Chapter Text
In the Treasury to put the Power Stone in some temporary containment and protection, he looked at the pedestal where their trap had been laid and had to smile grimly. After killing his way inside, Corvus would've seen the "Gauntlet" in its weak force field on the pedestal, the broken scepter, and the shattered cube on the floor. He had certainly not looked behind the seemingly broken gate and into the niche that had once held the Destroyer.
The blue shards on the floor vanished, and Loki turned to greet Jane as she picked her way down the steps.
With a nod toward the metal orb that now held the Power Stone, she asked, "You're going to put it with the others?"
"For now. Certainly not for long." He observed the niche and said, "The Destroyer used to guard this place. Do you suppose SHIELD would give it back if Thor asked nicely?"
Equally dryly, she answered, "Probably not." The glow in her eyes intensified and the gate reformed, new and strong, but without a Destroyer within. The doors swung open to reveal a shallow niche with a shelf that held one intact tesseract, a yellow gem in another containment orb, and the lantern-looking containment device for the aether.
"How will you secure them?" she asked.
"For now, bind the gate with the Casket of the Ancient Winters. Only I can use it."
"I should give mine back, then."
"Are you sure? You've taken to it very impressively."
She smiled and ducked her head. "Thanks. But," she grew more serious, looking up at him again, "I don't feel like myself with it. I think... keeping it, I might become something I don't want to be."
"You are wiser than I," Loki answered. He inhaled and let it out slowly. "To be offered what I have always wanted and never believed would be mine..." He thought of the handful of days he'd held the throne before, and its dismal ending, and wondered if he was being foolish to consider this at all.
"You don't want it anymore?"
"On the contrary. I have ideas. But I sent those Einharjar for Corvus to slay, knowing they would die," he gestured at the Treasury doors at the top of the steps. "What kind of king is that."
"One desperate to save his people?" she ventured. "Maybe it's just the Aether saying this, but we had to make it real. He had to buy what we were selling. I understood your logic, and it still makes sense. Maybe if we'd had more time, there could have been another way, but... I don't know. I don't think it helps to dwell on it."
"Saying 'we' makes me feel better, though it was not your responsibility."
"It was," she disagreed, "I had the power. But that's why I don't want to keep it." She offered her hand and he took the containment vessel and held it for her. It was a simple thing now for her to send it from her, and he had to smile a bit remembering the desperation they'd felt to help her rid herself of it.
"Are you sure you won't keep it?" he asked, only partly jesting.
She shook her head. "No. Though if you keep it nearby I might want to ... play with it, now and then."
He laughed. "Only you would use one of the foundation stones of the universe as your toy." He shut the containment device again where the red smoke reformed and swirled within. Setting the vessel in the niche, he closed the vault doors with a solid thump, satisfied very little would be able to get inside.
"What will you do with them?" she asked more seriously. "Keep them here?"
"No, against enough power that will not hold. I intend to put yours back where you found it. The tesseract will allow me to access it without the Convergence, and that will not happen for another thousand years. The rest will need to be scattered."
"Throw the Mind Gem in a neutron star," she advised. "That one's too creepy. No one should have it."
He nodded and then fell silent. "You're leaving then? You don't have to."
She cast her eyes down, chewing on her lip. "I should though. If I stay--" she trailed off before admitting very quietly, "it'll hurt Thor. You two will live much longer than I will, even with your gift, and it's not right for me to cause trouble."
He shook his head. "No, there'll be no -- I would never--"
"I would interfere," she interrupted. "Me. You and I have shared more in two days than I ever will with Thor. I know that. Do you understand what I'm saying?" she implored, looking up. He was stunned silent by what she was implying. His hand lifted, but she shook her head and moved back a step. His hand fell back down. "I'm sorry, but I'm not the kind of person who would do that. I'll tell you what I'm going to tell him -- I love Asgard, I love the science and the magic of it all. It's fascinating. But I can explore that in the future. I have time, now, thanks to you. But right now it's time to go home and live my own life for awhile."
He turned it all over in his mind and decided if she was being this mature about it, he could do no less. He'd known all along nothing could or should happen. Still he had to make one last play and point out one immutable truth: "This is your life now, Jane. You will find your old one confining."
"Maybe, but I need to find that out for myself."
He nodded a reluctant acceptance. "All right. You are always welcome in Asgard. And if you need help -- call my name or Heimdall's and we can bring you here."
"Thank you." She grabbed his hand to pull him down to kiss his cheek, whispering, "Thank you for showing me magic."
Then she pulled away, her fingers trailing his with a last brush of her warmth, and he watched her walk up the steps and leave.
It was late and the Great Hall was deserted. Loki made his way to the bier where Odin lay in state, held beneath preservation spells so he looked merely sleeping.
Tomorrow the family would preside over the funeral, but tonight, he was alone to say his own personal farewell.
Why did you do this? He asked silently. Frigga and Thor had both seen and understood the message, when Odin had transferred the spell to hold Hela and given Gungnir to Loki.
Why me? To make amends for the past, or because you truly thought it was a good idea? What if I make terrible mistakes?
To prove to me that I am your son, and you had no other way left to you?
Because you knew Thor didn't want it anyway?
Why did you do this, to mire me in uncertainty of your intent and my own ability? I have learned better, yes, but so much better to make me worthy to be your successor?
Perhaps the people will choose otherwise and this is all just a night chat with a ghost that will amount to nothing.
He lifted his head to see the throne. They would not hold the coronation here, but in the Hall of Ascension which would hold most of Asgard within beneath its grand throne dais.
This one was smaller, more practical if one could say such a thing about a throne at all, and meant for the king's usual business. Most of that business would bore him to tears, but he knew was important to the people who brought it to the king and therefore would be treated with the seriousness it deserved.
He realized what he was thinking and bit his lip, shaking his head at himself.
A soft step and a familiar touch on his senses was just enough so he wasn't startled by the voice. "You can sit in it. It's yours."
He glanced to see Frigga on the other side of Odin's bier. "Not yet. I meant what I said. And if they choose Thor, then I'll withdraw."
"They won't."
"How can you be so sure? It wasn't that long ago you told me that the people had no true appreciation for the work, only the entertainment of it, which Thor provides."
"That was before we were attacked by two hostile forces and everyone saw what I always have, and your father saw for himself." She tenderly smoothed back Odin's hair from his face. Her wedding band on her finger glinted in the light. "Thor would be a king much like his father. But that is not what Asgard and the Realms need."
He frowned. "But--"
She reached across to touch his hand. "Change is not something to fear. Keeping everything in amber for a thousand years was no true answer. Midgard develops by leaps and bounds; we cannot hold them back from the outside universe."
"We shouldn't."
She inclined her head. "No. And in fairness, Thor would not seek to prevent that either, but he will not seek to develop Asgard. As I know you will. Because you, my darling, have always seen its faults and its shadows, where Thor only ever saw light."
He moved away from the bier and she followed so they could both stand before the throne. "Our people don't like change."
"True. But Asgard nearly fell today, Loki. It must change or it will die. I think many of our people know this in their hearts that change is upon us. And you will do it thoughtfully, seeing beyond the obvious to the unseen. You understand that to make no choice is still a choice, and it is never without consequences."
For an instant he was seized by the desire to level Gungnir at the throne and blow it to bits. Now that would be change, not the careful measured changes which he would have to begin with. If he could do that much. If they would let him.
"Some will say the bloodline matters. That I am not of the line of Bor. And the son of our former enemy, no less."
"Some may," she acknowledged. "Though none can question that Odin claimed you as his own. And your power should make that less important. But I had to reveal the truth. I had feared doing so for so long, and yet the actual doing of it, I knew it was right and I feared nothing. I should have told you long ago."
He didn't want to cast blame anymore, and shook his head. "I forgive you." Her relief and delight struck him in the heart, worsened by her doubt that he didn't mean it. "I wish I'd known, yes, but I understand why you didn't. I know what it is to fear the worst."
Her eyes settled on him a long moment. "Thanos?"
He had to swallow and couldn't meet her eyes. "I was planning to make sure he killed me," he admitted softly. "I think that's why Father attacked when he did, because he suspected I was going to do it as part of the plan. And now?" he gestured toward the throne and gave a little laugh. "This is rather the opposite of how I expected to end the day."
She hooked her hand around his arm and pulled him close, framing his face between her hands to look into his eyes. "Not again, Loki. Not ever again will you hold your own life as something to be given away so freely, promise me."
He didn't want to promise, trying to look away, but she wouldn't allow it. "Promise me," she insisted. "Sometimes sacrifice must be given, I acknowledge and honor that, but if it is not necessary - if it is for fear alone - you must find another way. Swear it."
"Thanos is dead. I have no other fears worth the effort."
Her eyes narrowed. "That is not a promise."
The words wouldn't come at first; the clear memory returning of hanging off the Bifrost in the nothing and knowing there was nothing left for him. But he had been wrong, hadn't he? He had taken the very worst to heart, but his family was here. His mother, now he knew she really was his mother, loved him, Thor loved him, and Odin had too, leaving him the greatest testament of his faith he could.
Only then he could swallow down the memory and nod. "I swear."
She nodded approval and kissed his cheek. "Good."
Overcome, he gathered her into his arms. "I'm so sorry, Mother, so sorry," he whispered into her shoulder "I should've saved him."
Her hand smoothed his hair. "Hush. We will celebrate his bravery and sing of his battle, as it should be, Loki. And we will remember and mourn with love, not with regret."
They stood in the comforting embrace until a familiar presence and heavier step interrupted. Loki stepped back as Thor entered. "Ah, I'm not the only one who thought to make private farewells before tomorrow."
"I had my turn, if you'd rather be alone," Loki offered.
"No. It seems right it's all of us." Thor kissed Odin's brow and stood there for a moment in silence, his hands folded before him.
Loki tried to give him his peace but couldn't help breaking the silence. "Are you sure about this? I know I said once that I envied this, but... I don't."
"I would rather be a warrior for Asgard, than the ruler of it," Thor answered after some moments of thought. "And perhaps it's selfish of me to decline the duty of it," he added with a quick look at Frigga but she had no shaming words for him. "But I believe you would be better at it. You have grown so much, Loki. Perhaps you don't feel so, but I see it. Mother sees it." She nodded definite agreement. "Father saw it, too. Gungnir suits you, brother. And it would suit me ill."
"Well, we can't all be worthy enough to carry Mjolnir, can we?" Loki retorted with reflexive bitterness, before catching himself and wishing he'd kept his mouth shut.
But instead of arguing, Thor held out his hand, called Mjolnir to him, and thumped her on the ground. "Do it."
Loki eyed the hammer, then Thor. "Not in the mood for your mockery, right now. Yes, I could probably break Father's spell on it, but that means nothing."
"The spell never meant anything," Thor returned sharply. "It was only a trick to make me grow up. You already know. So pick it up."
Loki turned away, curling a lip and squaring his shoulders. "I don't need a hammer to tell me my worthiness."
"No? I think you do. I think you'll persist in believing you're unworthy of the throne if you can't do it," Thor challenged. He came in close and put Mjolnir right at Loki's feet.
Loki had to look down at it, ashamed of the sudden fear that seized him. What if he couldn't? Why was he allowing a stupid bespelled hammer to do this to him? He knew who he was; he already knew what he'd done. He knew he wasn't worthy. Perhaps he was serviceable. Perhaps he was even a king. But as the red-headed spider had said, he had blood in his ledger, and so much more than she had.
He could use the Eternal Flame to break the charm and lift it, but that was cheating.
He had to look away and shook his head. "I know it won't. I know what I did, I know what I am. I--" He didn't see Thor move or hold out his hand to call Mjolnir into it, not until the hammer was already being shoved at his chest. "What are you--"
Thor let go. Reflexively, because he didn't let things fall to the floor, Loki grabbed it with his free hand.
And... he was holding Mjolnir. Thor stepped back, both hands upraised as if to demonstrate there was no trickery involved, and Loki could only dart his eyes between Thor and the hammer that was sitting upright in his hand without effort.
Thor's smirk was unbearable. "Told you so."
"But -- I -- how?" he asked in bewilderment.
Thor plucked it back from his unresisting grip and twirled it as if Loki touching it might have altered the balance. "Because even Mjolnir knows when you're being ridiculous." That didn't seem like a good answer, but Loki coldn't pursue the question, when Thor's free hand grabbed Loki's shoulder, turned him, and shoved him toward the throne. "Now go sit in your chair. I want to see what it looks like before everyone else."
Affronted by this manhandling and unwilling to do it, he turned and leveled Gungnir at Thor playfully, and Thor lifted Mjolnir and pointed it at the throne. "Go."
"Somehow I don't think you're serious, if you're bossing me around," Loki grumped at him.
"I will always be your big brother," Thor retorted. "Just as you would stay my annoying little brother if it was me. But it's not."
Loki sought Frigga to see if she would intercede in this, but she was amused and gestured him to keep going.
Halfway there, he turned back to ask Thor, "You're going to stay, won't you? For a little while at least? After?" He didn't clarify 'after' what, but Thor didn't seem to need it.
He heard the plea though Loki tried to bury it, and he answered as any big brother would, "As long as you need me."
Loki gave him a nod of thanks, and turned back to look up at his father's throne.
A fortnight later, Loki paced carefully up to the grand throne Hlidskjalf in the Hall of Ascension, before all of the people of Asgard. Gungnir lay across the arms of the throne, while his helm waited in Thor's hands. Thor and Frigga framed the throne, reminding Loki of that fateful day of the aborted coronation for Thor. But if they were reminded of it, too, they showed nothing but eager pride on their faces.
Loki wore formal gold armor and the emerald cape. There had been two days of discussion about the cape -- Frigga had wanted red, Thor had wanted white to match the white under-lining of Loki's armor, and Loki had wanted to keep something green. Loki had won but conceded to status by having it lengthened to sweep the floor and hemmed in gold.
He walked up two steps. He was supposed to climb to the top and turn to receive Gungnir from Frigga, but suddenly that felt wrong. Instead, he lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head before the throne.
He closed his eyes. Father, give me your strength and your wisdom. Your guidance. Please, I don't know if I can do this.
The familiar voice sounded as if it came from someone standing right above him. "Would I have passed it to you, if I didn't think you could, my son?"
He didn't dare look and see no one was there. Just the sound of his voice was sending the tears overflowing Loki's eyes.
A hand laid lightly on the top of his head, thin with age, but still strong as the fingers smoothed his hair. "You will do well," Odin said in benediction. "Now rise and take your place."
He wiped his eyes and looked up.
From the side, Thor moved to take advantage of Loki already kneeling to crown Loki with the golden helm of high horns. "Still dumb looking," he whispered under his breath, but his hands were gentle pulling it into place.
"Feathers," Loki hissed back but he struggled to keep the smile from his face as he stood.
Turning, Loki faced Frigga who removed Gungnir from the throne across both hands and offered it to Loki.
He grasped it in one hand and faced the hall.
Odin was not there, and in Thor and Frigga's faces he saw nothing but pride and approval. Jane had come, standing in the front row as a representative of Midgard. She was smiling, hands clasped together against her chest as if to keep herself from applauding. Next to her stood Heimdall, Sif, and the Warriors Three. Hogun - who had missed all the excitement on Vanaheim - nodded to Loki in polite acknowledgment. When Fandral saw that Loki's eyes were on him, he cheekily grinned while putting his fist to his heart in salute.
The vast crowd watched him in silence and expectation.
Odin's reign had ended with the funeral and celebration of life feast; today the reign of another would begin, a change not seen in Asgard for more than a thousand years.
Me. And I won't even be able to complain if Thor ruins the coronation right now. His amusement was short-lived, dissolving for the somber ceremony and even more somber responsibility that would come if he sat down.
"Is it going to bite?" Thor murmured.
Frigga flicked her eyes upward. "Boys."
Thor grinned, unrepentant, as his eyes met Loki's. They'd be alright.
That gave Loki the strength to sit down in the throne. It felt too large for him, and he wondered if he'd ever fill it as Odin had with the sheer power of his presence.
He felt the phantom touch on his shoulder and his mother and brother stood there ready to help. He wasn't alone. The helpless, broken thing his brother had carried home not so long ago had healed, and though he might always carry those scars, he had learned from them.
There was much to do still. Soon he needed to decide the fate of the Infinity Stones. Tend to Hela. Send Thor to Midgard to help them transition to their membership of the wider universe. Try to make some kind of amends.
He also wanted to figure out how to balance the defense of Asgard with an encouragement of non-warrior pursuits so no child would ever feel as scorned as he had. Part of that goal included the reform of his father's legacy of conquest, bring the other Realms out of shadow, and renew Jotunheim.
The people had heard his ideas, and now, as they shouted their support, he would have the chance to implement them.
For Asgard and for Loki himself, a new day had come.
the end.