Timeless

◈ 14 ◈

Thor stayed by my side the entire time we waited for Odin's arrival. I could tell because he spent that time both squeezing my limp hand and threading his fingers through my hair like he used to when we were children. He was so worried.

"Where is he?"

Odin's voice echoed throughout the healing chambers and interrupted Thor's nervous fidgeting.

By the tone of his voice, he didn't seem happy. My better judgment told me that this little reunion wouldn't end well.

Eir said something to him that I couldn't quite make out and all too soon he was standing right next to me.

Thor scooted forward in the chair that he'd pulled up to the medical table that I was currently laying on. He started to speak, but Odin interrupted him.

"You do not have to explain what happened. I figured it out before Eir got the chance to tell me."

Thor fell silent and let him continue.

"So Loki tried to play hero and the Aether claimed his body. Tell me, my son. Is that wretched ruler of the dark elves gone?"

"Yes, Father. Loki vanquished Malekith on Svartelfheim, and I took care of the rest of them. He fought a mighty battle with both magic and sword."

I desperately wanted to pull as far away from him as I could when Odin rested his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sure it was indeed a mighty battle." He whispered to himself.

"He is also worthy, Father. He lifted Mjölnir."

Odin wasn't surprised at all to learn this.

"Yes, I can feel it. The enchantment no longer fights against him. It's a part of him now. Just as it is a part of you."

The room filled with an uncomfortable silence as Odin removed his hand from my shoulder and instead placed it on my forehead.

When he spoke again, it was in a much softer tone. He seemed old and worn as if his many years on the throne had finally caught up to him.

"It is true that I can wake him, but you must find a way to save him before the Aether kills him without my help. Loki is strong. Stronger than I gave him credit for. He will survive, and I don't doubt that he has already formed a plan as we speak."

I couldn't decide whether I wanted to laugh or cry. Not that it mattered, since I could do neither at the time. I hadn't received a compliment from him since longer than I could remember.

"But I do have one condition."

My lifted spirits sank in an instant. Why did there have to be a condition? Couldn't Thor and I just go in peace?

But of course, that would be too easy, and easy wasn't something that I was ever going to get familiar with.

I braced myself for what he was going to say. It could be absolutely anything, with Odin being so annoyingly unpredictable.

"After everything is over, should you survive, which I am confident that you will, I want Loki to come back to Asgard."

Damn it all to Hel.

Oh no, it was far worse than anything I could have imagined.

Before anyone could object to his request, he muttered a few incantations and pressed the palm of his hand against my forehead.

A white-hot pain erupted in my skull, and I flew forward gasping for air.

The healing chambers slowly came into focus around me, as well as the face of Odin staring at me from two feet away with what looked dangerously close to concern.

"Are you alright, brother?" Thor asked.

I didn't bother answering him. Instead, I was more focused on the king's demands.

"Why do you want me to come back to Asgard? So you can just lock me up again? Or maybe you'd rather just execute me instead." I blurted as I shook Thor's hand off of me and sent Odin a death glare.

"I have no intention to do either of those things." He replied quietly.

Eir gave me a disapproving look and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You look pale, my prince. Perhaps it's best that you lay back down and-"

"Then why do you want me to come back? Why should I, after everything you did to me?" I interrupted, turning my full attention on Odin.

He looked me in the eyes and sighed.

"I want you to come home."

I lost the accusatory glare and let my mask drop for a moment. It wasn't the time to keep my emotions bottled up inside of me. Maybe for the first time, I was ready to listen to him and tell him what I had to say. No masks. No lies.

"What?" I whispered.

"Your mother said something to me about a month before she died. She was still upset that she wasn't allowed to visit you. We'd gotten into an argument about it, and I said some things that I'd rather not repeat, but what matters is what she told me. She told me that even though I still had one good eye, it was as if I had lost both. I was blinded by my grief and anger that you had left us all to believe that you were dead only to show up again without even telling your own mother that you were alive. Do you know how much she missed you? Your death crushed her, Loki. It left her so broken that I feared she would never be the same again."

My gaze fell to the floor at the mention of Mother. He continued on as if he hadn't noticed the slight change in my demeanor.

"But I missed you too. I think that when I saw you again for the first time, I was so furious with you for the grief and the sorrow that you brought upon this family to realize what you'd gone through. I am truly sorry."

I shook my head slowly, causing the tear on my cheek to roll off of my face.

"No, I'm sorry."

Thought it hurt to say at first, looking back up at him and seeing the small, sad smile on his face gave me the tiniest bit of hope.

"Please come home, my son."

I glanced at Thor, who was busying himself with a piece of medical equipment and trying desperately not to intrude on our conversation. I knew that what Odin had put me through since I was a child was almost unforgivable, but I found myself willing to give it a shot. It all depended on whether or not I survived after I blasted two infinity stones straight to Hel.

I looked back at Odin.

"I'll try."