end."
"The enemy of my enemy," Tony muttered under his breath. Fury glared at the inventor, but didn't say anything. The Director looked at Thor.
"And you believe all of this now?" Thor had his arms crossed and was standing protectively in front of his brother.
"Yes. Loki has proven trustworthy in this. I also know of Calder and some of his obsession with my brother." Loki looked up at Thor, his brows furrowed in surprise.
"You do? You never knew any of my friends and always complained that I spent too much time by myself." Thor rolled his eyes in embarrassment and looked away.
"I might have been a bit jealous that you spent more of your time with magic and him than with me," he muttered. Loki narrowed his eyes and smirked at his brother.
"There is no way that is not being used against you from now on." Steve cleared his throat.
"Guys." The Asgardians turned back to the situation at hand. Clint surprised everyone when he suddenly raised his hand with a question.
"Now that Loki's Loki again, and supposedly cut off the other nut's magic source, what's he going to do? Does he have his own magic, or do we have to worry about this big bad Thanos guy knocking on our front door?" Everyone looked from Clint to Loki. The God of Mischief was grimacing.
"I…cannot be certain. If he escaped under his own power and was smart, he would be running as far as he could. Thanos does not take kindly to failure. If Thanos broke him out, there is a good chance that Calder is already dead, and Thanos could go to Asgard to get the Tesseract back and or come here to destroy Midgard…to let off some steam if you will. Or, Calder could be even more stupid and crazed than I believed and will come back here for revenge…again." The Avengers all groaned. Bruce was rubbing viciously at his eyes and taking deep breaths. The others backed up a bit, sans Tony.
"Hmmm, door one, two or three? They all sound so exciting," Tony droned. Fury's face seemed to be permanently fixed in a scowl.
"And how do you propose we figure out which door it will be," Natasha asked. Loki only shrugged his shoulders…as best he could with his injury.
"Wait for the first shot to be fired, I'm afraid." Thor looked down at Loki in admonishment.
"Loki, you know there is another way." The raven-haired man scowled at his brother.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I was trying to avoid the option that got me executed," he bit out. Thor sighed.
"Loki, I won't let Father execute you. You know Mother wouldn't allow it either." Loki growled.
"How can you still have such blind faith in the man!? He's a manipulative bas-"
"Guys! Can you act your age for once!? Aren't you supposed to be centuries old, at least?" Steve had his hands on his hips and was glaring at the two aliens. Thor and Loki blinked at the Captain and then looked at each other.
"Is it just me?"
"No, no. The resemblance is uncanny." Loki and Thor looked back at Steve and ducked their heads like scolded children.
"Yes, Mother," they said in perfect unison. Tony burst out laughing as Steve's jaw dropped to the floor.
It took a while for them to all agree on the plan and then for Fury to stop cursing and trying to shut it all down. However, they managed and eventually Thor and Loki stood side by side on the helicopter platform. Thor was dressed in his full regalia, while Loki wore a suit Tony had Jarvis buy and send over within the hour. It would not do for him to stand before the Allfather in Midgardian jeans and a t-shirt.
Thor looked at his brother standing tall beside him one last time and waved goodbye to their friends. He then turned his face skyward and called for the Gatekeeper. In the next moment, they were gone.
Loki and Thor walked through the beam to the Bifrost with all the grace of those who had done so for centuries. The God of Mischief looked fully in control and like his old self, minus the Asgardian garb, but Thor still kept an eye on him. He knew Loki was still injured, but his brother was able to hide it well. No doubt Loki did not want to appear weak in front of the Allfather. His younger brother looked around at the near empty dome pointedly.
"Well, no guards yet. That could be a good sign."
"They will come at a moments notice, I assure you," came the deep, resonating voice of Heimdall. Loki smiled charmingly at the man, not that it had any affect.
"I wouldn't expect any less." The Gatekeeper gestured to two horses awaiting their riders and the brothers mounted their steeds. Thor did not miss the slight grimace on Loki's face as he hauled himself up onto the animal, but his brother scowled when he noticed the concern.
"There are more important things to be worrying about, Thor. Focus, would you?" Without another word, Loki turned his horse and set off down the bridge at full gallop. Thor was quick to follow and it seemed in no time at all, they were before the front gates. The guards stationed there looked on, shocked, as their Crown Prince walked by with his traitor bother as if nothing had happened. Both Asgardian princes ignored them and any other wayward glances. Loki was walking with bated breath, just waiting to run into Thor's little posse of friends. He couldn't believe his good fortune when they made it to the Throne room doors without the anticipated meeting.
The brothers paused at the door. Loki looked over at Thor.
"Still sure I won't be executed?" Thor swallowed and looked back at the intimidating entrance.
"Well, we've made it this far, haven't we?" They each took a bracing breath and pushed the doors open. Loki was shocked to find the room was empty save the Allfather and Allmother waiting at the other end. He walked step-in-step with Thor, concealing his injuries flawlessly, all the while keeping his eyes peeled for concealed guards waiting to arrest him.
The stopped at the foot of the dais, placed their fists on their chests and bowed in perfect synchronization as they had done hundreds of times before. However, one thing would certainly be different. Loki would let Thor do the talking. They straightened, but while they brought their heads up, Loki kept his eyes cast down.
"Thor, you have finally returned with your brother, and yet I get the feeling you do not intend to stay." The Golden Prince nodded.
"You are correct, Father. New information has been revealed and-" Thor was stopped by his father's raised hand.
"We already know. Heimdall has kept us well informed on everything that has passed since you arrived on Midgard." Thor felt a twinge of shame welling up in his chest.
"Everything?" His voice was not as strong as he intended.
"Oh yes. Everything." Thor cringed at his mother's sharp tone. One look and he knew exactly what she was thinking of. He knew he would forever pay for his actions, whether through the reminders of others or his own shame and guilt. However, he pushed all of that aside, for as his brother said, they had more important things to be concerned about.
"Father, we seek your aid to find the true villain who attacked Midgard. Calder. We have reason to believe he might attack Midgard again." The Allfather stared at Thor for a solid minute before turning his attention to Loki, who had yet to look up from the floor.
"And you, Loki? Do you believe that Calder will attack Midgard again?" The Trickster was surprised to be addressed. Even before everything in his life had crashed down, he was ignored and only Thor's word was taken. He picked his eyes from the floor and nodded to the Allfather.
"That is one possibility I fear, Allfather. There is also the chance that Thanos has already captured him and taken revenge, but in that case I am also concerned that the Titan might seek revenge against Midgard as well."
"Heimdall has been keeping watch over Thanos and it appears that he neither has Calder nor plans to make any move against the mortals." Loki nodded sharply once, but before his gaze cast back to the floor his eyes caught those of the Allmother. She smiled warmly at him, and his heart clenched.
"Loki, dear. It is so good to see you, my son." Loki felt his throat tighten. Anything he might have said next was interrupted by the doors of the throne room bursting open and a guard running in.
"Your Majesty! Prince Loki is…attacking…Midgard…" The guard stopped in his tracks at seeing the aforementioned Asgardian prince standing before him. Loki and Thor looked to each other, concern equal in their eyes. Without a word they bolted towards the doors to get back to the Bifrost.
"Loki! Wait!" Loki nearly fell over with how quickly he stopped at the Allfather's call. He turned slowly, waiting for the inevitable order for him to be detained, for Thor to go and save their friends while he was thrown in prison. The Allfather held his spear out to him, and Loki was sure the man was going to strike him dead, then and there. Suddenly, power shot out of the spear and collided with him. Instead of frying him to a crisp, however, Loki's magical core was filled to the brim with energy and all of his wounds completely healed.
He looked at the Allfather, his jaw hanging open. Odin gave him a small smile, the first genuine smile Loki had ever gotten from the man, and nodded.
"Go. And when you have saved Midgard, know that you can always come home." Loki, for once in his life, didn't know what to say. So, he didn't say anything. He nodded his thanks, turned and ran out, Thor at his side.
So much dialogue! Sorry not sorry. I'll see you in 2 weeks! :)
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