Loki's Last Chance

Confessions and Wakings

Loki POV

Thor arrived an hour or so later, bursting into the room confused. As he saw me still sitting on the steps, head in hands, he dropped Mjolnir. He bounded towards me and gathered me into a crushing hug.

"Brother, when will you realize how you are hurting the people who love you by always pretending to be dead? Every time I have to tell Mari, I end up spending the day comforting her." Thor muttered into my hair.

He stepped away and looked me over. "She may very well kill you herself when she finds out." he joked with a broad smile.

"She knows." I sigh in a defeated, tired tone.

"What is the matter, Loki? Your face reads of pain and regret." He asked as we sat together on the stone.

I sighed. "Thor, I need to tell you something..." He patted me on the shoulder, gesturing to continue. "I have deceived you once again, doing so in the lowest way imaginable. Only now do I regret everything I've done and wish to ask forgiveness."

"What deception do you speak of?"

"While you were in Midgard defeating Malekith, Father died of heartbreak. He couldn't deal with Mothers death... So I decided that if the people found out they would go into a panic with the added stress of the Dark Elves attack. I have been acting in the All-Father's place ever since." I ran my fingers through my hair as I stared at the ground, unable to meet Thor's eyes.

Thor stared at the ground, taking in the fact that Odin was dead.

"What changed your mind, Loki? Why confess now?" he whispered, semi-dazed.

"Maria nearly died today in my arms... she asked that I make up with you as her dying wish. I also promised myself, if she lived I would confess to you."

"What!? How..?" He asked.

I told him all that happened since she showed up yesterday morning. He listened intently and didn't interrupt. When I got to the part when Mari got hurt, he gave my shoulders a little squeeze.

I finished and he sighed.

"There will be consequences for all you've done... Are you prepared to face them?" Thor asked.

"I am, though I ask that I can take care of Mari for a bit. At least until she's at full strength."

He look at me and smiled. "I think Mari would like that. She's really missed you."

"She must hate me..." I sighed.

"You'd be surprised. We are the only family she has, really, and she's quite resilient." He assured me.

I stood up and turned to him. "I'm going to go see her. If that's alright."

Thor gave me a nod and I left him where he was.

Mari POV

My eyelids felt like two ton rocks. They wouldn't open no matter how hard I tried. I didn't know how long I had been out, but anything could have happened in that time. For all I knew I could have been dead, lying in Hel, Nifflehiem, or Valhalla.

I was surrounded in darkness and I couldn't feel my body. Trying to move my arms and legs didn't get me anywhere. So I just laid wherever I was.

Eventually the darkness rose and the red underside of my eyelids replaced it. Though I still couldn't open my eyes, I started noticing things around me.

I was in a soft bed, covered in delicate sheets. My limbs still wouldn't move for me but I could feel them under the covers.

Whatever room I was in, it was bright and large. I couldn't hear anything, so I assumed I was alone. But I could have been wrong.

Just as I came to the conclusion that no one was with me, I heard a sigh. It sounded masculine and utterly hopeless. They must have known me, but I couldn't think of anyone who would really care.

I tried to open my eyes again, this time getting a result. They fluttered a bit and I could see a white ceiling. With opening my eyes came a slight throbbing in my temples, so i squinted them shut again. Realizing it wouldn't go away, I looked at the ceiling.

Looking around without moving, I figured out where I was. I was in one of the palace's intensive care rooms, down in the hospital wing. So we made it back in time... Thinking it over, I realized I said some stupid sounding things to Loki.

I was about say 'shit', when I saw who the other person in the room with me was. Loki was sitting in a chair to my right, near the end of the bed. Leaning forward and staring at his hands between his knees, forearms resting on his thighs. He was in a clean, green tunic and tight, black pants. His hair was falling in front of his face, but he didn't move to correct it.

I thought about what he said as we were running. Did he really still think of me as his friend? After everything he did, all the killing and cruelty, could he still have the capacity to care. I could only hope.

I just watched him for a wile, silently committing to memory how he looked right now. There was no telling how long he would stay this time. It felt like I had not been able to really look at him in forever.

The way his brow creased when he was thinking. How he stood with his head high when others were around, then let his guard down and deflate when alone. The way he talked to others, as if he knew more than them but understood where they were coming from and didn't judge because of that. How he had a high respect for others, even if they apposed him.

His raven black hair combed back to a flip on the bottom. High cheekbones and hard jaw. Long, dark eyelashes framing beautiful blue-green eyes. His impressive height complemented by a long coat and high boots. The mischievous smirk that often played his lips.

Wow, I had missed him.

I hadn't really noticed how much until I was back in his presence.

He glanced up and met my gaze. Straightening, he stood. Loki moved to the glass of water on a table to the right of my head. 

I had only then realized how dry my mouth was, so much so I didn't want to part my lips.

Taking the glass in his hand, he made his way back to my side. He gently sat on the edge of the bed and gave me a hesitant smile. I gave him a small, weak one in return. Loki supported my neck and back as he propped me up to drink. When I finished he let go of the glass to levitate it beside him. With his right hand, which was newly available, he propped a second pillow under me so I could sit up a bit. Grabbing the cup, again, he moved to place it back on the table.

"How are you feeling?" he asked sitting back in his chair at the end of the bed.

"Fine." My voice was soft and cracked a bit at the word.

Loki looked me over before saying, "The spell that was cast on your legs was undone by the nurses. They said it was the same spell they sometimes use for complicated pregnancies." I nodded at this and he kept going. "The stab wound though, may not fully heal for a week or two by their estimate."

I looked away to the ground on my left. So I was different. Any real Asgardian would start healing right away or at least within the day, and be back to normal in the morning or so. Of course, it would be just my luck to be the weak-link.

"Hey, it's alright." Loki encouraged noticing my reaction. He pulled his chair up to sit right beside me, and slipped his hand under mine. "The nurses say they have determined your racial lineage if you'd like to know, but they wouldn't tell me until you knew."

Of course he knew what I was thinking... I had always contemplated whether I was of Asgard or not and Loki had heard the rumors and suspicions. If anyone was to understand how I felt, it would be him.

I met his eyes again and replied, "I'd like that very much."

He smirked and gave my hand a little squeeze.

Loki left the room and closed the door. A short while after a nurse came in.

This was it I was finaly going to know who I am... Or was born of, anyway.

A/N:

A couple chapters back I mentioned their age in "Asgardian years". So you know, by this I mean their physical age compared to humans. Like they look that age and are at that relative stage in Asgardian growth.

Also, you might notice this is going really fast. This is sort of part one or book one of this story and each part or book is going to reveal more about the relationship between Mari and Loki, and more about Mari as a person. Just so you know.

Please give input through comments and votes, I love hearing from you!