Unstable - Loki, Thor & Hela fanfiction

as pale as death

"Take me to Asgard or I'll slit the rat's throat." She wasn't playing around, Thor knew how easily this could slip out of control. (Hadn't it already?) One wrong word, one wrong move and it'd cost Loki his life.

But he had his people there, the people of Asgard. With Odin gone, it left Thor responsible for those lives. Good kings, should he wished to be one, must sacrifice whatever it'd take to protect their people. But then again, what would that make of him as a brother, if he were to deliberately let Loki die?

In his head Thor knew just what the right thing to do was, he was king now. His heart, though, protested otherwise. Loki was abominable. He brought war, ruin and death wherever he went, but he was Thor's brother.

"Last chance, Odinson." Hela smirked. And Thor thought - he thought he wouldn't give her what she wanted even if that'd break him, too. He was wrong the second he saw her press the blade deeper it actually nicked at skin, drawing only a couple drops of blood. That was too much. He was wrong about being able to watch Loki die.

"Alright," he growled, voice hoarse. "You won."

~~~

What happened next felt like a dream, a lost dream that was terrifying enough it made him numb. Thor felt... nothing. Couldn't. He couldn't feel anything because he was so numb watching Hela reach Asgard, slay her (Asgard's) people, those who refused to bow. Then there was her army, the army of death rising from the ground, taking down Asgard's soldiers one by one. Thor watched all of that happen before his eyes and he'd never felt so powerless.

He didn't put up a fight - what's the point? Everyone's dead. They're all dead because of you - as the soldiers - Hela's undead soldiers, dragged him down the hall, down the stairs to the deep, dark dungeons.

They threw him in the farthest cell. Loki's limb body a second later and Thor caught him before he could hit the ground. Then the magic barrier was put up, the same kind Odin used while Loki was first sentenced here - wasn't that ironic? Perhaps she knew and this was on purpose.

"You can't leave him here," Thor said to Hela who was authorizing the entire process. "My brother, he - he needs medical attention,"

Hela glanced at him; Thor's little brother. Still not here, lying limply in Thor's hold. Skin as pale as death. She smiled, she did that a lot, only that it was the kind of smile that would send shivers down anyone's spine. And she said nothing, turning around and starting to walk away. Her undead soldiers followed behind.

"Wait! You can't just leave him here!" But she was already gone. The sound of her heels clicking against the floor only fading away, and silence slowly creeping into the chilling air until it devoured everything whole. And there was nothing, nothing but quietness and darkness. And Thor'd never been so helpless. He looked at Loki, still in his arms, his chest barely moved, and for a terrifying moment Thor thought he wasn't breathing until he whimpered and, in his sleep, turned to nuzzle his face against Thor's chest like a child seeking its parent's warmth and protection.

Thor had been... mostly numb after his father's demise. And it was until now that it really hit; everything happened so fast. They were supposed to get Odin home so he could continue his reign and everything would go back to normal. But that wasn't how the event turned because Odin left, and Loki was hurt. And Hela showed up and took Asgard away, slain so many lives. And Thor and Loki were locked away in the dungeon waiting to rot.

Everything in their lives suddenly divided in Before and After. There was no warning. Thor, not knowing what to do, lifted Loki's still-unconscious body up until his head was resting under his chin, then Thor just held him a little bit tighter, seeking whatever comfort he could get. Please, he prayed in his mind - to whom he knew not (surely, the Norns no longer cared about him. They wouldn't have allowed any of this to happen, if they did) please, save my brother. Please, help him survive.

The cell was cold. Still, Thor was sure the coldest of all came from within his chest. He never let go of Loki. Minutes felt like hours, he started to wonder if this was Hela's plan; to let Loki suffer a slow death and to let Thor witness every bit of it, to make him watch as life slowly drained from his brother's body and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Thor rarely ever cried. He was crying now. Not hysterical. Just teardrops rolling down his cheeks. He kissed the top of Loki's head. Then, as selfish as it was, he begged for his brother to hold on. To not let go and leave for the warmth of Valhalla's sunlight, because he was all Thor had left.