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Chapter Text

Thor drags his idiot friends into the suicide mission number "lost count". Yes, of course Loki's coming along, someone has to make sure the oafs will stay alive. Which is why he informed a guard on his way out. If lucky, Odin will come running before Thor can leave the planet.

But, so far, nothing stops the idiot. The only obstacle between him and his desire for blood is Heimdall, the last defence line. But Loki can still work with that.

"Let me do it…" they inform and step forward, ready to speak up.

"If you really think I will allow you to break a thousand years old peace truce just so you can get revenge for having your feast ruined, you are fooling yourself, Odinson," the guard answers, glaring directly into Thor.

"They invaded the palace! They were close to getting the casket again!" He yells, his patience already running dry.

"Which is why a diplomatic mission will be sent there to discuss the incident without disturbing the peace.

"Diplomatic mission? With these barbarians, these monsters? With all honesty, who the fuck is stupid and coward enough to suggest this?" Thor's voice echoes in all the length of the rainbow bridge. Sif and Fandral share a wary look but do nothing, and Heimdall stays silent and still.

"Brother, maybe we should stay. Jötunnheim is not just a forest for a hunting trip, we'll freeze to death," Loki speaks up.

"If you want to run back to your mother's skirts, you're free to go, snake," Hogun scoffs, always with the comeback ready.

"Not everyone is as much of a coward as you, Liesmith," Volstagg adds, making Loki's first clench and their blood boil.

"The Prince is correct. You will freeze before you find Laufey," Heimdall insists.

"I AM THOR ODINSON, CROWN PRINCE OF ASGARD AND I DEMAND YOU TO OPEN THE BIFROST," Thor starts yelling, yet cannot get Heimdall to even blink.

"And I do not care about how much you can raise your voice. You shall not pass," Heimdall's voice is dead, unfazed by Thor's fury. Yet, he only fuels that anger, since Thor grips the Mjölnir tighter.

"When Allfather gets here-"

"What will happen?" Thor gets interrupted by Odin, already slaying the prince with his eye. Everyone but Thor and Heimdall moves aside, praying Odin's fury won't be directed to them as well.

"Father?"

"You disobeyed my direct order to leave the matter as it is, you almost broke a peace treaty that stayed strong for a thousand years. And for what? So you will play war and prove your might?" Odin growls, his glare getting even more cold and deadly.

"But the Frost Giants-" Thor strutters, his shoulders dropping.

"ENOUGH! You attempted to bring war to Asgard mere minutes after your coronation! You not only endangered yourself but your friends and brother and people! You never grew past playing hero with your wooden dolls, for you insist on toying with people's lives!" Odin now yells, ten times more intensely than Thor did, even though his tone is lower. The Warriors Four are frozen on their spot, and Loki finds himself unable to draw in a deep breath. Odin flares his nostrils and looks down.

"Perhaps I was mistaken. You are not fit for a king, and you are now a traitor of Asgard," Odin decides.

No, no, that's not what should happen. Odin should have just taught Thor how to be a better king, not punish him! He didn't even do anything!

"Father," Loki tries to reason, to stop Thor from getting imprisoned, or banished or killed. The only response from Odin was a scream, utterly incoherent. Then, Odin glares at Heimdall, and the gatekeeper finally moves.

After getting dragged there, Thor stands right at the opening of the bridge, watching Odin with terror.

"Thor Odinson, you are unworthy of these realms. You are unworthy of your titles, you are unworthy of the loved ones you betrayed!" He first uses Gungnir to open the Bifrost, and then strips Thor off his cape and armour as he strips him off his titles and power.

"I now take from you your power," and the Mjölnir sits on Odin's hand instead of Thor's, each word from the king's mouth is another part of Thor's armour getting reduced into nothing.

"In the name of my father, and his father before, I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!" With just a movement forward, Thor is being sent in that wormhole, possibly never to return. And the Warriors Four, Heimdall, and even Loki, are frozen still and watching, even after Odin has walked away. But, at some point, someone had to talk.

"What is it like to have no competition?" Fandral scoffs, following the well known technique of when something goes wrong, bully Loki into fixing it.

Yet, Loki stays silent, watching where his brother stood, trying to remember everything he can, since his memory is all that's left of Thor. It takes a long time, but eventually, they answer.

"I didn't mean for this to happen. Just… I just wanted to show Odin that Thor wasn't ready, that he needed time and training, not… not that. He… he was my brother…" His words are just a whisper, but still strike the Warriors Four with the realization, Loki's being truthful, and has a point. Just when Sif is about to answer, Heimdall stops them.

"If you will excuse us, I must speak to the prince alone." His voice is just as steady and unyielding as always, as before Odin's arrival. The Warriors Four nod sharply and leave, not even questioning or whispering behind Loki's back. And Heimdall guides Loki in the Bifrost, explaining with just one sentence.

"We need to talk about your father,"

The first thing Thor notices is the pain, both the sharp burn from the Bifrost and the harshness of the ground below him. He takes a look at his surroundings, a desert of some sort. And, it's night, yet warm. Then, he looks at his clothes, at the odd mixed fabrics and plastic and…

Is this Midgard?

And where's his hammer? Did Odin keep it?

He notices a sharp light, far away from his location, it must be Mjölnir. But, before he can move from where he is, a vehicle stops in front of him, and a man in a dark suit with a red eight legged creature printed on it laughs.

"Boss, you're not going to believe this,"

Chapter Text

"My father?" Loki questions the moment he's alone with Heimdall. The slight nod they get as an answer is predictable, but not at all enlightening.

"In order to rule the future, one must understand the past. Or, in this case, see beyond the secrets and lies," Heimdall answers, as always, avoiding any kind of clarification just so he'll appear smarter. But, he only gains a scoff from Loki.

"If you are talking about the troll that will devour my toes unless I eat my vegetables, I'm afraid common sense was faster," he brushes off the intro, managing to annoy Heimdall already.

"Very well, then. How about a story on how the Æsir and Jötunn war ended?" He asks, all matter-of-factly, like he's trying to prove Loki that there are lies there. Loki scoffs again.

"Father fucked Mother, then went to fight, defeated Laufey, came back with the Casket, Mother gave birth because she was pregnant all along. The end," Loki leans against a wall, waiting for Heimdall to "throw the shocking reveal".

"More like, Frigga was never pregnant and while Odin was about to take the Casket he saw Laufey's baby, thought he would be sacrificed because of his small size, made an illusion, so he'll appear Æsir and returned with him," Heimdall mimics Loki's pose, talking as casually as he can in a way to satirize the prince. And Loki has lost all the colour in their skin, staring at Heimdall with unshed tears as their whole body quakes.

"Queen Farbaudi died in labour one week before the battle, and Laufey took care of you. Jötnar grow rapidly near the end of their teenage years, they spend most of their childhood a little taller than Æsir. And, when they do sacrifices, it's mostly animals they will eat later, rarely their own and especially not a baby prince with no siblings. They do, however, use temples and altars for protection, anyone, or anything in there is protected by the gods and should not be touched. So, King Laufey made sure his son and the only heir to the throne was safe from the battle and Odin stole you," he explains, his tone softening even if he drives Loki to one conclusion; Odin used him to end Jötunnheim. The prince still shakes like a leaf, letting their tears run down.

"So what? I'm merely some stolen relic? Part of his… his genocide? A monster?" his voice gets louder as tears flow down.

"Or you'll be the one who rights the wrongs," Heimdall answers, hoping that will be some reassurance. But instead, the Jötunn prince grows more heartbroken.

"Why should I be the one who fixes it? I'm the god of Chaos, I don't fix things! And… that's not fucking fair!" they scream, glaring at the gatekeeper. Without thinking, Heimdall hugs Loki and kneels down with them.

"It's not fair! It's not fair!" Loki keeps yelling, throwing punches at Heimdall's chest plate, slowly getting tired until the screams fade into quiet sobs, and Heimdall has his hands wrapped around Loki. He doesn't need more than ten minutes to compose himself, breaking the hug and wiping his tears.

"My name, what is it?" they ask. Heimdall blinks, quite frankly taken aback. "Loki is a Vanir name, and you said Lau- father had me for some time. Did he name me? And what?" he clarifies, staring at the Keeper with still swollen eyes.

"Names have power, Loki," Heimdall warns.

"Power and an identity that was taken from me. I want it back, I want back what I was stripped of," they demand, yet keep their tone cool.

"Loptr. Loptr Laufeyson. It's… it's old high Jötunn tongue, it means air," he answers, watching as Loki nods.

"Can I see myself? You said Odin cast a spell to make me look like this, I want to know what I really look like," Loki does sound sure of himself, so Heimdall agrees and companies Loki on his way to the vault.

As a prince and the gatekeeper, neither faced any issue with going there. But Loki stalls upon seeing the casket. Without thinking too much, Heimdall holds their shoulder in an attempt to show that he's here for them. Loki turns to face the keeper and smiles faintly, then steps forward and grabs the casket.

Slowly, Loki's fingers turn blue and with markings of Laufey's tribe, spreading all over his body. Their eyes turn red and the iris thin, hair going from pitch black to snow-white as two black horns rise from their forehead and fall back, creating a goat effect. After the transformation is complete, Loki turns to face Heimdall. The keeper doesn't change his gaze, what he sees is still his prince. But Loki does frown.

"Apparently, Jötnar cannot see the colours yellow and blue. Which is ironic, considering that they are blue. Though, it is more relaxing than seeing these colours, and a little less sour on the back of my throat. Do you think I can see the purple if I hear Odin's voice?" Loki wonders, a reaction Heimdall was not expecting, at all.

"I… don't know…" he admits, "but I am glad you enjoy this way of seeing," he adds, making Loki smile a bit.

"What nonsense is that?" Odin walks in, frozen when he sees Loki holding the casket and gazing at something.

"I can see the blue," he whispers at Heimdall.

"Good to know, but I think that's the least of your problems," Heimdall whispers back.

"Loki Odinson, put down the casket right now," Odin demands, yet Loki acts like they didn't hear. "Did you lose your hearing as well as your logic, boy?" Odin yells again.

"That was not my name. Say my name and I will put the casket down," he stays calm as Odin goes red with rage.

"Your name is Lok-" he tries to say but gets interrupted.

"No, I want the name my mother and my father gave me," they get more specific, watching as Odin loses even more of his patience.

"I and your mo-" he tries again but in vain.

"I said my mother and my father, not my abductors. And my name, Allfather, is Loptr Laufeyson, and if you wish to command me you will command me by using my name," Loptr announces, his voice calm yet thousands of times stronger than Odin's yelling.

"This is madness, Loki! You are our son!" He yells

"Madness? But, the proof is right in front of you," they never lose their calm.

Until Odin goes from red to ashy pale and collapses. The Casket falls from Loptr's hands, and he runs towards Odin, kneeling before him but not daring to touch, in case the burning cold lingers long after the transformation has been undone.

"Heimdall?! Did I kill him?" They ask, tearing up again.

"He was postponing his sleep for too long, Loptr," he responds, carrying Odin to his hands.

"Please, when your armour shimmers gold instead of white, call me Loki and not Loptr. Names have power, and I wish not to mix them two," Loki asks, quickly wiping the tear that fell from his eye. "And, should I need the casket to transform?"

Heimdall shakes his head. "Now that you broke the spell, you should shirt between the two forms at your will. Will you follow me?" Heimdall asks and waits for a no instead of a small nod. He can't fight a smile as he gets Odin to his wings, Loki following closely and studying his blue and clawed hand.

The room is dark, cold. The metallic chair is uncomfortable, but not as much as the metallic taste in Thor's mouth.

"So, the god of thunder honoured us?" A man, old yet much younger than Odin, grins. Thor lifts his head to face him, then spits a mouthful of blood in his face. The man just wipes himself, unbothered.

"Bold. So, how come you visit our planet in such a state? Problems in Valhalla?" He chuckles darkly.

"Fuck you, mortal," Thor snaps, refusing to waste his energy by listing titles, the man looks like he knows who he's talking to.

"Oh, you might want to be careful with your mouth… You don't want my hand to slip on that volume control…" he smirks, making Thor's blood boil.

"You dare threaten me?!" Thor struggles against the leather shackles, using all his might. He should be able to free himself easily, but why can't he?

Oh, right… he's mortal, so he can learn a lesson…

"What do you plan to do anyway? Interrogate me? Suck whatever information you can for my people? Do you plan to attack Asgard?" He asks.

"Oh, no no no no no. I merely want to see what your thunder is." The man smiles and backs off.

A sound of a big lever turning on echoes, and Thor feels thunder surging through his veins, making him scream. But, the thunder is not his, and the screams are not screams of power.

Chapter Text

"Mother, with all due respect, I am going through an identity crisis, and you want me to rule a planet?" Loki asks for the fourth time, staring right into Frigga's eyes.

"More like a big city, and it'll only be until your father wakes up," she repeats.

"Do you fucking hear yourself?! This is the throne of Asgard, not babysitting my cousins from Vanaheim! And Odin could wake up in a century for all we know!" they snap, immediately regretting it when Frigga frowns at them.

"I will pass the tone and hideous language only because you are shocked. And, practically speaking, your father is sleeping, and your brother is exiled. Who do you think will rule Asgard? Do we pick the first random person we see and crown them?" She joins the yelling match, but Loki doesn't flinch or step back.

"YOU'RE THE QUEEN!" Loki screams, meeting her unbothered straight face.

"So, you want to stare into Odin as he sleeps for who knows how long?" She raises an eyebrow. Loki opens his mouth, then closes it, Frigga smiling with satisfaction.

"Fine, I'll take the throne," Loki signs and walks out, Heimdall waiting outside the door. "Did you listen to it all?" They ask.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, the dead could listen to your yelling," he answers, making Loki smile a bit.

"Being raised by Odin has that effect," he scoffs, watching a slight grin form in the keeper's lips.

"You need a first command. Something worthy of history books," he announced. Loki can assume that crying in their bedroom isn't really what Heimdall means, but they have an idea.

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, which you know is none, have you lost your fucking mind?!" Sif screams as she follows Loki to the Bifrost, the Idiots Three behind her.

"No, I know exactly what I am doing," Loki answers calmly, carefully holding the leather bag.

"Loki, how do you even plan to survive in there?" Volstagg asks. Loki is about to open his mouth, but Heimdall glares at him.

"Trust me, you will see," Loki smirks, listening to a familiar scoff.

"Ah yes, the snake demands trust," Hogun snarls. Loki takes a deep breath and shoves the bag on Fandral's hand. Then, he punches Hogun hard enough to break his jaw.

"I wanted to do that for too long…" they sigh as they take back the sack from a now flustered Fandral. "And Fandral, I need your metal sword, not your fleshy one. Learn the difference," he scolds, making Sif scoff.

"Didn't know you can be bearable," she remarks, her hands crossed in front of her.

"Didn't know you can turn down the hate," Loki answers, still going down the bridge with the Warriors behind them.

"What's in the sack anyway?" Fandral asks, the first to consider that question.

"My broken childhood," he snaps, feeling Heimdall regretting every decision that led to this point.

Their boots were diving in the snow after every step, the wing freezing whatever part of their face was exposed. Yet, as Sif and the Warriors Three were shivering, Loki only looked stressed. Sif could guess it's a warming spell or something.

How could she imagine Loki was trying to keep the illusion when his body was demanding Loptr to be free?

They were walking on for almost an hour when they saw the ruins of a huge palace. Heimdall was not overdramatic, they were left to rot in the garbage Odin left behind. Loki saw the guard, a Jötunn big enough to cover the door, holding a rusty sword.

"We are here to see the king, and come in peace," Loki announced.

"Peace and King of Asgard are two things that are never seen together," the guard answers.

"The new reign will surprise you, then," Loki whispers, using his High Jötunn instead of the Allspeak. The guard stares, but backs off enough to let them through.

The throne room was not in a better state than the exterior, but one could barely see that in the darkness. And, above the nearly destroyed base of a throne, two red eyes glow in the darkness.

"If you seek to play war, leave," Laufey's voice echoes in the whole room, low and intimidating, but not from someone nearly as old as Odin.

"We seek a chance for an alliance, King Laufey," Loki answers, their voice a whisper compared to the king's laugh.

"What alliance will have one side bathing in gold and one side starving?" he asks, leaning closer to the Asgardians. His face is now visible, blue and with the same marks as Loki, his horns plastered on his head to replace the missing hair. But he does look half of Odin's age, did he fight the war when a kid?

Loki smirks and gets his hands in the sack. "That's exactly why I'm here, father," they drop the spell as they speak, revealing their form and the Casket in their hands. The room lights up, Laufey's open mouth and glassy eyes visible without any shadows.

"Loptr? He kept you alive?" He managed to ask, voice shaking. Loptr smiles and nods, tears streaming down.

"LOKI, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?" Sif screams. "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING THAT A SECRET?"

"Em… two hours?" Loptr frowns, this time making Laufey gasp.

"Are you telling me that he had the audacity to steal you and didn't even bother to tell you that?! That's it, the fucker is dead!" Laufey snaps and stands up, a sword made of ice already in his hand. Cyan chains tie him back to the throne, and Laufey smiles.

"You have seiðr. Jötnar haven't possessed that gift in centuries," he points out, his voice having an odd tone, almost proud.

"The queen of Asgard herself taught me," Loptr explains, watching as the murmurs and whispers around the Jötnar spread and reach Laufey.

"You became a master of magic? At such a young age?" He asks, yet not a single spec of irony or taunt. He knows Loptr is his son for a few minutes, yet is already proud. Loptr nods, holding back any idea of tears.

"Thank you, dad. But we need to talk about the alliance. The idea is, you get the Casket back and bring Jötunnheim back to its former glory. The only rule is that you must not use the power to harm unless on self-defense with no other solution," Loptr says, lifting the casket more.

"A question. The Casket was taken away on our mission to inhabit the frozen parts of Midgard, in order to expand without occupying a land of the mortals and help them with the realm heating up. Do you consider that a move of offense?" Laufey asks, scanning Loptr. So that's why the war started, the Jötnar tried to do what Asgard did but better.

"The way you described it, no. But, if anything becomes violent, I will know," they inform, stern and serious, just as Odin had taught them. Laufey stands up again, this time expending his hand towards Loptr. Slowly, Loptr hands over the Casket, and Laufey sets it aside to the floor.

“The Casket will go to the Temple of the Ancient Winds, where it belongs. And, judging by your height, you had not had a ceremony. May I welcome you with one? Also give you the righteous right to the throne, for after my death?” he asks. Loptr can’t believe how fast Laufey is to trust them, and can’t see any string attached. They smile, holding back tears.

“Thank you for the offer, but I am afraid I cannot stay for long. I still have to manage Asgard’s throne, and my friends won’t be able to stand the cold any longer.” Loptr answers.

“I can make the ritual short, then. We can have a feast later, when there are enough resources. But I believe your ceremony should be the first action the Casket should do, as a way to honor your return,” Laufey insists, managing to touch Loptr so effortlessly. Is it a trap? And why is trusting this man so easy? Loptr ends up agreeing, and Laufey gets the casket again.

“Wait, will I go bald? Because every singe one of you is bald…” Loptr asks.

“Only magicians have hair, is a way to recognize them. Like a sign that they’re not to be fucked with. Since you possess the talent without the Casket’s magic, you don’t have to shave,” Laufey explains, barely holding back a laugh. Loptr assumes they have to catch up to all that.

Laufey creates a table of ice in the middle of the room, and places the Casket on top. He instructs Loptr to place their hand on the Casket, and then he starts muttering some incantations in an ancient language of the Jötnar. Loptr can feel their very bones freezing before warming up again and getting longer, thicker, stronger. Soon after, they were a little taller than Laufey, and could feel that cold in their bones setting, but being painless. It mixed itself with the tingling of their seiðr, the two different yet same energies dancing together.

“That’s Frostbite. It makes you immune to any cold and gives you the ability to freeze everything and generate ice and snow. Usually, you would need at least a year of training, but since you mastered seiðr at such a young age and your time is limited here, I trust you can manage while on Asgard,” Laufey explains with a proud smile. Loptr nods, ready to bite a farewell to Laufey.

“Wait, we came here to deliver a heart of a planet, and we won’t see it being placed?” Sif argues, glaring up at Loptr. Laufey chuckles at her demand.

“I assume your friends can hold for long enough,” he takes the Casket. Loptr looks at them for a moment, casting a warming spell on them before nodding. Laufey guides them to the ruins of the temple, Loptr and the Warriors Four behind him.

“Is that where Odin won?” Sif whispers when she notices the marks of a battle. Laufey draws a deep breath.

“Yes. He pinned me down right on that hole in the ground, threatening to unleash the Bifrost unless I surrender. And he stole Loptr from that rock, on the back,” he tries to keep his voice steady, but Loptr can see his face turning ashy for a moment. They know Odin is cruel when fighting, but seeing what that man leaves behind. It makes you realize who is the real monster between the two kings.

Laufey sighs, and holds the casket a little tighter before placing it on the altar. Loptr can feel the same cold magic surging from the Casket and expanding until it covers the whole planet, the ruins fixing themselves and the cold being more overwhelming yet not as hostile. The Warriors four stare at the sky, northern lights filling the pitch black sky and lighting up the darkest corners. Loptr stares too, mesmerized by the images, the feeling of magic emitting from everywhere.

They want to stay forever, but they see the Warriors Four shivering like leaves. "I believe your friends can't last for long," Laufey whispers. Loptr nods and bites their dad a farewell and a promise to return when they have the time.

Chapter Text

“Where are you going again?” Frigga asks, glaring at Loki as they put on a cloak.

“I’m a king, can’t I see how the kingdom is from within?” Loki lies, making Frigga fume. She never liked it when Loki was going to the market or the alleys of the capital, but she can’t stop them now.

Within some weeks, they managed to deliver artifacts from all the realms back and forge new peace treaties with them, lower the living cost on the palace and donate the extra money to orphanages and nursery homes and healer institutions, all while lowering the taxes and cutting a good amount of gold going to the army. And whatever part of their time doesn’t go to meetings or visits where they donated gold or walks around the city, goes to visiting the King of Jötunnheim. They insist that they visit for further talks about the peace treaty there, since the goresome history is more relevant there. But Frigga knows she’s losing her kid.

Odin and his fucking secrets made her lose the only child she had left. And she can’t do anything to keep Loki. She even suggested that she accompany Loki on a visit to Jötunnheim, but Loki insisted that she should stay with Odin and that the cold is too much. She’s tired of letting her children slip away from her. So, after they have returned from the “walk”, she storms into Loki's room.

“Loki, if you are scared of letting me see you as a Frost Giant, just know that Jötunnheim and Vanalheim have a much better relationship. And I am still your mother, even if not by blood,” she says the moment she sees Loki, taken aback when they glare at her.

“Can you really not wait until summer? The weather will be mild enough for you to be there without using magic all the time, and father will have settled everything,” Loki barely holds back their anger. Did she say something wrong?

"Of course I can wait, but… we don't know if Odin will still be asleep by then," she argues, much calmer in contrast to Loki's anger.

"Then we'll see. But, if you want to go there, just know that you can't call anyone a Frost Giant, unless you wish to be called a gullbrunster," Loki shrugs, going back to the book and ignoring Frigga's gasp.

"You are a king and yet you talk like a sailor!" She snaps, making Loki chuckle.

"About that. Since you desire to visit Jötunnheim, you must learn a few things. First, people don't care about language but about the message, so a king can curse. And, I prefer following that premise since that's the throne I'll get," they shrug.

"Loki, you can't. Can you?" She frowns and sits in front of them.

"I am a crown prince there, as the eldest, and I have the throne here until Odin wakes up," they feel like they're explaining the basics, but Frigga knows they're missing the point.

"Loki, I don't care if you have a throne or not," she whispers, fighting with tooth and nail to stay composed.

"Then why are you insisting on asking?" Loki frowns.

"Because I can't lose you too!" She snaps, tears threatening to spill down. Loki doesn't move a muscle, can't move a muscle, they've never seen their mother like this.

"Thor is gone, and I'm glad you're spending time with your father and embracing who you are, but… I feel like I'm losing you," she wipes the faint tears. Without a word, Loki gets up from the chair and hugs her, allowing both of them to let the tears stream down. After a long moment, Loki lets go of the hug and holds Frigga by the forearms, locking eyes with her.

"Mother, you will not lose me. I may not live on Asgard forever, but we will not lose each other. And, I swear an oath to the Norns and all the gods that could be listening, I will bring Thor home by any and all means possible," they don't even think of letting their voice break, even though their skin crawls at what they just said. Bringing back someone who's banished for war matters (as Odin has already noted in the palace's files) is treason even by a king, the easiest way to get a death sentence.

But Loki refuses to let the family shatter even more than Odin had already allowed it to, even if it means that they'll all die trying to reunite.

"If anything happens, know that I am by your side until the end," her voice is stem, chin up and shoulders in like a soldier. Loki recognizes her queen façade, they've noticed it in any meeting and speech, but have never faced it directly. They can feel their skin crawling, the woman who, no matter how much she loves her kids, always took her husband's side to secure her safety agrees on to commit the highest treason.

They don't know if she's desperate or dedicated, but they do know that they want to hug her so badly.

“Mother, I… Thank you so much,” Loki does end up hugging her, letting some tears stream down.

Frigga holds them tightly, and Loki can feel the clothes get wet where her eyes are. Have they even seen her cry before?

"How… How will you do it?" She asks, her voice shaking. Loki takes a deep breath.

"I have a plan in mind,"

It's quiet, so quiet. He doesn't remember being alone for that long. Whoever threw him here must have decided to let him rot and die, or they're planning a better way to torture him.

Does he even know how long it's been since he hasn't felt that pain? Could be a few weeks or even several eons… But, he does know that he can't take it any longer. His pride is shattered in pieces, his whole identity is ruined.

How can he be the king of Asgard when he can't escape a Midgardian prison? And how can he be the God of Thunder when thunder is what broke him? Maybe that's what Father was trying to teach him… Maybe…

"Heimdall, I know you can hear me… I can't take this any longer, please send help. I don't want to die here," it's the only words he manages to utter, his voice hoarse from the screams. Then, the pain returns.

Chapter Text

Loki is pacing up and down and muttering possible outcomes to whatever plan they're thinking, Frigga watching from a seat. It's a habit Loki had since a kid, pacing and muttering whenever thinking. Odin used to hate it, consider it idiotic. But Frigga loved watching them go through the situation in their own way.

The pacing comes to a halt when a panting Sif storms in. "Loki… Thor sent a distress signal!" She screams, making Frigga go pale as Loki stares at her.

"He… he reached out to Heimdall, asked for help, said he can't take it any longer. Heimdall says he's being tortured by nazis or something," before she can finish off, Loki had already changed to their armor.

"You get the Idiots Three and meet me at the Bifrost in five," they order and walk out, Sif following and fetching everyone, armed and ready.

Without a single word, Heimdall unleashes them to Earth. He knows that only destruction will follow, and he can't wait to watch it.

The Bifrost makes a very characteristic sound when landing somewhere. Before the pain, Thor would swear he recognizes it everywhere. Now he's sure his mind is playing it from the memory, trying desperately to give him false hope.

More explosions follow, then gunshots and screams. Thor is sure he heard Fandral somewhere in the chaos. He stumbles up from the metal cage and hits on the door, yelling Fandral name as loud as he can.

"Your majesty, I think I heard him," Sif yells. Your majesty? Odin is here? Did he reconsider Thor's punishment? Maybe he'll be lucky enough to end in the dungeons…

The metal door opens, the sudden light blinding Thor. He swears someone is in front of him, but he can't see a clear figure. But, he can hear Loki's voice calling his name softly.

"Brother…" Thor whispers, can't find the strength to speak louder, and tries to reach out to Loki, but his legs finally give up on him. Loki runs forward, catching Thor before he falls down.

"Yes, Thor. It's me, I'm here. Your friends are here, you're safe," Loki fumbles, moving away the hair from Thor's face. Their hands feel colder against him, and their body tenses.

"Thor, we'll get you to the best healers, you will be good as new. And… we killed them. We killed them all, for daring to harm you. They'll never lend a hand to you again," they promise, voice breaking slightly. Thor wants to believe them, to say anything, but he loses consciousness before he can even think.

"Loki, you should rest," Sif snaps, her patience vanished half an hour ago.

"Oh right. Should I sleep while THOR IS BLEEDING TO DEATH?!" Loki yells, their seiðr glowing through their eyes. Sif would be intimidated, but she knows it just means they're losing control of their magic.

"Maybe you should tell Heimdall to open the Bifrost, so we can get him to the healers, preferably before you pass out as well," she argues, hoping there's some reason within that idiot's head. She bets the only requirement to be in the royal family is being the most stubborn idiot imaginable…

"May I remind you that Thor is mortal and wounded? He won't survive the Bifrost," Loki takes some deep breaths before answering. They're all tired, and fighting will not heal Thor.

"Can't you worldwalk?" Fandral points out.

"I do not want to carry so many people with me in this state," Loki admits, making Sif smirk.

"So you are about to faint," she smiles.

"WE'VE BEEN WALKING THE DESERT FOR HOURS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?!" this time, their markings become visible. Sif doesn't know if it's the tiredness or the anger, but she won't take any chances.

"And besides, you cannot come to Asgard," Frigga's voice echoes from behind them, an illusion standing there.

"What?!" Sif snaps.

"Odin has awoken, he noticed your absence but has not spotted you. Heimdall cannot transfer you," she explains.

"Right… shit… your highness, don't you have that cousin on Vanaheim that is a healer?" Volstagg tries to think.

"Should we go there, they'll report to Odin… the elves too…" Sif mutters, trying to think. But Loki has already opened a portal, making snow fall on the sand.

"Doesn't Thor hate Fr- Jötnar?" Hogun asks.

"I'm open to alternatives, then," Loki raises an eyebrow, accepting the silence that followed as a response. Sif sighs and instructs everyone to get in the portal. Loki passes last, closing it the moment they've gone through.