A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

EIGHT

[flashback]
{avengers}

"Loki! Turn off the tesseract or I'll destroy it!"

"You can't. There is no stopping it. There is only... the war." Loki points his sceptre at Thor.

"Then so be it." Thor can see that this is not the Loki he grew up with. It's not the Loki that fell in love with Astrid. Heck, it's not even the Loki he fought last time. He was different, brainwashed.

It seemed like there was no end to this fight, it went on and on. When Clint and Nat flew in to help, Loki simply tried to shoot them down with no care in the world.

"Loki, look at this! Look around you! You think this madness will end with your rule?"

"It's too late... it's too late to stop it." For a moment Thor thought he was getting somewhere with Loki. His eyes flickered from blue to green and back. For a moment Loki looked scared.

"No. We can. Together. We can stop this and then you can return to Astrid." Loki paused to think about all the times he spent with her.

"But, brother, can't you see." Loki stabs Thor with his dagger. "This is all for her."

[time skip]
{thor; the dark world}

     The amount of destruction Loki caused on Earth was devastating. People lost their lives in the destruction of New York. Others lost loved ones. On present day in Asgard, Loki stands before the Allfather in shackles awaiting to face the punishment for his crimes.

"Loki..." His mother stands to the side, she almost looks disappointed.

"Hello, mother. Have I made you proud?" Loki grins at Frigga.

"Please don't make this worse." She pleads him. Even after everything he's done, he was still her son.

"Define worse?"

"Enough! I will speak to the prisoner alone." Odin raises his voice gaining Loki's attention and causing Frigga to leave the room. Loki then walks forward with his chains rattling with every step he takes. When he's close enough he clicks his feet together before chuckling to himself, finding the whole situation amusing.

"I really don't see what all the fuss is about."

"Do you not truly feel the gravity of your crimes? Wherever you go there is war, ruin and death." Loki couldn't help but notice the look Odin gave him. The same look he gave him while dangling off the rainbow bridge. The look of disappointment. Loki simply felt it was only because he knew the truth... because Loki knew he wasn't Odins son, he would no longer care for Loki.

"I went down to Midgard to rule the people of Earth as a benevolent God. Just like you." Loki said with a more serious tone.

"We are not Gods. We're born, we live, we die. Just like humans do."

"Give or take 5,000 years."

"All this because Loki desires... a throne." Loki scowled at Odin. How would he know what Loki desires. There was much more to in than that. But he chose not to argue with Odin about what he truly wanted.

"It's my birthright!"

"Your birthright... was to die! As a child. Cast out onto a frozen rock. If I had not taken you in, you would not be here now, to hate me." Loki looked away from Odin rolling his eyes before speaking up again.

"If I'm for the axe then for mercy's sake, just swing it. It's not that I don't love our little talks, it's just that... I don't love them." Loki was bored now of looking at Odins face and hearing him complain to him about his failures.

"Frigga is the only reason you're still alive and you will never see her again. You'll spend the rest of your days in the dungeon."

"And what of Thor? You'll make that witless oaf king while I rot in chains."

"Thor must strive to undo the damage you have done. He'll bring order to the nine realms and then yes, he will be king." The guards pulled Loki back by his shoulders to escort him. But, there was one more thing he wished to know so he stopped his tracks and turned to Odin again.

"And what of Astrid?" He hadn't seen her yet and he was feeling sick, not even sure if he wanted to know.

"We had to build peace once again with Vanaheim after you exiled Frey from Asgard. He was threatening to bring war upon us. Princess Astrid was returned to Vanaheim where she belonged."

"You did what?!" Loki felt his blood boil. There was a reason he got her out of there. All the events of what happened 2 years ago was for her and now he couldn't help but feel it was for nothing. But even worse, he dread to think what that good-for-nothing King was doing to her. Loki attempted to walk up to Odin.

"Do you have any idea of what you have done!" With his outburst more guards came rushing in to detain him.

"Loki! It was her choice!"

"Lies!" Loki didn't believe Odin. How could he? In Loki's opinion Odin couldn't care less about anyone but himself.

"Do you know what he's done to her in the past. Hell. Do you know if she's even alive right now?" His anger was getting worse by the minute.

"Loki... you could read it on her face what he had been doing the girl. However, as King of Asgard, it is not my place to interfere with what the King chooses to do in his own realm. Unfortunately, that it how it works." Loki couldn't believe what he was hearing. Odin gave up on Astrid just like that. Because he didn't want to fight Frey. If it were Loki, he would've fought til his final breath.

"Besides there's no need to get so angry. Astrid is alive and well. If you wish to know. Thor is over there as we speak with the Warriors Three and Sif. Vanaheim was being attacked and Frey required some assistance." But Loki didn't want to hear anymore. He went to walk away once more but turned to say something he was probably going to regret.

"What if it was mother in Astrid's situation... think about it. Poor young Frigga, nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. She can't escape the horrid truth. Beaten again, again and again. Day by day. Yet you can't do a single thing. And before you know it, one day. She will be dead." Loki's voice was cold. If there was one way to upset Odin, it's to talk about his beloved wife.

"Get him out of here... Now!" Loki was dragged away but he was amused, he got under Odins skin.