Fix You (Loki Romance)

Chapter 10

Loki's POV

Ebony's stubbornness would probably get her killed one day, just as much as his mouthing off had gotten him into all sorts of trouble. But as the night wore on and sleep continued to evade him, he began to think she might be right. Thanos would come. He would probably kill Loki.

But he had followed Thor into battles they had no chance of winning. He had defied Thanos for Ebony's sake, despite knowing the consequences. Thanos was a man of his word. He would bring destruction to Asgard. But Asgard had survived the worst. Loki had survived torture of all sorts.

He would live his life to its fullest, no matter what would come his way. When dawn had come, he hurried to find Odin. He saw no real need to ask for permission for what he wanted. But Ebony was trying so hard to make things right and he knew that if he wanted to do the same between them, then he needed to help. He approached Odin, hoping this would also serve as a small step towards reconciliation.

It was a brief conversation, marked by two questions from Loki, two requests. Odin's surprise rendered him speechless. But finally he nodded, swallowed, and smiled shakily.

"Yes. Yes, I suppose now that she is staying. Of course." With a quiet thanks, Loki began to leave him. "Loki!" Odin called. He stopped. "I am..." He cleared his throat. "I wish you the best."

Loki shifted on his feet. He remembered, in that moment of silence, times when Odin had looked fondly on he and Thor. He remembered when Odin had seen his first attempts at magic and smiled and shown him what he himself could do. He remembered the moments he had forgotten and twisted and tossed aside. A lump formed in his throat that he couldn't swallow past. He nodded. "Yes well... The least you could do, I suppose." He disappeared back inside, intent on finding someone who could provide him with what he needed.

When he could, he closed himself in the bedroom and sat down to concentrate. Throwing his consciousness was a difficult task but one he had some practice with. He startled Olivia when he appeared in her kitchen. She moved around him, her hand waving through the illusion once he admitted that it was merely a projection.

He asked her the same question, discovering with little surprise that she was angry with him. Not because of the question, but because of who he was in general. She put on a front for her sister, pretending to be happy for her, to be willing to give him a chance. But without Ebony present, Loki saw the mistrust, the anger, the fear.

She would never trust him. Forgiveness was out the question. He didn't blame her. He had yet to forgive himself. It still made him sick.

But for Ebony's sake, and because she saw the desperation, the pain, the tortured remorse he couldn't hide, she agreed. Preparations could begin.

Days later, with his package weighing meaningfully in his pocket, he dragged Thor behind him through the palace.

"Brother, what is the meaning of this?" Thor asked for the umpteenth time.

"Hush and be patient!" Loki snapped. He knocked on Sif's door. The warrior opened it and glared at Loki. But seeing Thor behind him, she hesitated and waited. Loki explained as he drew her out of her room. "You are Ebony's closest friends here. I need your approval. Her birthday is coming in a week." He led them to an empty, circular room that had once been used for sparring long before the training rooms were moved.

He opened the door and let them in. "A few weeks ago, Ebony mentioned that she wished it would snow." He walked into the three inches of snow piled inside the room. "I've discovered a way to make it so." He smiled sheepishly. "This is a small enough space to practice. I've made a makeshift atmosphere here."