I see you || Loki

33. Iron Intimacy

Wherever chaos and calamity reigned, you could be sure to find Loki at the center of it.

The palace thrummed with life. Many had just been sitting down for the evening meal when the foundation of the palace rocked beneath them. Your first thought had been that Asgard was under attack, but Odin had seemed unconcerned. In fact, he'd used it as an excuse to dismiss you. Which meant he knew there was no real danger. Which meant he suspected Loki.

You bear responsibility for Loki's actions now.

What in all the stars had Loki done?

You followed the pounding boot-steps of the guards, holding the hem of your gown in one hand as you raced behind them on much slower feet. One stride, another, with the soldiers' progress pulling away from you all the while. Air burned in your lungs and your heart beat in your ears, but you wouldn't let your legs stop. You needed to get to Loki before they did... or, at least, not long after.

The direction they led, the force they gathered, the way all the palace had shook... you couldn't be certain, but there was one very likely place that Loki had struck. Odin's Vault. You changed course. Sneaking around with Loki had its advantages, after all, and you'd learned of ways through the palace that hadn't seemed possible before. Corridors existed where they had no business being, hallways formed in spaces too small for a speck of dust. You squeezed through one—a shortcut that would save you time as long as you didn't lose your way—and emerged on the other side with the sound of boots behind you. You raced forward again, still unsure if you could reach Loki before others. You skidded around one corner, then another, catching your balance just before you fell. You ran down the last set of stairs, skipping the final few in a single jump and came into view of the vault doors just as a contingent of guards arrived with Thor at their head.

You called out to them and your shout echoed with desperation as it carried down the corridor. The group turned as one, surprised at the interruption. Thor's face clouded with confusion. You reached them in time, and stopped in front of him, hunched over and wheezing to catch your breath through the stabbing pain in your side.

"What are you doing here?" Thor asked. "It's dangerous. Someone has attacked The Vault."

"I know," you said. Thor reached out to steady you, but you waved him off. "It was Loki."

You didn't expect the sudden flash of anger that overtook Thor's face. He took you by your arm and set you upright. "I will take care of Loki."

Your heart stuttered. No. That wasn't the point. Had you miscalculated? In your preoccupation with the fallout with Odin, you hadn't considered how Thor would feel in the face of his brother's challenge. Now that you did, you faced a bigger obstacle.

You grabbed Thor's arm as he turned away. "Let me speak with him first." "I'll bring him out here."

"Loki won't listen to reason. He's shown that."

"He'll listen to me."

Another quake rocked the stairs like the crack of falling rock and knocked you into Thor. Damn it, if Loki didn't stop, he'd incur Odin's wrath and be banished from you no matter what the king had said originally.

You turned back to Thor. "Please, let me speak with him first. Just for a few minutes."

Thor set you upright and turned away with a scowl. "This has nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with me."

"Clearly Loki's testing me. If he wants a challenge, he's more than welcome to try."

"Thor!" You grabbed his arm and turned him back to you. "Loki only challenged you because he wanted me." In the moment, you didn't check your voice, too intent on convincing Thor to heed the men standing around you.