Chapter 28: All the King's Men

NORTHBOUND, RESTRICTED TRANSIT ZONE (Unregistered travelers will be terminated upon detection)

Wanda stared fixedly at the graceful spires of ice extending upwards from Loki's deep blue fingertips. Her brows gradually came together in concentration while the fingers on her own hand twitched. Loki wanted her to use her magic to vanish the ice from his grasp rather than a mere illusion of doing so. However, when Wanda had flicked her fingers and blasted the last icicles apart in a flash of scarlet, her instructor had reprimanded her as one would an impatient child and started over. They were on the third try this time and the Scarlet Witch was actually getting frustrated. Loki had never been displeased with her before and she wasn't used to disappointing people she cared about. In fact, she found that she pretty much hated it. A discarded energy cell scraped against the track underneath their perch before being knocked aside by the train, and Wanda's hand twitched, shooting off an unintentional energy burst.

It was deflected by a shimmer of gold before it could cause any trouble.

"Focus," Loki cautioned.

"I'm trying. We're practicing in a loud place!" Wanda defended rebelliously.

"Battle is rarely quiet. If you cannot find your center here my lessons will benefit you very little." Loki met her eye. "Breathe. Relax. Take the moment to center yourself, and feel your surroundings."

"There's no time for that in battle," Wanda snarked, recalling her own experience fighting alongside the Brotherhood. It was mostly defined by instinct and brute force.

"If you are so certain that you know better than I..." Loki started to lower his hand. She grabbed his wrist, returning it to its previous placement.

"Nope. I'll learn! I'm breathing. See me breathing?"

"Relax," Loki reminded her, smiling ever so slightly at her determination. "Feel, and direct."

Wanda steadied her breathing, focused on the shards of ice. She still wasn't sure what he meant, but after a few more seconds she let her eyes fall shut, determined to 'feel their surroundings' as her instructor deemed it so important. There was that familiar multifaceted current all around them. She focused on it, and after a while, Wanda also felt the sensations begin to vary. She felt the heat funneling into Loki's core through the channels in his outstretched hand and arm. She felt his glamour dancing over the surface of the train car to keep them shielded from the drones' sensor net, the gravity anchoring them to the ground and even the charge of electrons like tiny sparkling impulses holding the matter of their bodies and everything else around them together. All of these things carried faint ghosts of their own magic everywhere. It wasn't really Loki's, or hers. It simply was, and as she focused on it she felt it vibrate in tune with her thoughts. Oh!

"Much better," Loki approved, smiling, as with a warm sensation of pressure, the heat he'd been absorbing was redirected to melt the ice. The water beaded up instead of falling, floating skywards to evaporate as Wanda opened her eyes. She smiled.

"I get it now!"

"Far more readily than most," Loki informed her. "Now put it back."

Wanda tried not to pout this time, they only had two more days to practice before they reached their destination. The Scarlet Witch was going to learn as much as she could from the Trickster, or in some way, relearn as the case may be. Even if she wasn't sure that she could do it, Loki clearly was. Wanda looked into his expectant emerald eyes, then drew in a calming breath and focused on the all-encompassing current. She intended to prove him right.

ASGARD (Terrestrial Year 964)

Lord Loki strode through the nearly-uninhabited corridor of Asgard's golden citadel. He was moving with a soundless, creeping swagger that would better suit the other Loki still yet to be born. The dangerous sharpness carried in his every glance was just as alien to this once playful and loving Lord, but the past couple of centuries had taken their toll. The Trickster paused outside the ceiling-high, golden, double doors to the most prestigious dining hall in the capitol.

"I must admit, Milord, I am surprised to see you here this evening," the Guard on his left greeted him tactfully. They both knew full well that the Bastard Lord wasn't meant to be there.

"No need to fret, Rorick. I am certain that you will recover," Loki replied with a smile, pushing his way into the Dining Hall.

"My Lord! You cannot-" the freshman Einherjar hurried to catch the door.

Lord Loki mimed shock theatrically back at the younger Asgardian through the closing gap before sobering with cartoonish abruptness. "It appears that you are mistaken." He snapped his fingers and with a flash of green, the door yanked itself out of the guard's grip to close with a snap. "Children," he reflected, turning towards the feast already well underway.

He barely got more than five paces into the massive, bustling celebration-despite those hesitant to let him past-before a young boy's voice cried out over the sounds of merriment.

"Uncle Loki!" The energetic young Prince vaulted up over the head table and ran into the Trickster's waiting arms. He seemed oblivious to the way the people parted for him with solemn deference, just as he had failed to notice the utter silence that fell over the room. Instead he laughed joyously while he was scooped up into his Uncle's arms, and hugged him almost as tightly as the half-breed held him. "I knew it!" he declared, victorious. "I knew you would come!"

"Was there any doubt?" Lord Loki indulged the little one.

"Father doubted, but I knew better." The blond gestured accusingly toward the Allfather without real malice. "Mother said not to correct the King."

"Rightly so," Lord Loki agreed, looking up at his brother as he spoke, rather than at the King's giddy offspring. Loki pulled a silk wrapped parcel out from his robes and gave it to the birthday boy, then set the young heir back on solid ground. "Your gift, Prince Thor. Perhaps before you open it you should apologize to your mother for your lack of decorum."

Thor pouted up at him. "Why should I?"

"We do not put our feet on the dining table."

"But it is my feast," Thor pointed out with a certainty that betrayed his youth.

"As you say, your Highness," Loki conceded, hiding a smile as he led Thor back to the head table with his fingers brushing the boy's collar.

"Lord Loki," Odin acknowledged once they were facing each other over the massive table.

"Little Brother," Loki returned with the slightest hint of sharpness tainting the familiar address.

"You're causing quite a disturbance in the festivities," the King remarked, his eyes straying from his sibling to the dancers who had stopped in shock at the arrival of an unwanted newcomer. "Do you enjoy it?"

"Not at all. I do apologize for my lateness. It seems the messenger lost my invitation. I almost missed you altogether," Lord Loki quipped, but there was a coldness in his eyes that betrayed his true feelings on the matter.

Odin stared bitterly down at him, saying nothing.

"What luck that you knew better!" Thor piped in, oblivious, claiming his seat on Frigga's left, only to stand up again. "Here! Come, sit with the family!" He muttered not-quietly-enough to the Knight in the next seat "Budge over. I sit there."

Frigga's eyes fell shut in embarrassment but she didn't stop him. As much as she wished her son would learn his manners, it had been far too long since she'd seen her best friend and confidante outside of royal court. She missed her Trickster.

"As you wish, Sire," the Knight acquiesced, slipping off to mingle with a group of his comrades-in-arms.

Lord Loki nodded to him with a polite smile as he passed, but the Aesir warrior refused to spare the half-breed a glance. Loki gracefully claimed his seat beside the Queen. "Please, no need to pause on my account. I am merely here to celebrate our family," he remarked silkily, stressing the last two words ever-so-slightly.

The people around them began to fall back into celebration, choosing -however hesitantly- to pretend that the disruption had never occurred.

"It is good to see you again, Uncle," Balder commented from his place beside Odin, pretending not to notice his father's tension.

"As always, Dear," Frigga concurred, holding out her goblet for a nearby servant girl to refill.

"Milord?" The servant girl offered.

"No need," Lord Loki said with a smirk. "I want to be sure to remember this!"

"You aren't leaving on another quest again, are you?" Balder inquired, leaning forward to look at his Uncle with sad eyes.

"Not just yet. There is still some preparation to be done," Loki answered cryptically. Odin narrowed his eyes at his half-brother. He had not ordered his Advisor on any quests, quite the contrary, in fact. "Oh, no need to scowl, Little Brother, I know how you enjoy those brief interludes without my presence to distract you."

"I merely cannot recall the quest to which you refer," Odin replied, keeping intent eyes on the Trickster's face.

"That is because you assigned me none. This is a personal matter. It shan't take too long," Lord Loki replied, grabbing a pear out of the fruit bowl and taking a bite.

"I was under the impression that you planned to remain in Asgard until the battle died down," Odin reminded his wayward brother of his edict.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" The Trickster dismissed airily, then noticed Thor having trouble with his meat. "Ah-ah! Allow me, Little Prince." He cut up the child's meat for him and turned back to the King and Queen. "What were we talking about?"

The Allfather opened his mouth but Loki spoke again instead.

"Nothing important, then."

"Loki," Frigga cautioned, resting a hand on his arm but her warning went unheeded.

"Is this not wonderful?! Such merriment to celebrate your son's life!" Loki tousled Thor's blond locks. "And rightly so! Tyr is still looking a bit too solemn but he's a prickly wretch; we'll pay him no mind. Give us a smile would you, Odin? The crown cannot yet weigh so heavily on your brow that you could not enjoy it. You wanted this so much," he said slyly. "Take a moment to celebrate. You have a seat on the throne of Asgard, you are surrounded by your beloved family, and Sir Tyr is here to bring us down a tad so that we might not drown in all the gaiety. Unless- Is that a smile? No. No such miracle. It was mere delusion to think it so."

"Mind yourself, Trickster," the Head Knight returned, too accustomed to the Bastard Lord's teasing by now to be bothered by it.

"My point, Allfather, is that you must take the time to enjoy this moment. How blessed you are to be here, with all those whom you hold dear. In a time of war such things are precious, and fleeting to all but few." Lord Loki locked eyes with the Allfather. "Take it from one who knows: it is impossible to foresee how long or how short such a blessing will last." He sat back in his chair and raised his empty goblet in a mock toast. "To family."

CONTEMPORARY ERA: NEW YORK

Loki stepped out of the trees only to stop and throw his arm out in front of Wanda just three steps onto the grass. He paused to listen. Something was flying overhead. Mechanical. It didn't sound like a probe. It was quiet compared to the low rumbling vibrations of a drone. He doubted that Wanda would have caught it on her own.

"Stark," Loki spat, looking up at the same time that Iron Man swooped into view above them. The metal man turned his head towards them and the woman in his arms looked down at them and said something that Loki couldn't make out. Then Tony flew down to land beside him.

"Hey guys!" He greeted, releasing Rogue from his protective hold so that she could walk past to hug Wanda, carefully. Tony pushed up his faceplate and turned a questioning smile on Loki. "So, what's a sassy demigod like you doing in a place like- Oh, shit!" The inventor's joking flirtation was cut short by Loki hitting him in the chest with a bolt of unfocused energy the first second that Marie was clear. She let out a little startled yelp and pulled Wanda a few more steps away from them.

"What the hell, Vincent Vega?! I thought we were friends!" Tony protested, pushing himself up onto his elbows.

"How dare you say that! After the way that you manipulated me! You violated me!" Loki accused, glaring down at the disoriented cyborg with unadulterated fury.

"Wait, what? Stark wouldn't..." Marie denied, still trying to catch up with the current development.

"Spiderwebs of pain, down the spine and sparks through the nerves," Wanda reflected, her left hand fluttering gracefully down Loki's back, inches short of contact.

Tony blinked owlishly up at his accusers for a second before connecting the dots in his head.

"Oh yeah, that. I um..." Tony saw Loki take a predatory step towards him like a stalking beast, and hastily scrambled to his feet. "Whoa, whoa! Hey, listen. It's not what it looks like, okay?! Just let me explain." He thought a little further into it and winced. "Ah. Well, I can't explain."

Loki's hands began to spark and flicker with bright, poisonous green light. His expression was one of bloody murder.

"But let me try! I wasn't trying to manipulate you! I swear!" Tony explained very quickly. "Look, when you were in a coma I didn't know you yet. All I knew was that stunt you pulled in Stuttgart, or on the Helicarrier, or the Invasion of Manhattan. I was just trying to protect my friends. They told me that the implant was just a precaution! I even went against Clint's orders and made sure that he couldn't kill you with it."

"He what?" Clint's voice exclaimed through Loki and the two Avengers' earpieces.

"You expect me to be grateful!" Loki demanded in a voice that sounded rough and raw. His eyes were still wide and a little crazed-looking.

"No. I want you to understand; I didn't want to hurt you! I wasn't trying to trick you, Loki. I even wanted to tell you. I almost did, but we needed you and..." Tony looked away, seeming unable to look Loki in the eye anymore. "After a while things were going so well between us that I figured they'd probably never use it, so..."

"You were wrong," Loki corrected. "You promised me that no one would take my choice from me again. You promised me that I was free, knowing that you had already trapped me!" The Trickster laughed in begrudging appreciation, acknowledging the cruel joke that had been played upon him. "You let me believe that I could trust you!"

Tony looked genuinely remorseful now. His expression falling further in response to Loki's gallows laugh. "I am so sorry. I thought I was protecting my friends... You weren't one of them yet."

Loki grinned at him, the expression reminiscent of the warped invader that Tony had first met. Then he closed the gap between them with inhuman speed and punched Stark in the face. He stood over the Avenger on the ground, watching him roll onto his back and blink away the darks spots in his vision. Tony locked eyes with him swiping under his own bloody nose. "We were never friends," Loki snapped, then turned on the spot and stalked off toward the mansion. Wanda looked back and forth between the two, then chased after Loki. Stark flopped back onto the ground, wondering what the fuck he was going to do about this. His comm crackled just as Marie stepped into his field of vision.

"Damn. Sorry Tony. I didn't know he would do that," Clint said over comms. "Guess, I should have."

"Yeah. Me too."

"You okay, Stark?" Marie inquired, holding out a leather-gloved hand to help him up.

"Yep. 'Tis just a flesh wound," he quipped but it sounded forced. "Come on; I wanna see what Tall, Dark and Angry is here for."

ASGARD (Terrestrial Year 964)

"Lord Loki!" The Allfather's commanding voice broke through the silence of the throne room as the last of Odin's warriors filed out through the closing doors. The Trickster strode out into the open, stopping once he got to the bottom of his brother's dais. Lord Loki turned to face him, clicking his heels together in a sarcastic salute.

"My Liege."

"You walk a fine line, Brother. Do not push your luck further now that you are caught," Odin warned.

"You think me a traitor," Loki responded. It was not a question, but Odin took it as one anyway.

"No. You were given many chances to join in meetings with the war council before, yet now that you are not welcome you choose to spy. You make enemies of my men with your ill humor and wicked tongue, but I know you, Brother. I would be a fool to doubt your heart."

"You think me a traitor," Loki reiterated, unswayed by Odin's words.

"I would not lie about such a thing. Spy or not, there is nothing that could rival your love for your family. I know that you will not stand against me," Odin countered, his brow furrowing as his brother slowly ascended the steps to stand directly in front of his throne. The Bastard Lord stopped to stand over his half-brother.

"You intend to slaughter your Jötun opposition in one fell swoop. I have heard your plans for Midgard. I know of your metal beast, and your hatred of my people." Loki leaned in, resting his hands on the arms of Odin's throne watching the Allfather shrink back slightly in his seat. "You think me a traitor."

"Those monsters are nothing like you, Loki! I am your people! Frigga and Thor and the citizens of Asgard are your people. Those Frost Giants do nothing but lay waste and destroy! Those savages took our father from us, just as they would see you burned alive for what you are!"

"My Mother did not kill father! Nor did Agrboda! My brothers are but children, barely old enough to fend for themselves! What of their fate?" Loki straightened and visibly collected himself, shifting into the rarely seen blue-skinned form that he usually reserved only for his Jötun Mother and brother's eyes. "You have taken my children from me. Now you expect me to sit idly by while you take all else? You think me such a monster?"

Odin's jaw clenched at the change in his sibling's appearance, but he fought back the repulsion and replied in an almost comforting tone. "Your children are safe. I am doing what I must; you will see that in time. The Jötun threat must be dealt with. They are not like you."

"You want me to trust you again?"

"It will all be over soon. You will be reunited with your children at the war's end, and you will have peace. I swear it."

Loki gave him a long, searching look, his red eyes shining, then he spun on his heel and strode stiffly out of the throne room.

"Your skin," Odin cautioned and Lord Loki transitioned back into his Aesir form without any other indication of acknowledgment.

CONTEMPORARY ERA, NEW YORK

Loki was glad that Wanda hadn't tried to talk him out of his grudge, nor console him. She hadn't even reached out to clasp his shoulder as Thor or Volstagg might've done. The mutant merely fell into step with him, providing a calm presence at his side to steady him as they approached the neglected old mansion. As they reached a fork in the cobblestone path Loki finally spared her a sideways glance, which she returned, patient, and lucid. Loki offered her his hand and Wanda grasped it with a small smile, giving his fingers an encouraging squeeze. Behind them Tony dropped his helmet with a muffled clack and hastily scooped it up. Loki shot him a look as he and Wanda took the left fork toward the mansion's front entrance.

"Sorry," the inventor apologized. "The suit's..."

Loki was already back to disregarding his existence, making the explanation that Stark had been about to share pointless.

"Right," Tony acknowledged.

"Heads up. You guys have company," Hawkeye alerted over comms. "Two armed hostiles on your six."

Tony looked back, charging up his repulsors. A split second later Wanda turned sharply to her right with red magic flickering contemplatively over her fingers.

"Watch where you point that," the unpredicted newcomer said, stopping in front of the Scarlet Witch. Logan, Charles supplied. Amazing! He hasn't aged at all!

"I'm watching," Wanda replied to the other mutant. It was immediately apparent even to her non-empathic companions that she wasn't fond of the man.

"Uh, about that..." Tony prompted as the two dark-suited mutants blocked off their retreat. A muscular young man whose skin hardened to a metallic shell as he flexed, and an electricity wielding Asian woman.

"Let's not fight," Wanda decided as a blue-skinned teleporter appeared in front of Loki in a cloud of black smoke. Loki looked him over, undaunted by the mutant's sudden appearance. The teleporter gave him a small apologetic smile anyway.

"Please surrender your weapons," he instructed politely, in a light German accent.

"Even Wanda?" Loki asked conversationally, handing over his knife.

"It's okay," Wanda assured, passing over a Glock that no one present had even realized she was carrying until that moment. "I'll need this back. I borrowed it."

"Really?" Loki inquired, as amused as he was curious. There was a crackling over comms, then Clint chimed in, "God damn it!"

"I stole-borrowed it," the Witch amended.

Loki nodded once at the confirmation.

"I'm unarmed," Rogue explained, holding up her hands with a wry look in Logan's direction.

"Go ahead, Kid," he waved his old friend past without a second thought. "Lose the suit, Stark."

"But-" Stark was met by the others' irritated or impatient looks, and caved. "Fine. Just so you know, I come in peace. This is downright rude of you." The suit disassembled and recollected itself in the form of a suitcase, which Colossus confiscated.

"What d'you want?" Logan inquired.

"We're here to help," Stark replied.

"Whatever. This way."

The X men led them to the front entrance where even more armed mutants guarded their entrance into the foyer.

"How the hell did you find us?" a graceful, dark-skinned woman with white hair interrogated after the murmurs had died down enough for her voice to be heard.

"I'm on X's short list. Although, I can't vouch for them," Tony answered honestly. "So may I go ahead now? I mean, you guys know me."

"We know who you work for," the woman countered. "Wanda, Honey, how'd you find us here?"

Wanda looked sidelong at Loki.

"Magic," Loki supplied with a smirk.

Wanda swatted his arm.

To make it clear, I still do not approve of this, Charles clarified, then his influence flashed potently for a second.

"Listen, Bub. We're not fuckin' around here." Logan pushed. Loki's pleased smirk prompted him to take a step forward, extending his claws towards the Trickster's face.

"Whoa! Come on! You don't need to hurt him," Tony leapt to the Trickster's defense.

Loki tilted his head to look past the white haired woman as the crowd parted to allow a wizened, bald mutant in a wheelchair through.

"It's alright, Logan," Professor X said, coming to a stop at the woman's side. Wanda darted forward to give him a hug.

"Mummy," she greeted warmly.

He smiled softly back at her. "They're in the billiard room," he told her, giving his foster child a kiss on the cheek before releasing her.

Wanda ran up the stairs with a distracted call of "Good luck!" And no further explanation.

The Professor locked eyes with Loki.

The Trickster's smirk spread into an all-out grin. "Charles."

"You should not have come here, my friend," the older version of his ever-present companion stated with a wry quirk of his brow.

"How could I not?" Loki replied lightly.

"Holy shit. Really, Loki? This was your big secret?" Tony realized aloud, drawing shocked gasps from the mutants around them.

"I suggest that we continue our conversation in private," Loki remarked.

"Yes," Professor X agreed distractedly. "Tony, I believe you should be able to make yourself comfortable in the kitchen for a while."

"Aw. Yeah, sure. I'm hungry enough," Tony grumbled disappointedly.

Professor X led Loki into his makeshift office/bedroom and rolled up to sit at his desk.

"Make yourself at home."

Loki took a seat in the modest chair across from him. "You know why I'm here."

"Yes. My other self has let me know all about your plans to save me. I must say, I am honored."

"You are my friend. I know what your people must think of me, but I do not simply abandon my friends to be murdered," Loki explained. "I do not know how much time we have left, but we must flee this place. It is no longer safe for you or your students."

"The evacuation is already underway," Professor X assured him.

"Should we not join them?"

"Not yet," Professor X said, retrieving a dusty bottle that had been tucked away in his desk drawer. "Scotch?"

Loki scowled at him, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You've seen a bit of this world now. The New York Blitz?" the Professor poured them each a drink in spite of his sort-of-friend's disapproval.

"I have been to London and Manhattan since my return."

The telepath nodded. "Two active warzones. You've seen the state we're living in. What was your impression?"

"Midgard is dying," Loki observed. "It is as if humanity is eating itself. The air is poisoned, the sky, filled with metal beasts. What is left of your culture seems rife with hatred and distrust. It is not at all the world that I once knew."

"I have strived my entire life to create peace for both humans and mutants. Now, despite all the work I have done, my people may very well be on the verge of extinction," Xavier agreed. "You are right. This world could very well be reaching its end."

"That is all the more reason for you to fight. You dally behind your desk, drinking and sharing empty words while your demise creeps ever closer!"

"What did he tell you, my other self, when you first chose to come here?" Professor X prompted.

"It matters not. I have no wish to witness your suicide!"

"Loki," Xavier locked eyes with him, ever the wizened sage. "Indulge me."

"You claimed it was history. You refuse- He claims we cannot change it, but if that is true then all our efforts mean nothing," Loki spat, slapping his hands down on the desk.

"I also told you that I would remain with you as long as you need me."

"I am not some frightened child who needs coddling," Loki dismissed. "We are discussing your death."

"My people are dying. My world is on the verge of destruction." Professor X set down his glass between them.

"I am well aware. You are giving up."

"No. We still can change the future, but it is not my survival that you should be so focused on. My life has to mean something, Loki," Xavier explained carefully. "If you want to do what is right for me. I hope that you will honor my friendship by remembering what I value most: my children, my people - human, mutant or otherwise - are important to me, and above all is the hope that we can build a better world together. Even if I might not live to see it."

"You don't have to die," Loki protested quietly.

"I have no intention of simply surrendering, Loki, but I need you to try to find meaning in what is about to happen here. A chain of events is unfolding and you are caught at the very center of it. You could change the course of history in our favor, or lead us all to destruction. I need you to be ready to choose the right path."

"I do not know why you place such faith in me. I have never brought anything but chaos in my entire life. You have placed too much faith in the impossible chance that I might change my nature." Loki looked towards the door; someone was running up the stairs towards them.

"A long time ago you found yourself in very much the same position. What would you have said to that?"

Loki closed his eyes against his freshly reclaimed memory then turned back to lock eyes with the older version of his mutant mentor. "That was meant to be my last time."

MIDGARD, YEAR 965

Frigga looked up from the feathered cloak she was mending as her visitor arrived. "You are late. I was beginning to fear that you might have forgotten us."

Loki took the seat across from her at the small wooden table in her temple. "You know better than that." He idly traced the carvings bordering the tabletop with the tip of his finger.

"Have you eaten? Fulla just brought us in some mead and sweet meats. I think you'll enjoy them."

"Thank you, that sounds lovely."

"I've got it," Frigga assured Balder when he moved to fetch the mead. "Why don't you check on your brother."

Balder grumbled and trudged away into the other room to check on the napping youngling.

Loki chuckled softly.

"I heard that you helped the boys with their archery practice," Frigga commented as she placed a small bowl of food in front of him and began to pour him a flagon of mead.

"That was meant to remain our secret," Loki disapproved.

"Nonsense. I know my husband has been hard on you of late, but that does not mean your aid is unappreciated."

"You know what I'm planning," Loki determined, watching his dearest friend reclaim her seat with a troubled look marring her brow. He took a sip of mead rather than look at her for too long. He'd always hated seeing her in distress.

"I tried my best to convince my husband to choose a different course."

"I assumed as much, it is a shame that Odin has allowed hatred to blind him."

"You must realize the danger. If you cross the battle lines now there may be no return," Frigga warned, her eyes pleading.

"You must know the risk that I will take if I do not. This family still holds my love and loyalty, but my people are in grave peril, my children torn from my grasp. I cannot turn my back on them! Please, Frigga, do not stand in my way. I have no wish for us ever to be at odds. "

"I know you better than that," Frigga evoked her dearest friend's earlier remark with a sad smile and he sat back, taking a deep drink of mead to calm his nerves. The Allmother reflected, "You have always been my greatest ally. Not only have you been there for me in all my times of need, but you never doubted me. You never judged even when you had every right to. You understand me better even than my own husband." Frigga watched Loki while he picked up the next piece of meat only for it to slip from his grip halfway to his mouth. He stared at his hand and his vision wavered in and out of focus. "I will always need you. I believe that perhaps we all will," Frigga continued, sounding apologetic.

Loki opened his mouth to speak, then paused, and forcefully blinked the world back into focus.

"You have always looked out for us, and protected our family."

"Frigg..." Loki fell forward and caught himself on the edge of the table, knocking over his drink.

"I cannot let you go!" Frigga tearfully confessed. She sucked in a sharp breath, reassuring herself, "I know that in time you'll forgive me." The Queen darted around the table and caught the Trickster as he collapsed to the floor, cradling him to her chest. "Shh, do not struggle. Just let sleep take you." She ran her fingers through his hair and rocked him to sleep. "I've got you."

CONTEMPORARY EARTH

"Mum- Oh, hello, Loki," Peter said, leaning in to speak to them around the door. "We've got to dash. The Sentinels have arrived."

"Already?" Loki asked abandoning his chair to face the speedster.

"Yes. Obviously, now. Let's go before they start smashing their way in through the wall," Peter replied irritably. His usual impatience with the comparatively slow speed of everyone around him tended to get exacerbated when he was stressed. Charles wheeled his chair after Loki and Peter as they headed for the lift.

"Tony thinks that someone here must be carrying a tracer. He checked me right after Hawkeye ran in to warn us. He'll need to scan you as soon as we're out of the building."

"I wasn't in SHIELD custody as you and your brother were – regardless, I was already scanned on my way out of the underground. The only implants I'm carrying are Stark's doing," Loki dismissed. "We'll need to set up a perimeter and hold them at bay while the rest of these people evacuate. I can help you with that."

"No, you need to keep away from the front lines. You're one of their main- Mum?" Peter looked questioningly back at Charles who had not exited the lift behind them.

"He is their main target now. Oh, why didn't I see it before?" Professor X thought aloud. "Pietro, this is of the utmost importance, you have to make sure that Loki makes it out of here undetected." Professor X wheeled his chair back into the lift and closed the metal gate.

"What? Where are you going? We're about to be breached!" Peter protested.

"I have to get to the lab."

"You can't be serious!" Pietro yelled and smacked the gate as Charles Xavier lifted out of view.

"A lab upstairs, not very secure," Loki noted pointedly. "You may need to ignore his instructions…"

The speedster glared anxiously up the elevator shaft after his adoptive parent as the first destructive rumbles of the Sentinels breaking through their defensive line outside shook the building. He bit his lip, clearly at war with himself before grabbing Loki's forearm and leading him away.

"He knows what he's doing."

"He will get himself killed."

"This isn't the first time the Professor has risked himself using his telepathy to cover us," Peter reasoned as impassively as he could manage. "Besides, Vater is here. He will cover him." Pietro gestured to the darkened hallway ahead. "There's a trap door down at the end of the next corridor on your right, should take you right out past the sentinels and into the forest. I'll close it after you and head back for the others."

"You aren't listening. Charles has monitored you before, yes. However, at that time he was using Cerebro, which is in a bunker, underground, and therefore far easier to secure. That neural net that you children have helped him set up is completely indefensible!" Loki argued.

Peter stopped just short of the next corridor and turned to face him. "You're right!"

Loki crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for him to act.

"I'm not listening to you," Peter concluded; Loki felt the strong urge to freeze him to the spot and just leave him there, but he was Charles', which meant Loki probably shouldn't do that.

"Wanda would listen."

Peter resumed walking. The next hit shook the ground out from under them and sent Peter flying into a wall. One of the Sentinels had just ripped a chunk out of the level above them. Loki rolled over to shield the Agent from being crushed under the falling ceiling as the level above the gap tumbled down on top of them. It happened too fast. Loki could hear the great metal beast marching past them. He could hear more of the building crumbling, glass breaking, people screaming, shouts and sounds of battle and death. Then a crushing weight impacted his back and the world went silent and dark.

MIDGARD, YEAR 965

Loki's eyes snapped open. He was lying on a feather mattress in the room where Frigga's children slept. He looked over at Thor's bed to see the little boy curled up in the bed blink sleepily at him. Loki shifted his bound hands and pressed a finger to his lips.

"Shhh." Loki waited for his nephew to drift back into whatever dream he'd been having, then inspected the cords around his wrists and ankles. They had runes wound through each strand, and were certain to absorb any magic he tried to use to break them. He would have to do this the old fashioned way then. He broke one of the crystals off of a towering quartz formation on display in the window above his mattress- after binding it up in a blanket so as not to disturb the slumbering child. It took him almost half an hour to cut through his bonds with the sharp edge.

Lord Loki paused to stand over his young nephew's crib, wishing him a silent farewell. He was running out of time and he knew it. Just as he knew deep down that he was not going to live through this final act of rebellion. He hoped that one day, the boys would understand why he'd had to leave them in this way. He used his ice to freeze the door and the bolt on the other side simply snapped when he pushed it open. Frigga had confiscated his sword but he doubted he was in for much of fight anyway. At least she'd had the forethought to allow him his armor, perhaps realizing on a subconscious level that she couldn't really trap her Trickster.

The human village, bustled about their own business around him, having grown used to the occasional presence of 'gods' passing in and out of their lands. If only they knew what was coming. Loki had almost made it out of the village, when a blond-headed youth knocked into him, running in the other direction. Loki caught the boy by his shoulders before he could fall.

"Forgive me, My Lord. I was not looking where I was going," Balder's friend said, trying to hide his blush.

"You're the boy my nephew prefers to train with, yes?" Loki verified, a plan rapidly forming in his mind. One of the things that troubled him most about his next act was not his certain death, but rather the thought of leaving his loved ones behind without being able to say goodbye. Frigga knew what was happening and why, but the boys were caught up in the middle without any clue of the truth.

"Yes, My Lord. My name is Fandral," Fandral supplied shyly. Loki smiled and rested a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Of course, Fandral. I thought that I knew you," he acknowledged smoothly as if this was all part of his plan. "I have a very important task that I need carried out by someone whom I can trust absolutely. It is very important that no one knows of this, can I trust you?"

Fandral studied his face with care. "You know, Lord Loki, if my family knew that I took lessons from you, I'd have already lost my place in their home."

"They do not trust me."

"Few do. I can keep a secret if it is worth being kept," Fandral told him.

"You have been paying attention," Loki noted with a smirk, recalling the advice to Prince Balder which Fandral was quoting. He had always thought that the boy seemed cleverer than people seemed to notice. The Trickster unlooped the long chain from round his neck and blew on the black obsidian amulet, infusing it with his magic. "Take this, keep it to yourself. When the time is right I need you to give this to Balder for me," he explained, passing the necklace over to the curious squire. He grabbed the boy's hand as he moved to tuck it away, locking eyes with him. "Only Balder. No one else is to touch it, am I understood?"

Fandral nodded once, his expression grim. It almost seemed that he could sense Loki's life was nearing its end. Lord Loki nodded, half to himself, and began to walk past him but Fandral grabbed his wrist.

"Wait." Fandral deflated slightly when the hybrid's emerald eyes zeroed in on his, but he didn't back down. "How will I know when it's time?"

Loki's smile this time was bittersweet, holding a tinge of sorrow. "You will know. Goodbye, Fandral. I only wish that I knew how best to repay your loyalty."

"Come back," the Aesir replied with a knowing look in his dark eyes. Yes, young Fandral was definitely far more astute than people gave him credit for, but Loki realized that perhaps that was by design. The Trickster inclined his head in acknowledgment then turned and hurried off to meet his contact waiting in the border zone between the Aesir and Jötun camps. Sigyn would be waiting for him under the cliffs with the evidence they had gathered of the metal giant's presence. He still did not want to risk bringing his most favorite human into the warzone. He hoped he would have the time-and ability- to talk her out of her notion before he left to speak with Laufey. Sadly, it was not to be. Under the cliffs instead of his human lover, Loki found the Destroyer spouting flames over the scattered, burning bodies at its feet. He screamed, in tears, when he saw the painfully familiar sigil on the woman's bag. Sigyn.

There was only one thing left to do. His people, the Jötuns still needed his help to survive this beast. There was no chance of forewarning them now. All he could do was hold the creature back and call their attention to the oncoming threat before it was too late. He channeled all the magic he had into a brilliant signal. A bright green fiery sigil burned through the sky above as the Destroyer marched closer. Loki couldn't fight it; he had no magic left, nor did he think it would have saved him if he did. He dodged its strikes, keeping the signal going for as long as he could, but eventually his legs gave out beneath him. Just before the fire engulfed him, Loki saw a figure running along the clifftop shouting. A dry smirk tugged the corner of his lips. Typical.

"Farewell, Little Brother."

A/N: So guys, Thanks so much for sticking with me. I know it's been too long. My computer broke, so updating is a lot more difficult for me right now. I will do my best though, and until I can update regularly I will try to make up for it with longer chapters. I hope that works. More revelations to come soon... Please review?