Under New Management // Thorki

7.

Thor was sat against his bed, his head slumping. He had many options to which he could save Loki, however, the risks were high. Alfarinn was still, inevitably, the Allfather and if Thor didn't succeed, it could lead to great punishment for both him and the raven. Neither of which he wanted.

He sighed deeply, thinking through the night and late into the morning. The thunder god rolled out of bed, heavy black bags banging from his ocean blue eyes. The blond decided it best to discuss it with his friends, as they were skilled warriors themselves. Plus, he knew he could confide in them, as they had no moral loyalty to the new king.

It hadn't taken the thunderer long to father his friends in the training arena, his eyes flooded with serging ideas and possibilities.

"What do you need?" Sif asked, tilting her head a bit, and sitting down beside him.

"It is of my brother. I recently saw Loki."

"Loki? Norns, I though he'd left Asgard." Fandral said, resting his arms on his knees.

"I wish he had." Thor said somberly. "I found him the garden as a snake, and when I took him back to my room he showed himself."

"And?" The woman prompted.

"His lips. Alfarinn had stitched them together."

"He what?! How do you know it was him?"

"He is the one who gathered Loki from my quarters." The blond replied, his eyes sorrowful, "He looks unwell."

"Do you think he's keeping Loki as his pet?" Fandral suggested.

"I am unsure, but I know my brother should not be in that man's control. He is but a shell of who he was. It's frightening."

"By any chance, did Loki look worn out after his shapeshifting?" Sif asked offhandedly.

"Yes, why?"

"And he was wearing a silver ring." She asked, though it was more of a statement to which Thor nodded. "I thought so... You know, Loki was lucky to transform at all. Those rings they were, since Loki's is the silver that means the Allfather has complete control over his abilities, he even has the power to feel his emotions and inflict pain on him at any given time." She explained.

Volstagg shook his large head, "This is all incredibly wrong. The Allmother never wouldn't allowed such tyranny."

"What are we to do? I cannot have my brother suffer any longer, nor Asgard with that man on the throne." Thor said firmly, his eyes transfixed on his lap.

"We should kill him." Fandral stated bluntly, "It's not like Asgard would disapprove. You're their rightful king and they know that."

"It's not that simple!" Sif hissed, "He is still in charge. If we fail we'll all be sentenced to a brutal public death."

"She is right. I am one for impulse, but there is too much riding on us. We cannot rush into this with haste, not without a plan." The redhead agreed.

"We mustn't wait too long. We have no idea what date has in store for us in the future." Thor reminded.

"What we need to do is get Loki. You said Alfarinn was quick to fetch him, so obviously, Loki is one of his top priorities, in a good way or otherwise." Fandral stated seriously.

"I agree. But before that we must inform the guards of our plans, and if anyone seems untrustworthy, we'll kill them. But we need them in board, or we can't win." Sif added.

"It shouldn't be hard to kill the Allfather, as he doesn't possess any characteristics that would make things difficult." Volstagg chimed.

Thor nodded, "The mjolnir should serve the purpose. When shall we do this?"

"Well, tomorrow we'll start working on the guards. From there, I guess we'll see." Sif said, standing.

The others rose with her.

"I thank you my friends, as does Asgard." Thor bowed his head, a grateful smile passing his lips not unlike the smile the warriors three hadn't seen in many moons.

The four parted ways, the thunder god heading back to his chambers to hopefully get some sleep before the morrow.

As he laid down, he felt sleep fall over him like a warm blanket, welcoming and much needed.

The thunderer slept through the day and most the night until a desperate rapping interrupted his sleep.

Thor staggered to the door, drowsiness fogging his mind. He pulled the heavy door open to reveal his brother.

The blond immediately woke, pulling his trembling body out of the hall and into his room before shutting the door behind them.

Loki was shaking, an endless cascade of thick tears falling from his full emerald eyes.

Thor felt his heart crack, pulling the small god to his chest and onto the bed, cradling him and whispering softly.

Silent sobs and gasps escaped the raven's thin lips, his delicate frame shaking against Thor's muscular body.

As the blond rubbed small circles against the other's back, he felt him begin to calm, soundless hiccups making his entire body jerk.

"Brother, what is wrong?" He asked gently, his caring eyes full of concern and poorly hidden fear for the latter.

It was minutes before Loki replied, his slender fingers mindlessly playing with the tips of Thor's golden hair.

"I-I saw the signs days ago... But I didn't want to believe it..." He mumbled softly, his usually smooth voice hoarse.

"Believe what, Loki? What is it?" Thor insisted softly, pressing a small kiss to the trickster's temple.

Again, it was a long and deafening period before the raven responded, pulling his thin structure from Thor's, looking him in the eye for the first time in a long time.

Thor read the emotions hardly masked in the god's eyes, they read fear, anxiety, panic, pain, depression, longing, and a tender emotion that hid in the shadows of the others, only to be seen for mere moments in the presence of the thunder god.

"Thor..." The raven began, his chest tightening as his heart thudded against his chest, he closed his eyes briefly before reconnecting them with the captivating eyes of the blond,

"I'm pregnant."