The Girl with the Blackbird Tattoo

-7-

I braided my hair as Loki sat in the same place he'd sat for the last two hours, staring at nothing, eyes blank, the green and black magic still clouded around us. We both grieved, he much more than I, and I understood every action he had made. Frigga was the kindest woman I'd met, and despite only knowing her a year, she showed me way it would have been like to have a mother, often amused with the meaningless guess between Loki and I.

"Thor, after all this time and now you come to visit me. Why? Have you come to gloat? To mock?" Loki's voice caught me off guard, and I realised it was the illusion that spoke. The real eyes met mine, broken.
"Ignore him, Thor, it's good to see a familiar face." My own illusion smiled at him, but he didn't smile back.
"Enough, both of you. No more illusions." He ordered, and I watched Loki, waiting to see what he would do. When the green mist parted from my own, removing the illusions, I dispersed the shield, revealing the hidden truth. Thor could now see Loki, hair tangled, clothes torn, foot bleeding, slumped against the floor. Scratches decorated the wall, marks from thrown furnishings, red footprints showing his route when destroying the cell, the only thing in place was the bed, a place for me to rest my head.

"Now you see me, brother." Loki hissed, and I watched as Thor walked up to the other side of the cell, closer to Loki. "Did she suffer?"

"I did not come here to share our grief." Thor didn't answer the question, in my mind, the image of her death replayed. "Instead I offer you the chance of a far richer sacrament." Thor's words peaked our interest.

"Go on." Loki nodded.

"I know you seek vengeance as much as I do. You help me escape Asgard and I will grant it to you, vengeance. And afterward, this cell," Thor offered.

"You must be truly desperate to come to me for help. What makes you think you can trust me?" Loki asked.

"I don't. Mother did. She does," Thor gestured to me, Loki sees following, looking into mine as if for confirmation, accepting the nod that I offered. "You should know that when we fought each other in the past, I did so with a glimmer of hope that my brother was still in there somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me and I will kill you." Thor added, Loki smiled, entertained by his words.

"When do we start?" Loki stood with the question, and I watched as he returned to his former glory.

"Now." Thor walked up, opening the cell, but I was unsure of what to do.

"And what will become of Agent Hoyt?" Loki didn't exit, instead, he stepped closer to me. Thor looked between us, and then his eyes stopped on me, "mother was right, you truly have brought him light. Come, we may need a strong fighter."

"This is so unlike you, brother. So clandestine. Are you sure you wouldn't rather just punch your way out?" Loki asked, and I smiled, seeing the spring back in his step as we walked.

"If you keep speaking I just might." Thor warned.

"Fine. As you wish. I'm not even here." Loki turned himself into a guard, "is this better?"

"It's better company at least." Thor replied.

"I'd have to say I disagree."

"Please don't tell me he's rubbed off on you that much in the space of a year."

"Ok, chill your highness." I mocked, watching Loki smirk as I copied him, changing into the long gown he'd created long ago, my hair changing to brunette, to outsiders just another lady of Asgard. "We could be less conspicuous." Loki turned back into himself, and then I noticed Thor had changed into Sif, "Hm, brother. You look ravishing."

"It will hurt no less when I kill you in this form." Thor's deep voice spoke from the illusion, irritation making it clear he was second-guessing his plan.