The Villain

fate II

The formerly calm atmosphere became tense, when Heimdall observed how Thor looked at Loki, as if he wanted to strike him down with lightening right on the spot.

In Thor’s other hand his hammer, gripped tightly, as if he would swing it anytime soon. Heimdall instinctively took a step forward, covering Phoenix.

"Welcome home.", he greeted them, not sure if it was a good idea to have small talk now, considering how angry Thor seemed to be.

Before Heimdall could stop her, Phoenix moved over to both of them without hesitation. She nodded at Thor, before looking at Loki, who glanced around distastefully, as if he assessed the new design of the room, and seemed very unhappy about it.

Then Phoenix noticed how beaten he looked, the blood on his forehead and the dirt on his clothes, getting closer to him.

"By all Norns, what have they done to you, princeling?", she murmured, more to herself than anyone, her hand brushing over Loki’s cheek, stopping at the device that kept his mouth shut tightly.

Loki frowned, squinting his eyes at her, unable to snort. Her once so familiar caress so terribly unknown now.

The grey in her eyes heavy with sorrow and compassion. Not only her own, Loki presumed, but those of hundreds before and after her.

An interesting concept, her role in this universe, Loki thought to himself.

"Thank you, Heimdall, let's talk later.", Thor nodded at his friend and Heimdall nodded absent-mindedly, his eyes fixated on Phoenix and her hand on Loki's cheek.

Is that jealousy?, Loki noticed Heimdall's piercing stare. The smile on his lips was invisible, when he leaned into her touch, his look woeful and sad.

Phoenix patted his cheek, while Loki enjoyed Heimdall's burning look a little too much.

"He doesn't deserve your pity, Phoenix.", Thor said, not even looking at the Goddess of Fate while passing her, pulling Loki with him, back to the palace and down to his cell.

Thor was still angry.

And as long as he was, he could shut everything else out. The pain, the bitterness and the fact that he wanted Loki back. His brother Loki. The one he grew up with, his little, always so charming brother who once used to look up to him, although he would never admit it. Who told him stories, helped him with his studies, seidr flying around them, pictures of Asgard's history. Pictures that Thor always understood so much better than the dull words in his books.

Loki was gifted with a talent for seidr, one of which Thor couldn't even dream. As a child envy nagged on him, always so eager to be the best in everything. He was jealous, when his mother Frigga was proudly pointing out Loki's smartness, his wit and gift for magic. Not that she didn’t praise Thor for his achievements too, but the God of Thunder quickly found out that he could have his father's compliment alone for himself.

Maybe that was when their ways already parted a little.

The fact that Thor wanted someone for him alone, and if he couldn't have Loki or Frigga, Odin would do. And Odin always favoured Thor, while his oldest son did everything to keep it that way.

Thor threw Loki a look. Maybe this family broke apart long before Loki decided to destroy it. Their family and so much more...

Why was everything always so complicated?

Sometimes Thor just wished to go back in time, fix what he couldn't fix the first time and hope everything would turn out for the better.

Only now he noticed Phoenix, walking right beside Loki, her steps and walking rhythm matching this of his brother by old habit.