Loki Shorts

Why

You got the news that Loki died fighting on Svartleheim with Thor a week ago and you've been having nightmares ever since. It was bad enough knowing he was alive a few stories down in the dungeons. Now he's dead and the closest thing you got to a goodbye was clinging to Thor as he half dragged you to the funeral. You almost sunk to your knees when you saw Loki's lifeless corpse. Sure, he pulled this particular stunt more times than you could count, but you've never seen a body. Until now. You could still remember pleading with Odin not to kill him after he returned for the invasion on Midgard. Something he later agreed to after Frigga did the same.

— Two Years Ago—

"Please don't kill him." You fell to your knees before the throne.

"What action would you have me take? He has committed monstrous crimes, he can't go unpunished."

"Certainly. That's not what I'm suggesting. I'm only asking that you don't kill him. Please. I don't know what I'd do."

"Unfortunately, I can't tell the whole of Asgard that were modifying his sentence because Midgard's representative has a... crush as you would say."

"A crush? Tell me, why do men feel the need to downplay the importance love has in our lives in order to keep their manhood?"

"You would do well to remember that you're speaking to your king!"

You make your way up the steps of the throne to stand over him. "You said it yourself. I'm merely a representative of Midgard. You're not my king. I know I'm speaking to a man who is a father and a husband. If you'd reduce what I have with your son as a girlish phase, you don't deserve either of those roles." You start to storm off, but bring yourself short. "Tell me, is it true that you gave up your eye for wisdom?"

"The stories are true."

"If you'd truly sentence a man recovering from torture, your son, to death, you only succeeded in blinding yourself further."

—Present—

You're pulled out of your thoughts by the doors of your chambers opening. You look up to see Sif enter.

"How do you fair?"

"I've had better days. But I'm assuming Heimdall already told you that since you're here for no apparent reason."

"While I don't understand your unconditional love for Loki, after giving his life for Jane and Thor, I can respect it. If you ever need to duel to get some frustration out you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Sif."

She nods and walks out. you decide to try and get some rest but you're not too hopeful.

—0—

You wake with a start, panting and sweating. As you start coming back to reality you realize that someone is stroking your thigh. Your base instinct is to lash out. Thor is the only one you're close enough with to even consider letting into your chambers and he would never enter without your explicit say-so. When you fling your arm out, the intruder catches it before slowly letting go. You turn to see who in all the realms in next to you, you're met with Loki's face. And that's when you scramble backward and off the bed.

"Norns, are you alright?!" He jumps up and rushes over to help you up but you scurry back, burying your face in your hands.

"Will it never end?"

He comes towards you again. "Darling—"

You scoot back more until you hit the wall. "No. Get away from me. I don't know if you're a dream or an illusion or what, but this is sick. He's dead."

"My love, please. I swear to you I am alive and real beneath your hands if you'd only let me get close." You only stare at him. "If you need me to, I can leave. We can meet somewhere of your choice if it would make you feel safer."

"Prove to me that you're really you."

"Alright but you need to let me get close to you. Can you do that?" He holds his hands out and approaches you as if you're a scared animal. To be honest, you're not entirely sure that's not the case. You stand and make your way over to the sofa by the bookcase while he follows you over. "May I kiss you?"

You study his face. Every crinkle in his skin, the vibrancy of his emerald eyes. You nod slowly. He reaches up to cup your neck as he leans in and presses his lips to yours. You pull back and lick your lips. You can taste him on your lips. He always tasted like mint mixed with something you could never put your finger on. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. You can taste him. Illusions don't have a taste. (You would know.) You can't remember a dream that ever included taste. Maybe the idea of it but—

"Love?"

"Hmm?" You slowly come out of your thoughts.

"Are you alright? Because—" You fly forward and kiss him passionately. He kisses you back just as hard before pulling back and holding your shoulders. "Norns I've missed you." He chuckles.

"Then why did you pull back?" You tease.

"Well, I'm sorry for wanting to look at my beautiful love."

"Oh stop it. And by the way," (though it really isn't by the way at all) "what happened? How are you here? I saw your corpse. You were dead." You have to hold back tears just thinking about it.

He looks away as his hands go into his lap. "I— it had to be believable. I couldn't even tell you. They had to see you mourn."

"Who's they?"

"Everyone. I needed— need everyone to believe that I was— am dead."

"Wait, so no one else knows you're alive?"

"No. And they can't."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" You smack him in the arm.

He goes to hold it. "I told you. They had to see you mourn."

"I think you wanted to see if I would mourn because you don't believe anyone could truly love you."

"That may have factored into my reasons for waiting."

"You selfish bastard. How could you do that to me? Don't you think I've been through enough with you and your shit with trying to take over Midgard?"

He pulls away. "I see now that wasn't the best course of action."

"Why couldn't you see that before?"

"I was blinded by my pain. I needed reassurance, I'm sorry I got that at great emotional cost for you."

"You should be. I had to go without you for over two years while you were in prison and then I thought you were dead and..." you trail off.

"And what?"

"I don't know. I missed you and now I have you again. But don't think you're off the hook yet; That was my home planet you attacked."

"And I'm very sorry about that. But can we take some time for us, please?"

You hug him. "Yes, but you're going to get it later."

"I should expect nothing less. Now, back to bed and explanation later?"

"Yeah." You grab his hand and lean into him refusing to let him go.