A Child of Mischief (Loki/Avengers story)

4. Hurtful Goodbyes

"So, the prodigal son returns. Have you come to gloat about betraying me and throwing away my daughter?" Loki asks as Thor slightly came into view of the cell.

As Thor came into full view, he saw Loki sitting on the floor in a state of disarray. His hair was unkempt, his clothes were torn, his hands were chained together in iron clad cuffs, and he appeared to be weak as he was coming to, from being knocked out. Loki looked up to Thor with wary eyes, as he took in Thor's stance, his eyes went wide as he realized his brother hadn't yet gotten rid of Adamaris.

"Father will most certainly have my head for this, if he finds out." Thor said as he opened the door and entered Loki's cell. He closed and stayed by the cell door as Loki attempted to get up, and watched as he fell back to the floor. Thor inhaled then exhaled as he waited for Loki to get up. Finally getting to his feet, Loki stumbled towards Thor and Adamaris.

"And here I thought I was the only one to disobey orders." Loki kept his eyes on Adamaris as he talked.

"I at least owe you this one thing after the way I betrayed y-." Thor started to say, but stopped when he saw Loki look up at him in disgust.

"You betrayed me more than enough times, to warrant your head on a silver platter. What's even worse is that you have to take away the one thing that I maybe able to get right in this world." Loki shouted, and turned away from Thor.

Adamaris started to wiggle and cry in Thor's arms as Loki yelled. Loki turned back to face Thor and stared longingly at Adamaris. Silently, Loki held out his arms and looked at Thor, then looked down at the cuffs on his wrists.

"Fine, the cuffs can come off, but only for a moment." Thor said sternly and tucked Adamaris under his left arm, then used his right hand to unlock Loki's cuffs.

Loki nodded and waited as Thor unlocked the cuffs. Once the cuffs came off, red marks appeared on Loki's wrists, he rubbed his wrists and flexed his hands to try and gain feeling back in his fingers. After flexing his hands and fingers a few times, Loki held out his hands.

Thor looked at Loki and began to place Adamaris in Loki's arms, he hesitated for a brief moment then looked Loki in the eyes.

"No tricks now, brother. If you try anything, I will call the guards quicker than you would be able to get away." Thor said sternly as he placed Adamaris in Loki's arms.

"You honestly think I would risk the safety of my child, to try and escape this damned place?" Loki asked keeping his eyes on Adamaris as he folded his arms around her and pulled her close.

"I would not put anything past you at this point." Thor said as he carefully watched Loki.

Loki turned his back to Thor and slowly walked towards the bed that was placed against the midpoint of the back wall of the cell. Then he sat down and stared admiringly at Adamaris.

With her wide blue gaze, Adamaris kept her eyes on Loki and made light cooing noises. Her eyes closed as Loki lightly ran his fingers through her dark raven colored hair.

"I wish things did not have to be this way. I should be trying to protect you. Not have to watch as you are taken away." Loki softly said as he touched his head to Adamaris's, and softly tightened his grip on her in a protective manner.

"Loki, I'm sorry, but it's time." Thor said as he kept his eyes on Adamaris. Loki looked up at Thor with pleading sorrowful eyes.

"It can not be time already. I have not even begun to say my goodbyes." Loki said as he pulled Adamaris closer to his chest and stared at her. Thor walked up and stood in front of Loki. Loki looked at Thor with tears in his eyes.

Loki looked back at Adamaris and kept his eyes on her as he reached up with his left hand, and pulled his Nordic compass amulet -with runes that surrounded a stunning green gem placed in the center- over his head, and off his neck.

Placing the necklace over Adamaris's head, Loki carefully wrapped the long leather cord of the necklace around Adamaris's neck a few times, until he was sure it would not come off. He held the amulet in his hand, ran his thumb over the green gem, then turned it over. On the back of the amulet, three words were inscribed on its surface. Loki ran his thumb over the words, then let a small grin appear on his lips.

"Light illuminates darkness." Loki said as he stared into Adamaris's eyes, and brushed his pointer finger across her cheek. Adamaris closed her eyes and began to relax and breathe more evenly. As she relaxed, the amulet sitting on her chest began to float into the air.

Loki's eyes grew wide with excitement as the amulet floated just above her chest. Thor's eyes grew wide with terror as he realized Adamaris had powers. Shaking his head, Thor cleared his mind, before speaking to Loki.

"Loki, I am sorry, but it is time." Thor said as he held the cuffs up to his brother.

"Fine, let's get this over with." Loki said as he walked up to Thor and held out Adamaris. Thor took Adamaris -who started to cry- in his left arm and placed the cuffs back on Loki's wrists with his right hand.

"Brother, I am sorry that things have to be this way." Thor said as he turned and opened the cell door. Thor turned and faced Loki one last time before he closed and locked the cell door.

As Thor walked away from the cell, he could hear the chains of Loki's cuffs rattling against the door, he could also feel Loki staring him down as he left the dungeon.

"Before you send her off, just promise me one thing, brother." Loki said as he watched Thor stop in his tracks.

"What is it, that you want Loki?" Thor asked, as Adamaris's cries became louder, he kept his back to his brother.

"Wherever you take her, just make sure it is somewhere she will be accepted and not thrown away like a piece of garbage." Loki said worry coating his voice as he spoke, and turned his back on the cell door and walked away.

Thor stayed quiet as he continued to walk down the corridor of the dungeon. Going down the corridor that leads to the secret door that Loki had entered the castle in, Thor suddenly stops and looks between the door leading to the outside world and the way back to Loki. He contemplates whether or not he should complete his fathers order.

"You must do what is right." A female voice says. A figure gracefully comes out from the darkness.

"What if I'm not sure what is right, mother?" Thor asks as his mother Frigga comes walking toward him from the way of the outside. Frigga stops in front of Thor and takes in his stance.

"I know the order your father gave is a tough one. But, you are the one to choose how you follow through with this order." Frigga says as she eyes a crying Adamaris.

Frigga walks up to Thor and looks down at Adamaris and softly smiles. She lifts a hand and lightly strokes Adamaris's head. Adamaris quiets down at Frigga's touch.

"Heimdall says he has seen terrible things will come upon us. Perhaps, your father is trying to protect the life that has just come into this world, from the evil that may come." Frigga suggests.

"You know Loki will go to the ends of the realms to get the child back." Thor said matter of factly.

"Why don't you take the child to Midgard? It has beings that look like the child. Except, they are mortals. Take the child there, some place safe. But, do not stay too long. You mustn't draw too much attention." Frigga suggests as she rubs Adamaris's head before stepping away.

"You always know what's best for others." Thor says smirking as he walks past Frigga, towards the door to the outside world.