Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 80

(Loki)

I was going to kill him. 

Thanos's head would be on a spike and put outside the gates of Asgard when I was done with him. 

This was his doing. 

The love of my life lay dying in my arms. For good this time. There was only so many times someone could cheat death, and her number was up. 

Every second, she grew paler, the blood draining from her. I quickly became drenched in her, and I knew that I would never get the stains out of my skin or the stench out of my nose. 

"Stay with me, Anna." I whispered, bringing her close to me. I pressed my forehead agaisnt her. 

She was so cold. 

She was usually so warm, so full of breath and life. 

But she was cold. 

She reached back suddenly, reached for Leolin. 

I looked up, and followed her gaze. Leolin was no longer the man who had killed Anna, but the little boy who had been stolen from her. The stone, which controlled time, must have changed him. He looked so sweet and innocent and scared. He was the little boy who I had picked up in my arms, who I had played with. 

He was the little boy I had vowed to protect. 

He was my son. My son who I was going to raise. He was going to be a warrior and learn how to defend those he loved. He was going to be loyal to those who surrounded him. He was going to go to Midgard with Thor. He was going to travel the galaxy. He was going to sit in my lap as I read him a story, with Anna asleep nearby, with a smile on his face. He was going to train with Anna and develop his powers for good. He was going to grow to be the best King Asgard had ever seen. 

He was supposed to be that and so much more. He was supposed to grow up to be noble and kind. He was supposed to fall in love and have his heart broken. He was supposed to fight for what was right. He was supposed to have a group of friends who would always have his back, because he would always have theirs. He was supposed to be a big brother, and then an uncle. He was supposed to be my son. 

But he had been taken from us, and turned into a monster. I could easily imagine how Thanos had done it too, because he had tried to do it to me. But with me, he played on my emotions, my sense of anger and betrayal and my need for revenge. I had been able to get back on the right path. With Leolin, he was young and completely moldable. Thanos was able to build and shape him into a monster of hate and power. 

And he had succeeded. 

Leolin reached out for Anna when I suddenly felt her go limp in my arms. Her eyes rolled back into her head. 

"Anna!" I shook her. No, please. No. NO. "Anna, Darling." I was crying now, my tears mixing with her blood. "Stay with me. Please." Her breaths were shallow and far a part. I couldn't lose her. Not after everything. EVERYTHING. We had come so far. We'd been so close. I could taste the peaceful life ahead of us on my tongue. 

And it all changed when Thanos decided to fuck with my family. 

I slowly laid Anna down on the ground. There was nothing I could do for her, except avenge her. 

I got up and slowly headed towards Thanos and Leolin. There was an extremely strong wind pushing against me, as if to keep me away from Leolin. 

I looked around for By, but he was no where in sight. Little weasel. 

I watched as Thanos finally reached Leolin and grabbed him by the back of the head, pulling his hair. I walked faster as Leolin let out a scream of pain and fell to his knees. I had to save him. If there was one thing I could do for Anna, it was save our little boy. 

I pushed against the wind. Orange light still swirled around Leolin, even though most of it resided in his eyes. 

Thanos's eyes met mine and he smiled, and pushed Leolin to his knees. 

"Leolin!" I yelled, pure rage and desperation pushing me forward. I was so close, but not close enough. 

Thanos slowly pulled out a knife from his belt and held it to Leolin's throat. Leolin closed his eyes, this hands on Thanos's wrist, trying to break his grip. 

"Leolin, look at me!" I called out to my son. 

He slowly opened his eyes and his fearful gaze met mine. 

"You're going to be all right. Nothing is going to happen to you, I promise." I said to him, only mere feet away now. 

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Laufeyson!" Thanos yelled, the look of victory already in his eyes. 

I snarled at him and then looked back at Leolin. "I'm so sorry." He sobbed. 

I looked at him confused, "Sorry for what? You have nothing to be sorry for..."

"All those things I did. I remember..." He sobbed. 

My heart broke, for the millionth time, in that moment. He was my five year old little boy, but with the memory of 4 times that long. He remembered everything he had ever seen or done. And it was too much for his young heart. His young, innocent, pure soul. And it was tearing him apart from the inside out. 

He looked at me, pain taking the place of fear in his silver lined eyes. How could someone so young, have eyes so old and understanding?

Suddenly, Leolin transformed. This surprised even Thanos, as Leolin was now his adult self, crazed and deranged, his eyes glowing. 

"NO!" He yelled, his voice shaking the very ground. "I will not be defeated like this. I will not bow down to anyone." He unnaturally bent his head back so that he could look at Thanos in the face. I looked on in horror. He got up, just like that, the pure power of him repelling Thanos. He turned to face the man who had controlled his master for so long. "I am sick and tired of you thinking you will be the perfect King for the Universe." He laughed, all insanity gone now. "You are wrong." He hissed. 

Thanos reeled back and swung his arm, punching Leolin straight across the face. Leolin went sailing backwards, falling on his back and roughly rolling on the rock. I couldn't move from my feet. I had no desire to help the man before me. How is it that I loved my son and hated him. I loved the boy that Anna had raised, not this monster Thanos had corrupted. How pathetic was that?

Leolin slowly got up as Thanos slowly walked towards him, both men red with rage. 

"I WILL NO LONGER BE YOUR PUPPET. THERE ARE NO STRINGS ON ME!" He screamed at Thanos. Then, he put both hands on his head, tilted his chin to the sky and closed his eyes. Thanos looked on in surprise as a pale blue light streamed out of Leolin's mouth. He took it in his own hands gingerly and looked back at Thanos, his eyes wild and still glowing hot orange. "See this? This is my consiousness. MY MIND. And I can put it in anything or anyone." He laughed triumphantly. "Good luck finding me." He paused, thinking for a moment. "Oh, and you can keep your damn bloody stone."

And before anyone could react, Leolin through the small ball of light, his consiousness, away from Thanos.

And towards me.