Thor 2 fanfic - The 913th - Day Ch 2

The destruction of the grand throne room, while disheartening, he could ignore. What did a betrayed king of Asgard care for crushed stone glittering with flicks of ruined gold? Thor's trudge—heavier than normal and announcing his distressed state far better than any words—triggered only a muted desire to nettle. Odd...

"Trouble in paradise, brother?" Loki asked, hearing his own half-heartedness. Bah, I am merely tired.

Thor pivoted around as he walked. "Do not try me, Loki. Not today."

"Surely you're not so attached to material things?" Loki angled his head towards the golden rubble they walked through. "Even such grandeur as this can be rebuilt." Rebuilt but never repaired, my dearest brother!

"I care not for buildings." Thor continued his trudge around random chunks, and Loki realized they walked towards their family's private quarters. Thor's family, not mine. Not anymore.

"Indeed," he whispered to Thor's back and arched a brow even as his stomach twisted. "I can tell by your lack of housekeeping."

Thor grunted something Loki understood to be insulting, but uninspired. What had happened to create this drab version? How boring. How tedious. How-

"Loki." Thor had become a wall before the entrance to their—argh! Thor's—parents' chambers.

He stopped short and scowled at his not-brother. "Now what? Change your mind about those promises?"

Thor closed his eyes and sighed, a thick, put-upon exhalation.

Loki covered his heart with a hand and leaned close, lips twitching at the corners. "I promise not to harm the All-Father."

Faster than expected, faster than Loki remembered him ever moving, Thor swung his left arm up and caged the back of his neck in that ham-handed way that was just so … Thor. Entire body tensing, Loki flinched away from the blue intensity of his eyes.

"Keep your words civil, brother," Thor whispered in a brittle voice, and Loki saw that some strange emotion was making his eyes bluer as if he might…

"Thor?" Loki swallowed against the sudden dryness in his mouth. "What is it?"

Thor's fingers quested in his unkempt hair, and Loki desperately wished for a bath. How raggedy he must appear. Had he truly been only a month?

"I ask only that your words are civil, Loki," Thor said softly. "There will be no venom beyond these doors. Agreed?"

"You care so much for your father's tender emotions?"

Fingers tightened on the back of his neck. "Agreed?" Thor asked in a stern voice.

Always father's favorite son! Even now he protects him over me! Loki trembled as they stared to a draw, then he shrugged and nodded. "Yes, of course. Whatever you wish, brother."

Thor nodded and reluctantly released his grip. Was the fool finally learning? Possibly. Even Thor couldn't remain dull-witted forever.

"Civil words, Loki," Thor said in that 'I'm the eldest and you'll obey me or else' voice as he opened the double doors, which were marred by black marks and gouges. Odd that he only now noticed.

"Yes, yes…" Loki waved an arm. "I promise…"

Crying … Not full-throated wailing or choking sobs, but soft sniffs of restraint. But who cried? Why?

The Warriors Three who shared a brain clustered to one side of the room at the hearth. They glared as he and Thor passed through the common room. Loki smirked and bowed his head politely. Let them wonder. Lady Sif stood a few feet away, alone. She projected such nauseating anticipation towards Thor that Loki revised his previous judgment on Thor's foolishness. How can anyone be ignorant of such blatancy? Loki rolled his eyes at Thor's back, and Sif narrowed her eyes at him. Of course the harpy would notice what Thor did not.

He smiled, making sure to bare his teeth. "Lady Sif."

She didn't answer. She looked to be near vomiting. Well… Loki's fingers itched. He could help that along.

"Loki." Thor's voice cut his concentration and the half-formed spell dissolved.

"Yes?" he asked sweetly.

Thor shook his head and chuckled. He actually chuckled. "At least some things are unchanged."

"Thor," Sif said, "You're father awoke while you were gone."

"Good, that will make things easier."

A bubble burst in Loki's chest. A lightness pervaded for a moment. Growling, he fisted his hands. "Enough."

The air hardened between them, Thor's expression blanked and his Adam's apple bobbed. "Follow me, Loki, there is much to…" He cut himself off and pinched his face as if the remaining words were too painful.

That's when Loki knew his life would change again, forever. "Thor?" Thor furrowed his brows and glanced at the last door. The one leading to his parents' bedchamber. Pushing past his mountainous not-brother, Loki breached the last barrier. Thor's footfalls were close on his heels.

"Loki?" The All-Father looked up from his seated, slumped position. He was pale and etched with far more age-lines than a month could ever cause. Gone was Odin's armor and Gungnir sat neglected against the wall. Odin reached a hand out to him. "My son…"

What insanity is this? The crystal walls were gone, yes? Truly gone?

"Mother?"

Had he spoken aloud? Laying on the bed, she didn't stir, so he must've only spoken in his mind. Loki stepped closer.

"Mother?"

There. He'd heard his voice that time. Yet still she lay unmoving, her hair a golden meadow around her face and shoulders. She was truly a goddess. He looked to Odin who'd dropped his hand to reclaim his mother's limp one. She was sleeping, of course! A type of Odin-Sleep, though he'd never heard of such a thing for his mother, Frigga.

"Mother," he said louder as he approached the edge of her bed. What was wrong with her? Why didn't she answer? Why did her chest not move with breath?

Thor's hand fell upon his shoulder, comforting this time, not controlling. He glanced over his shoulder and that intensity to Thor's eyes… No, no, I won't accept it!

"She's…" Thor bit his lower lip and pinched his too-bright eyes shut.

Loki jerked away and hissed, "Don't! Don't you ever!"

"Loki."

"I won't hear it!" Thor tried to embrace him, but Loki shoved him back, then collapsed onto the edge of her bed and buried his face in her torso, hands digging desperate furrows. The silken duvet was sandpaper. "She's not gone! Not Mother!"

"Loki." Though Odin's voice was stern, his hand was gentle as it cupped his head and combed his filthy hair.

"No!"

"My son, listen to me."

A sob caught as he lifted his head. He couldn't disobey any more than he could hold back his tears. Odin moved the hand to the side of his face-so warm-Loki wanted to clasp it closer. He wanted to thrust it far away. What more? What more must I endure?

"She died a warrior's death defending Asgard."

"Asgard," he repeated dully. "From who?" His heart sped up until his ears thundered. "Who did this?"

Odin removed his hand, and the entire frost of Jotunheim crusted over him. Did his heart still beat? Did a frost giant have a heart?

"Malekith," Odin said and ground his teeth hard enough that Loki cringed.

"The Accursed Elf of Svartalfheim." Loki sat up as he gazed at his mother's peaceful visage. An eerie calm drifted over him.

"Yes," Thor said behind him.

"That's why you need my help." Loki faced Thor. "You want to go to Svartalfheim."

Thor shifted his stance, crossed his arms and dropped his eyes slightly. "Yes. Among other things."

Loki curled the end of Mother's hair around his fingers. Neither Odin or Thor spoke and the silence stretched until Loki wanted to laugh. They wait so patiently. I, however, cannot.

"Done," he said as he sent a surge of magic from his fingers to sever the lock of hair. Even such a small amount of magic usage brought a wave of nausea. Holding it back, he remained stoic and saw Odin's mouth thin and his eye narrow. Let the All-Father stew; he would keep a memento.

"You will help your brother defeat Malekith?" Odin asked.

Loki stood, his token clasped in his fist. Later, he would vanish it for safekeeping. "I said I would."

"Regardless of the risk to yourself?"

"All-Father…" Loki growled.

"All will be well, Father," Thor said, standing by his side. "Loki feels as I do."

The annoying bubble in his chest returned. This shall have to be remedied; Loki forced a smile, after Malekith is burned from Yggdrasil's roots.