Redemption

Lovely

"You're not allowed to die, dammit!" I gasped, my voice close to breaking as I shook Friala's limp shoulders. "I promised you you wouldn't die here. I promised you I'd get us both home!"

My voice broke on the last word and I let out a sob, my vision blurring, her face pooling into a swirl of color. "I promised..." I hiccuped between sobs, my voice nothing but a whisper as I leaned down, pressing my forehead against the armor on her chest.

There was blood everywhere, and the dagger that was just barely pushing itself through her abdomen was soaked in red.

I had ripped off my helmet on the way to her side, and now it lay in the dirt and blood soaking the ground around us. The battle had ended before I saw her, one of the creatures they were battling had snuck up behind her, stabbing her through the back. One last victim for Thor's ridiculous plan of another battle.

When I did make it to her side, she had already taken her last breath.

My hands shook as I slowly sat up, blinking tears from my eyes. As I leaned back, the world around me faded and I was standing next to a coffin, Friala's sword placed across the top of the stone. My heart was heavy as I stood there, just staring in silence. The world around me had turned dark, bland without color, just as it had when I carried her lifeless body back to Asgard, back to my father.

Hundreds had fallen that same day, but I was unaware of the world other than the body of her. I had refused anyone else to touch her as I cleaned the blood and dirt from her body, her hair. I undressed and redressed her, to make her shine. And all the while, my heart broke piece by piece. My world had shattered, leaving nothing in its wake.

The world bled black, and then I found myself kneeling on the floor to my room. I let out a gasp, the memory seeping out of me as I regained composure to the world around me.

It had been two weeks since her death. Two weeks since they buried her beneath the castle, another victim to Thor's heavy need for battle. I had retreated to my room, no longer caring to eat or drink, yet forcing myself to do so when my mother came to visit.

My hair was a disheveled mess, and I hadn't showered. I had no cares for the world, and it made Odin angry.

I turned angry then. Hatred and rage filling my system. Nothing felt right in the world anymore, and as I destroyed the room in which we had shared together since our engagement, all I could see was red.

Thor hadn't visited me in days, I had screamed at him the last time he came, threatened to stab out his eyes and gut him in the center of the throne room if he so much as glanced my way.

My room was a complete disaster, books and clothes were scattered across the hard, cold floor and bed. I looked around slowly, a dull ache in my chest.

This was my life now.

Alone.

Cold.

I gasped, stumbling and landing on my knees. My world kept shifting beneath me, and I leaned forward, pressing my forehead to the plush rug suddenly under me. I forced myself to take deep breaths, calming myself as the worst moments of my life rushed to my eyes and ebbed away again within seconds.

"Loki?" A soft voice slipped into my chaos, shifting me from my inner turmoil.

"Loki..." she spoke again, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay, I'm here now."

I looked up slowly, eyes opening to the room around us. The hotel. Eris-no, Friala.

As my eyes rose from the floor, I saw blue jeans and a small frame. Smaller than I remembered her being, but the same curves were there. The same round face, but her hair was lighter. And her eyes. No longer were they blue, but brown. Yet, I could feel Friala's soul emanating from her.

"Friala..." I spoke the name slowly, softly, afraid that the ground would slip out from beneath me again. I saw her flinch, and I rose to my feet, anger filing me.

She followed after me, standing close, her heat touching my cold skin. "What happened?" I asked after a moment, calming myself enough to look at her gaze.

"You just...collapsed," she spoke softly, fear in her eyes. "You started sobbing, and- and I didn't know what to do."

I sighed softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm okay," I looked up at her, "the memories just..." I closed my eyes tightly, clenching my fists. "They overpowered me. But I'm okay now, I promise." I opened my eyes again, taking her hands in mine.

"I can't believe you've come back to me, Friala...it's...a miracle, a blessing." I stood, easily towering over her now in this small form. "I have you back, and I am never letting you out of my sight again." I leaned, wrapping my arms tightly around her, crushing her to my chest.

I pressed my mouth to hers, eager to taste her again. It had been too long, but only just moments since her memories awakened.

She gasped beneath me and after a small hesitation, slid her arms around my waist, a small groan escaping her throat.

"I've missed you, my gods, I've missed you," I murmured, pressing my face to her neck, inhaling deeply.

She hummed softly against me, bringing her hands up to brush through my hair. I shuddered at her touch, and after a long moment, pulled away.

"I could stare at your eyes all day, my love, but I have a revenge plan I need to accomplish," I growled, placing my hands on her face. My gaze searched her brown eyes, a slight wish in my mind that her eyes could be the ocean blue I had always melted into instead of the chocolate browns I saw now.

"Revenge plan?" She asked, voice squeaking.

"Yes," I pulled away, heading towards the door. Renewed from the memories, rage filling me with so much hatred all I could see was red again.

"Thor will pay for what he's done to us," I growled, pulling the hotel door open. "Are you coming?"