Chapter Text
“Loki.” Thor gasped. “How long have you been there? Did you hear what-”
“Let me finish!” Odin jumped up, ignoring Loki's flinch.
Loki tried to turn away but Odin grabbed his arm, causing Loki to let out a scream.
“Dear, let go!”
“Stop it!” Loki cried, hyperventilating as he shook heavily.
The Einherjar came in but Frigga sent them away immediately, wanting privacy in this moment. She could not afford them whispering what they had seen.
“No, he needs to listen!”
Loki flailed in his grip, screaming and kicking, managing to sink his teeth into Odin's hand but Odin did not let go.
Loki threw himself back, hitting a painting on the wall that fell but Odin moved it away, holding his son's metal arms. Thor attempted to pull Odin off Loki but Odin used Gungir to send him flying to the other side of the room, making sure to not actually hurt his eldest son.
“I am filled with shame and regret because I failed you! I am a bad father!” He said, watching Loki sob.
Loki seemed to still, causing them to let out sighs of relief until he kicked Odin straight in the chest. “You're not real, he'd never say that!”
Odin wasn't sure what was worse. The fact that his son thought this was an illusion or the fact that it was because Odin had never been so truthful and accepting of his failure.
“Loki, I am real. Your mother is real. Your brother, Thor, he is right there and he's real. And I am telling you now, my boy. I am sorry. I am a terrible, terrible father. You have every right to hate me. You could slay me now and I would not fight back.”
Frigga gasped but Odin didn't stop. He needed to stop lying.
“You are innocent. You deserved nothing of what happened. You are a child. My child. I made so many mistakes and every time you were brave enough to speak out I punished you for it.” Loki stopped flailing slowly, still curled up and shaking.
Odin moved his hands ever so gently to cup Loki's face, tears leaking from both of them. “I am truly sorry, Loki. I was not there for you. I was cruel. I was a bad father.”
Instead of fighting him, Loki sank into himself, crying. “It's real?”
Odin nodded, bringing his son in for a hug but making sure not to fully wrap his arms so as to not make him feel trapped. “Oh, what have I done?”
“Why weren't you there? Why didn't you save me? Why did you say no?” Loki cried into his fathers arms, who rocked him as if he were an infant.
“I'm so sorry, Loki. Please let me try again. You don't have to but please, I'm begging.” Odin cried, petting Loki's head, feeling the bumps of scars.
That night, the family dragged themselves to Odin and Friggas bedroom. The bed was big enough to fit at least ten people, made of gold.
As a child, Thor had slept in it often and so did Loki when the two had nightmares but Odin was quicker to deny Loki entrance as he aged.
They slept together that night, although Thor had to admit it was a little awkward when his father began snoring. Loki and Thor kept chuckling, Frigga between them so that she could embrace them both. Loki was on the end so that he wouldn't feel trapped.
“Shh boys, even the king of Asgard has his embarrassing moments.” She herself quietly chuckled.
“Have you tried putting wine corks in his nose?” Thor asked, causing Loki to have to turn to the side so that he wouldn't burst into laughter.
“I'll have to consider it.” She whispered back, happy to hear both of her children giggling every time her husband snored.
They all went to sleep eventually, embraced in each other's arms. That is until Frigga woke up to feel her back being kicked. She slowly opened her eyes, confused as she was lying on her back. However she noticed one side feeling too empty and looked over, bolting up at the sight of Loki missing.
Her boy was gone.