Nexus

Chapter Six

AN:Thank you to Lulusurfista for helping me get motivated and back on track with this story. I couldn't have done it without them. Enjoy!

"Why?" Thor stood in front of him, bleeding. "Why did you do this?" Loki tried to move, only to find his feet stuck to the ground, encased in ice. Thor's blood kept spilling from the wound in his chest as he spoke. "I didn't-" "LIAR! That's all you'll ever be! A liar and a murderer." His brother spat, blood dripping from his snarling lips. His eyes dulled, bright blue replaced by a glazed nothingness. "I'm dead because of you. I only wish I could return the favor!" Thor reached up, ripping the knife from his chest with a bloodless hand. Then he threw it right at Loki's head.

Loki awoke with a gasp that quickly shifted into a sob. Tears soaked into his slightly torn pillow as he cried, muffled by a thick blanket. He choked, throat painfully tight. I deserve this pain. Thor's voice joined his thoughts, bitter and raw and so unlike his brother. You deserve so much worse. He tried to stand, to run, but got tangled in the blanket and fell, crying out as he landed on his still-bandaged arm. That's where he lay, sobbing in the dark, until a string of rainbow lights blinked on, signaling the sunrise. 

The smell of roasting meat is what finally convinced him to detangle himself from his cocoon on the floor. Norns, he was starving. Once he managed to free himself, he made his way out of his sectioned-off room, into the rest of the Midgardian "Bowling Alley".

Old Loki sat there, holding a sizzling pan over a green flame with one hand, and a cup of tea with the other.

He'd known the older Loki for nearly a fortnight now, and was still surprised by him, from how open he was about so much, to how much he kept hidden, locked where no one would ever see it, not even himself.

"Come on now, eat." The old man held out a plate with a small assortment of food. What looked like rice, a strange fruit, and an even stranger piece of meat, almost silver in color. He took the plate, asking, "Where did you find all this?" "You can find nearly anything here, if you know where to look." His eyes glinted mischievously, crow's feet appearing as he smirked. "I'll show you; my stock is running low, anyway." 

Contrary to what he had expected, the meat tasted strongly of fish, despite being that of one of the strange birds that roamed the wasteland. 

"Are you sure you're alright? You don't look like you've been sleeping well." "I'm fine! Norns, you're acting like mother." The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-" Then, to his surprise, the old man began to laugh. Barely a light chuckle, but it was so far from the reaction he had expected that he just stood there, frozen. "Everyone always told me I took after mother. I only recently realized that it was a good thing. Better than taking after Odin, I suppose." He added, shrugging slightly. "That, we can agree on." 

He finished his meal in silence, thinking about Frigga and Odin and anything, anyone, but Thor.

Old Loki waved a hand, instantly cleaning the plates before he stood. "Come, follow me." He climbed the ladder first, carefully surveying the landscape before motioning for Loki to come up as well. "Alioth is over there, 30 miles out." He looked where the old man was pointing, spotting the dark cloud on the horizon, and adding "So if he spots us, we have 15 minutes to get to cover." "Exactly." Old Loki began walking, following a loose path. 

Eventually, they came to a small building. It looked like a Midgardian barn, chipped and faded red paint crossed with a white trim. There was a rusty chain holding the door closed, but as Loki got closer, he could see a faint glimmer of green around it. The glimmer disappeared and the chain fell, letting the double doors creak open. Inside were bags upon bags, baskets filled with fruit, and a crate of tea. "How did you…" "I had some help. I guess you could call him an… unusual ally. He owned the helicopter we passed on the way here." "Owned?" Past tense. "Alioth." Old Loki sighed slightly. "Nothing can last forever, I suppose." He had a slight feeling that the old man wasn't just talking about his ally, but he didn't comment.

They picked a few baskets, carrying them back to the bowling alley. On the way, Old Loki stopped by a few snares, collecting the dead birds and resetting them. They made conversation, but fell back into silence quickly. 

Once the food was in the bunker, Loki stepped back outside, sitting on the hill by the entrance. A small flock of the birds scurried past, orbs bobbing above their necks. He took a deep breath, his first in days, the rainy air filling his lungs. Maybe, just maybe, everything would be alright.

There came a low, rattling growl from the underbrush. Loki jumped, a dagger coming to rest in his hand as he searched for the source of the sound. A pair of reptilian eyes poked out, a bright emerald green against the dull plants. Slowly, the alligator emerged, growling again. Loki noticed the small helmet on its head, the golden horns. "Don't tell me you're a Loki as well." The alligator cocked its head to the side slightly, then gave an unmistakable nod.