{FIC}Avengers MCU - Change of Fates - Septimus (1/9)
~Septimus ~
On the bi-frost and off
Dangling from the edge of the destroyed Bi-frost, the sons of Odin found themselves in what felt like reversed roles. For as long as the older of the princes could remember he has been the one saving and protecting his younger brother, (with a few exceptions on the battle field when Loki's magic had saved the day), till now … now thanks to a trick of fate, the explosion caused by his breaking of the Bi-frost and the quick reflexes of his younger brother, Thor Odinson found himself dangling over the vast void that fills the space between the Nine Realms with only his father's gold staff and the strength of Loki holding him to Asgard and not letting him fall. Being the older brother that he is though, Thor knew that he must make a decision and make it soon.
"Loki please ... you can't hold us both. Let go."
"Thor ... shut ... up." The trickster gasped, the staff was starting to slip. I could just let go ... all my troubles would be done ... why can't I just let go? He's not my brother ... I owe him nothing ... Just let go. "Thor I'm going to try and pull you up."
"Loki, I can't let us both fall, Asgard needs a prince." Thor was getting that look on his face, that 'I want to be a hero' look. He knew he should continue to fight, not an hour ago his brother tried to have him killed by the Destroyer in Midgard, but after hearing Loki's words in the dome Thor found himself wondering if he would not have done the same thing if he had been in Loki's place. Unlike what the Warriors Three and Lady Sif said Loki had not claimed the throne of Asgard, in the absence of both Odin and Thor it would have gone to the younger prince by his birth right. Yes, Loki had lied to him about his father, but if it had not been for that lie Thor may not have accepted his place on Midgard, he may not have got to know Eric, Jane and Darcy, he would have felt no need to protect the people in that small town … he would not have gotten his powers and hammer back.
"Thor, shut up and grab the staff with your other hand."
"Take care of mother Loki ... promise you will."
"Thor! Shut up!"
The Trickster gave a pull on the staff, if I can just get his hand high enough to grab. Loki could almost reach his brother's hand, just a few more inches and he would be able to get Thor's grip in his hands instead of the slipper gold staff, then disaster hit. The portion of the Bi-frost that Loki had been clinging to cracked, the sound somehow echoed around the two brothers even though they hung over the vast nothingness of the void. The sound made the young prince double the effort of his plan to get his brother back on the bridge and made the older brother try even harder to get his brother to promise to protect the family when he was gone. Thor knew their time was running short, the bridge would not hold much longer, nor would Loki's strength. His little brother had always been known for his magical skills, not his muscles.
“Loki, please … forgive me?”
“Thor for the last time SHUT UP AND GRAB MY HAND!” The scream was full of pure emotion, it instantly reminded the Thunder God of the times Loki had saved him on the battle field in their youth. It was a voice he had not heard in a long time, a voice that he responded to before he realized what he was doing. Just as the younger god had his brother's hand his the staff was released so that he could grab his brother's other outstretched limb. It was at the moment that he heard the bi-frost give under their combined weight, he meet Thor's eyes and saw fear there, Loki could not remember the last time he'd seen fear in his brother's eyes. “Thor … I'm sor-.”
Something grabbed his foot, he was not sure who now held him up, but he knew that they would be safe now, all he had to do was keep Thor in his grip till their savior pulled them up. He looked up one more time to meet Thor's eyes, trying to see if he could figure out who it was that held them from the void, and instead of seeing relief or joy in his brother's blue eyes he still saw fear. Who could be holding them? Why would there still be fear in those eyes?
“Father! Pull us up please, our strength will not hold much longer.” Thor sounded like a small child all of the sudden, like he was asking for a new toy and knew that the answer would be no, but still made the attempt to ask for it. “Father?”
“So much damage … so much.”
“Father, please it was not Thor's fault it was mine, please pull him up at least.” Loki had a feeling he knew what Odin was thinking, the same thing he had been just moments before … if I just let go all of my problems will be gone. Yes, Odin would lose Thor but he could go down in history has having died to protect the realms from his evil brother, Odin would have him celebrated in song for centuries. Loki suddenly wondered if it possible for Odin to hate him more then he loved Thor? The look that flashed across the older brother's face seconds before the Trickster felt the hand on his ankle let go gave him the answer he was hoping to not find out.
As the two brother's fell into the void, still clinging to each other Loki got his answer. Yes, Odin hated him more then he loved Thor.
Master Post
Next Chapter