Redemption

Heaven

I sat up straighter, looking from Thor to Loki and back.

"Get me out?" Loki asked, his voice gruff. He sat up beside me, rubbing his eyes. "If I wanted to get out, I would have," he muttered.

"I'm sure you would," Thor replied, stepping closer, crossing his arms. "But Jane is in danger from Malekith and Odin."

"You must be truly desperate to come to me for help," Loki put his feet on the floor and stood slowly, eyeing Thor warily. "What makes you think you can trust me?"

"I don't."

I stood quickly at Thor's quick reply, clenching my fists. I opened my mouth to defend Loki, but he held his arm out towards me, silently telling me to hold my tongue.

"Smart," Loki replied, amused. "I suppose I could help you out this time, you'll grant me freedom and all. I presume that's fair." He walked towards Thor, running his fingers against his chin. "When do we start?"

§

Thor had managed to get the three of us out of the castle in one piece. He had given me time to change into better clothes and fetch my sword, and I came back to the two outside of the castle walls in the same jeans and t-shirt I had arrived at Asgard in.

When I made my way to them, I saw that Jane had also arrived. She seemed to be fuming, and a slight pink hue was on one side of Loki's face. I growled, even though Loki seemed amused, standing off to the side with his hands handcuffed together. Sif was there as well, and I wondered if all of Thor's friends would show up for this. I wish I had such loyal friends...

As I made my way up to him, I leaned up, wrapping my arms around his neck. "What did she do?" I whispered. "And why are you in handcuffs?"

"Just a friendly hello, was all, love. I promise," he gave me a quick squeeze at the hip and then leaned away, a smile flitting across his face as he searched my gaze. "And Thor was rather pushy about it. His inability to trust me and all." He chuckled, kissing my temple.

I shook my head, not fully believing him, but we didn't have time to argue now.

"Let's go. Volstagg has one of the abandoned ships we can take to get out, we don't have time to waste gossiping," Thor spoke up, placing his hand on Jane's back and moving away.

I took Loki's hand, squeezing it as we followed after them.

Sif stood back and slid her sword out, catching Loki under the chin. "Betray him, and I'll kill you."

I gasped, ready to defend him, reaching for my own sword, but Loki held me back with a laugh. He looked at her, a smirk covering his face. "It's good to see you, too, Sif," he replied calmly, and then pulled me along after him as we moved to catch up to Thor and Jane.

"Do you not like me trying to defend you?" I asked bitterly, walking fast to keep up with Loki's long strides.

"It's not that I don't like it, it's that I don't need it." He replied bluntly, "they are no match for my powers, I assure you that, Pet." He gave me a wink and I shook my head.

"You're so aggravating sometimes."

"Yes, so I've been told."

Thor and Jane had stopped ahead, and before we got too close to them, Loki stopped, turning to me. "Eris," he murmured, pulling me against the wall behind a column. "We don't have time so this will be quick, but I need you to trust me."

"Of course I trust you, Loki," I leaned into him, my eyes latched on to his. "What is it?"

He seemed to hesitate as we stood there, worry covering his face. Then he took in a big breath and let it out, "you're staying behind. In Asgard."