Tom Hiddleston and Loki Imagines - Bk. 1

Loki - Innocence

        "Get your hands off me!" you scream out, struggling to free yourself from the guards' grasps.  You had been caught sneaking around the Asgardian palace.  No one, not even your parents knew you were here; you were a very mischievous one.

        The guards throw you in front of Odin, who sat prominently on his throne.  You'd grown up to despise his face.  You spat towards him, gaining the quiet chuckles of the two small boys standing next to him.  Odin looks down at the and quickly sushes them.

        "Why were you among our borders, Jotun child?"  And there was that, your kind being rivals of Asgardian blood.

        "Pfft.  Why does it matter? I didn't do anything wrong, I didn't steal any of your 'precious treasure.'"

        "You are a liability to a sacred peace treaty that I have with Laufey."  You knew the name well, your mother one of his closest servants.

        "I will make sure to give my ruler your regards once I return home."

        "That will not be necessary."  You raise your eyebrows.

        "Why not?"

        "Because that is not one of the options that you have."  He rises and walks to you.  You notice the boys squirming, trying to fit both of themselves on the thone's seat but failing miserably.  You turn your attention back to Odin, who is now two feet away.

        "Because you are just a child, I will give you a choice, a simple, but fair choice seeing that you are wise beyond your years.  Either you die, and this will be over in a matter of hours.  Or you can live, but you will spend the remainder of your life in our dungeons.  The choice is yours, and I know you will choose wisely."

        He turns around and starts to walk back to his throne, but you call out to him.

        "Death."  He pauses, stopping in his tracks before he turns back around to you.

        "Pardon?"

        "I know you want to.  I am not important to Laufey anyway, so I'm no use for you.  So why bother and provide me a place to stay?  Unless you're going to make an exhibit of me so kids can see their bedtime monster, then just kill me."

        "If that is your wish."  He nods to the guards, and they start to pull you away.

        "No."  The guards halt.  Everyone snaps their heads towards the throne.  Loki gets up and starts walking to Odin.

        "No?"  Odin repeats.

        "Father," Loki speaks up, "if you kill her, then Laufey will see this as a violation, even if she did break it first.  Neither killing her nor imprisoning her will bring peace to Asgard."

        Odin looks at Loki, then back at you.  He sighs and turns back to his son.

        "Then what do you propose, young one?"

        "Send her back.  Tell Laufey.  Then if she comes back, you have every right to give her the same ultimatum."  Odin gives this some thought, never looking away from the child.

        "Bring her to the Bifrost."  You dart your eyes to the child, who looks back at you.  You smile at him, and he returns it.

        "Thank you," you mouth to him.

Years later...

        You were walking along the borders of Jotunheim.  The years had served you well: your boldness in your youth demonstrated your fearlessness to Laufey, and now you served as a guardian and protector to the realm's borders.  Plus, you liked being alone; it gave you time to think.

        A soft, quick noise catches your attention.  You snap your head around, but you find nothing.  Not liking what you sensed, you turn your right hand into a blade of ice and hold your ice staff close in hand as you search around the icicles.  You see a figure scurry away, and you chase after them.  You catch up to them, tackling them to the ground, and, after a minute of wrestling, pin them down with your icy hand to their throat.  Your hardened eyes soften as the figures face comes to view.

        "Now who's among whose borders, Asgardian boy?"  He chuckles softly as you allow him to rise, turning your hand to normal as you help him up.

        "The name is Loki.  Just so you know."  You smile.

        "(Y/N)."  After assisting him, he puts his arm behind his back.  You take note, but don't mention it.

        "You know, this could breech the peace treaty between Asgard and Jotunheim," you continued to mock.  "Wait, actually, didn't your brother already do that?"

        "I assure you, I mean no harm."

        "Shall I give you an ultimatum?"  You both smile.

        "Alright, that's enough."  You start aimlessly walking with him along the borders.

        "So what brings you to this ice pit?" you ask.

        "Can I not venture between worlds?"

        "But 'rules and regulations' and all that pomp and circumstance-y stuff...isn't that what you've been waiting your whole life for?"  Loki grows silent, and you instantly regret your comment.  "I'm sorry, I just thought..."

        "No, it's perfectly fine."

        "That's not what your demeanor says."  He stops and looks at you.  "There must be something killing you inside, you were so quick to speak your mind when you were little."

        "You don't know me."

        "I just may know more than you think."  Loki watches your hand like a hawk, shaking as you go to touch his cheek.  It instantly turns blue.  He snaps his eyes to yours.

        "Stop that.  Stop that immediately."  You retrieve your hand, letting it rest at your side.

        "Odin almost killed a curious Jotun girl, and after that big speech and war with Laufey, he couldn't have a Frost Giant on the throne.  Is that it?"

        "Shut up!" Loki screams with agitation, fursiouly walking away.  You catch up with him.

        "Oh that's just it.  That's why you shut down.  Because once you found out the truth, you knew exactly why he shut you out from the throne.  I'm guessing your destructive brother is for the throne, and you're mad because you never even had a real chance."

        "HE'S NOT MY BROTHER!" he yells back at you, turning around to face you.  He breathes angrily, and you know you've hit his weak spot.

        "This is the true heritage of the Frost Giants, Loki.  Knowing everyone hates you, even if you've done nothing wrong.  Just the name brings a rage of anger and disgust to many.  And no matter how hard you try, how good you really are, everyone sees you as just another Jotun, just another nightmare."

        "Is that how you felt?" he asks with genuine concern.  "That day you were captured.  Is that why you said what you said?"  Now it was your turn to be at a loss for words.  He steps closer to you.  "I'll have you know that I wasn't afraid of you.  I protected you, (Y/N)."

        "And why did you?"

        "Because I believed you.  Because you were innocent."

        "Maybe you should remember that the next time you feel bad about being Jotun."  You continue to walk ahead of him.  After a moment, he calls out to you.

        "So what are you going to do with me?"  You turn around, still walking.

        "You're innocent.  I have no reason to imprison you."

        "Will I ever see you again?"

        "If you'd like."  You exchange smiles before you head off, blinding yourself to his intrusion.