Consequences

20

The Other first appeared to Loki in his dreams three years after Sigyn's tortures had ended. Loki had finally started to feel a little more like himself- like he had control once again of his own body and his own destiny, able to let his wife touch him without his explicit permission and without continually flinching, the flashbacks and nightmares finally fading in frequency to the point where they would only happen once a month at most- when the familiar menacing voice told him that he had precious little time before he would be brought before Thanos. Loki asked how he would be collected and The Other simply said it would be when he least expected it. Loki asked to come willingly. Shocked, The Other accepted and they set a date in a week's time.

The next morning he broke the news to Brynja as they bathed together and she broke down sobbing, clinging to him, knowing full well there was no escape this time. He did not know how to comfort her, instead held her tightly and tried to keep himself from breaking down along with her. Loki explained to his son that he would be leaving, but not because he wanted to, and the child could not be consoled. At breakfast, she was silent, waiting for him to break the news to the rest of the family while Amundr cried on her lap. When he did, the reactions were not quite what he had predicted. Katja left, angry, without saying anything. Sunny cried over her plate without speaking. Frigga and Freyja held one another like sisters and Frigga sobbed. Odin placed a hand on his wife's back and bowed his head, silent. Thor walked over to Loki and asked what he could do to make things easier for him and Loki only asked that Thor take care of his wife and the children.

Mid week, Sunny came to her parents and asked to stay with them so she could spend their last few days together as a family. She also revealed a plan she had been mulling on.

"I do not believe The Other will take you directly to Thanos. I think he seeks revenge of his own first. We will not allow this. I have been speaking to the other witches. Angrboda wishes to accompany you to see you to Thanos safely. She believes her skill set makes her an excellent escort. Over the next few days, I am going to try to see through your eyes so that I can see what you see and report to the family what happens to you, both to make sure your journey is safe and to keep an eye on you through the years to see if we can find a way to rescue you." Sunny paused and looked Loki in the eyes, her face serious, "You don't have a choice in this matter. Your other option is that we bind you and refuse to let you go, drawing out The Other, killing him, and luring Thanos here for a fight. Both you and I know that would not end well for anyone involved, but if you resist our other plan, we are willing to do this as well." She knew she was on shaky territory, taking away Loki's ability to choose his fate, but given that she only had a few days left before she would lose him entirely, it was a risk she was willing to take.

Brynja sighed and lowered her head, "I can't convince you otherwise, can I?"

"No."

Loki nodded, "I will allow you to go ahead with your plan. Just please, if things get unpleasant, know that I will do everything I can to block you from my mind. I know that what Thanos seeks to do to me will be terrible. I will not let you see it."

"Then we have an agreement?"

"Yes, we do."

Sunny let go of his hand and threw her arms around his neck, "Thank you. I'm going to miss you so much."

He held her tight and whispered back, "I have so much to thank you for over the years, little one. I will hold you in my heart no matter what fate I meet."

Sunny had tears in her eyes, "I should have been calling you Father for all these years and it's only been these last few that I've considered it. I never wanted to hurt Fandral, but you did just as much, if not more, to raise me than he did."