not the family reunion they were expecting

Chapter 4

As Loki, Sylvie, and Thor get closer to Alioth, the sky gets darker and the winds get louder. It's easier to see his true form from this distance. No longer is he just an overarching cloud of destruction; he has a distinct face, illuminated by the lightning flashing within. He seems to grow bigger the longer Loki looks at him, and not just because they're getting closer. It's almost enough to make him wonder if going after him is the best course of action.

Almost.

But if there's even a small chance they could get past this monster and tear down the TVA, he's going to take it. He's certainly not letting his friends do this alone.

Much of the walk is in silence, and it's not until they're standing in front of the beast that the silence is broken, with Thor asking, "Do we have a plan?"

"We're going to wait for a branch," Sylvie says. "Alioth will go eat it, and while it's distracted, that's when I'll enchant it."

"Oh, wow," Thor says, almost to himself, "that actually does sound like a plan." He pauses. "Are you sure you're a Loki?"

Loki scoffs. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You never actually have a plan," Thor says. "You just do a thing — you know, a disguise or some sleight of hand or —"

"That is not true!" Loki says indignantly. Why does everyone keep saying that? He does make plans and he's not just a magician. "Do you think I became King of Asgard without a plan? That the throne just fell into my lap?"

"That's exactly what I think," Thor says. "In my timeline, you told me you didn't even want to be king."

"Well..."

He did say that, didn't he? And he meant it at the time. In hindsight, he's actually not quite sure why he's been trying so hard to take over Midgard and to take over the TVA. No throne is actually going to make him happy.

But he can't admit that. He would essentially be admitting that his plan to convince Thor to go to Jotunheim did not go at all how he wanted it to and that maybe it wasn't as well-thought-out as he'd hoped (though had Sif and the Warriors Three not gone to Midgard against his wishes, it absolutely would have worked out in his favor, thank you very much). All he says is, "It was an adaptable plan for an unpredictable circumstance — and I still got what I wanted." Briefly. And he didn't really enjoy it.

"It's not a plan if you keep changing it," Sylvie tells him.

"And what did you get out of it?" Thor asks. "What was it you wanted? The respect of Asgard? The whole realm shuddered when they heard word from their new king."

Loki crosses his arms. "I'm not having this conversation with you."

"Because I'm right?" Thor asks mockingly.

Yes.

"No, because you're obnoxious," Loki says.

"It wouldn't be obnoxious if you didn't believe it," Thor says.

"I don't believe it," Loki lies. "That's exactly what makes it obnoxious."

"Uh, guys?" Sylvie says, and the nervousness in her voice is enough to shut them up. "I don't know if we're going to get that branch in time."

Loki turns his attention back to Alioth, and the cloud is looking over them, as if ready to strike at any moment. He wants to look back to Sylvie for instruction, but he doesn't want to take his eyes off of the beast.

"What do we do?" Loki asks.

"I don't know," Sylvie says. "We need a distraction, but without a branch..."