#now it's confirm that odin raised hela to be a weapon

[shadowjinx626]

You know the more MCU Odin content comes out, the more it's confirm that he never was a good or well intentioned parent that many fans believed him to be.

[worstloki]

Do y’all Loki apologists hate Thor or something and if so like why? Odin gaslit him too... Odin gaslit and girlbossed all of the nine realms lmao

Odin may have erased Hela and glorified/painted their past as more justified and peaceful than it was on Asgard but we're not shown him doing this to the other realms. for all we know he simply abandoned places like midgard because muspelheim and jotunheim still know Odin and hold grudges.

How to explain that specifically taking and raising Loki, Jotun, in a place that is explicitly xenophobic towards Jotuns would specifically be a specific thing pertaining to Loki which is a huge central thing shown in Thor 1 without calling you an idiot. Because it's not Thor's reaction to the lies that is important in Thor 3 even at the "end" of his "arc" in that film where he "realizes" the "truth" of their "history". But in Thor 1 Loki's is. It's a huge deal because it is literally King Laufey of Jotunheim, Loki's apparent biological father, that is the co-antagonist of the film and it is finding out he was not just adopted and lied to but was taken a political pawn and lost this use after finding out this fact, that drives the plot forward.

Thor is not shown finding out this truth. The other realms are not shown finding out any supposed truth about any supposed made-up history (I really doubt Odin cared to spread propaganda past Vanaheim tbh, but whatever).

Thor is not given false hope or misconceptions in gaining Asgard's throne because it is to be given to him. Thor has the support of loyal friends who will commit treason and die to save him. Thor, though also abused, was on the other end of things, where we're shown he is adored and given attention and is confident in his reckless decisions. Thor at the start of Thor 1 is loud and arrogant and brash and admittedly immature but part of that involves speaking over his brother in a way that wouldn't be short of abusive itself if it was long-standing, while Loki isn't shown arguing back or defending himself but shutting down and literally sinking into shadows until the vault scene where he finds out the truth of where he came from.

And Loki, admittedly, has a better grasp of how Asgard works. He finds out he's Jotun, that confirms he was taken at the end of the war, just like the Casket was. He asks why he was taken and upon being told he was an innocent child immediately knows that is not it. Knee-deep in Jotun blood, 'peaceful relations' are hardly that even now. He finds out he was adopted, he asks what purpose it was for. And he's right in saying there is one. He's constantly right about worst-case scenarios. (Compare that to Thor who is being dragged the opposite direction into calling Odin a wise king and superspendicular father. Because they were both abused, but Loki is the one who now must see himself as the monster that parents tell their children about at night.

"It all makes sense now. Why you favored Thor all these years."

And sure, don't take his word on this, it's his POV of things, of course it's skewed. Except he has yet to be wrong. Except Thor is the one shown with a weapon from the vault. Except Thor is the one who was chosen to be King. Except we see how Loki is treated and we see how he reacts.

Regardless, Loki feels, knows, that he was not treated equally to Thor, and if he was given the same opportunities he does not feel he was favoured the same way.

"Because no matter how much you claim to love me, you could never have a Frost Giant sitting on the Throne of Asgard!"

Whether or not objective (again, it's Loki's POV, it's how he sees things, and Loki is GOOD at seeing things) the line expresses his opinion on the entire matter. I don't call it apologism to say that he was hurt and reacted. Since that's. Literally what happened. It's not an excuse to say he was mistreated and went mentally off the rails in trying to prove himself worthy or whatever else bc he was abused, but it's a compelling reason that makes sense imo that he would attribute this to w h y he was never worthy and then went through so much villainous effort to prove he still could be useful.

Thor does not understand what Loki speaks of when they argue on 'imagined slights' because he somehow missed that Loki was being mistreated. Genuine mistake, perhaps, but it left Loki in a position where he was getting treated as dirt whereas Thor was put on a pedestal. Both not great situations, and you can't compare abuse, but Loki was additionally shown having to deal with fallout of leaving the situation while Thor 2 was the last time Thor seriously got to reconsider his relation with Odin as a being other than perfect. That conflict and Thor leaving adds a neat layer of depth to Thor's character in my opinion, not unlike what Loki gained at the end of Thor 1.

I can't speak for everyone, and certainly not for apologists since I don't consider myself one, but I don't hate Thor. Loki's suffering is just. not his fault. I don't blame either of them for what position the other was in. But Loki's problems are, on top of everything, things he was born with. Things he can't change and shouldn't have to but still sees as bad.

Also, Thor's redemption arc is great on it's own but not, in my opinion, as fleshed out as Loki's downfall in the same movie. it's not something specific to his identity that he's overcoming because those we're shown on Asgard are also arrogant! they're also into fighting and violence and acting superior! that's standardized Asgardian values for you babey! it's behavioural and stuff Thor can and does attempt to move on from! and then Loki comes along and he's trying to live up to these expectations that he wasn't ever going to be able to live up to because of who he was because whether or not Asgardian-ness is considered Valid In A Given Situation is dependent on Odin! The system of Righteous Judgement is flawed! It's why I blame Odin and Frigga for everything rather than either Thor or Loki, even though I see Thor and Loki as also having an abusive dynamic going for them!

To me Thor as 'the hero who gains humility' is in huge part unique because it occurs at the perfect time for Loki to be fallout damage. (And vice versa with Loki's arc!). Because Thor and Loki act as foils (is that the word?) in Thor 1 and take each other's positions by the end of the film, because Thor learns something was wrong about himself before, he knows something is wrong with his brother right now, even if the entire morality-of-killing discussion has no real part in their discussion.

Thor's own arc through Thor 1-3 means he's genuinely trying to be better, he's just. still working on it. And struggling to acknowledge the past is bad for reasons is difficult bc they were indoctrinated and unlearning stuff is hard. But it CAN be interpreted that way and I love to do so, because Thor being smart but not being self aware until he stops and contemplates things properly is >>> and v/ heroic imo.

Odin gaslights and girlbosses everyone but he does so to Loki far more specifically and about Loki's own identity. Thor gets gatekept about how he's not the firstborn child AND how his brother is adopted and Jotun, Loki gets being the third child PLUS that he's a different species specifically one Asgard doesn't like PLUS a son of Laufey who is literally an enemy king PLUS that he was originally taken as a political token PLUS that being raised as a prince of Asgard with a right to the throne was a lie PLUS even though they raised him they see what he really is as a negative thing and probably intended never to tell him because of it. Loki's downfall is basically showcased lmao.

They were both abused but not in the same way, they were both lied to but I don't consider it equivalent, they're different characters in and of themselves, psychology is up to interpretation, etc.

So whether or not someone dislikes Thor is literally people's choice but I don't particularly hate him, no, though I feel you were being rude in the way you've asked.

I do hate the MCU though so jot that down. So much wasted potential smh.

tldr: yeah odin girlbossed the nine realms. loki was in those nine realms. odin also personally girlbossed loki on top of that. sure thor would get caught in that too since he's closest to loki BU T that's not a central part of his narrative in any film now is it. no, it just serves a temporary 'oh no! ...anyways, moving on so we can fix this' role while Loki's lies stick around.

[enchantedlokii]

If You Were Here

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: mentions of death, implied/referenced alcoholism, depression, implied/referenced suicidal tendencies, language

Characters: Thor Odinson, Loki Odinson, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, Wanda Maximoff, Peter Parker, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, James Rhodes, Stephen Strange, Wong, Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Mantis, Nebula, Bruce Banner

Mentioned: Thanos, Scott Lang, Amora, Eitri, Frigga, Odin, Vision, Heimdall, Brunnhilde, Korg, Miek, Jane Foster, Hela Odindottir

Thor sat on a rock, glancing around at everyone around him. Now that the battle was over, those who had lost their friends and family finally had the chance to reunite. He saw Steve with Sam and — what was his name again? Bucky? They never really met, but Steve had mentioned him from time to time. Clint, Natasha, and Wanda were standing nearby, Clint talking on his phone with a small smile on his face.

A little farther away the young boy — he called himself Spider-Man? He looked far too young to be called a man, but Thor wasn’t going to judge. — was talking excitedly in front of Tony, Pepper, and Rhodey. Dr. Strange was watching nearby with a small smile, a short, round man standing next to him.

The Guardians were crowded a few feet from them, laughing at a joke or some funny story. Rocket had said that Thor could come with them when they leave Midgard, but he wasn’t so sure he would join them yet. He knew that they were already a family. While him and Rocket had become good friends since the Snap, he didn’t want to intrude.

Thor felt something hit the back of his head and let out a growl, bringing his hand up to rub it. From the dust, he guessed it must have been a rock. A surge of anger flowed through him, because who would dare throw something at him while he was mourning? Couldn’t they see that he wasn’t in the mood to jest right now?

He picked up Stormbreaker and started to stand, turning to face whoever had bothered him. He didn’t realize that everyone around him had fallen silent. Maybe if he had, he would have realized who his provoker was sooner. Instead, he didn’t realize until he saw long, black hair. His eyes widened at the sight and he dropped his weapon. “Loki?”

“Hello, Brother.” Loki looked the same as he had on the Statesman. Down to the fact that his skin was pale and bloody and his eyes shone with pain. His hair was messy and knotted and his clothes were dirty. “I’m here.”

Thor looked him over for a moment before running forward and wrapping around him tightly. He noticed his brother flinch a bit, grunting with pain, but he still relaxed slightly, letting his own arms wrap around Thor hesitantly. “I thought you were dead.”

“I, um, I was. Seriously this time.” Thor pulled him away to look at him. He remembered watching his brother die. He had watched Thanos snap his neck. He had said there was no resurrections this time. He was really dead. “You know I’m telling the truth, Thor.”

“I don’t understand. . .”

“Maybe I can help with that.” The two looked up to see Dr. Strange coming closer. “He speaks the truth. I came after the Statesman exploded. I still had the Time Stone at the time, and was able to use it to reverse his death.”

“Hold up, hold up.” A new voice cut in. Bruce — BruceHulk? — was coming from where he had been helping Scott with the Quantum Portal. He looked shocked and slightly offended as he glared at Dr. Strange. “You acted like you didn’t know who Thanos was.”

“I had to do what I had to do.”

“Can someone please explain what is going on here?” Loki asked, looking from Thor, to Bruce, then to Stephen. “All the sorcerer told me was I was needed for another time. I am extremely confused.”

“I still find it ironic you call me a sorcerer when you once learned from an apprentice sorceress,” Stephen grunted, smirking as Loki’s eyes widened with surprise. “Yes, I know about her. I know everything.”

“We don’t speak of Amora,” Thor murmured, noticing the hurt look in Loki’s eyes. “Come, Brother, let’s go somewhere private and I will explain all that has happened.”

Thor summoned Stormbreaker again and Loki gave him a look of confusion. “Where did that come from?”

“Eitri,” Thor shrugged, raising the axe and watching the amazement in Loki’s eyes as the Bifrost appeared. He seemed almost dizzy as they reappeared in Norway, not far from New Asgard. He swayed a bit an Thor grabbed his arm to steady him. “You okay?”

“Just give me a second,” Loki huffed, leaning against Thor slightly. “Apologies, it’s only been a few minutes since this fight for me.”

“Sit down,” Thor insisted, lowering his brother to sit on a rock. Loki didn’t protest. He sat down and slowly let go of Thor. “Do you need anything? We’re not far from New Asgard.”

“New Asgard?” Loki murmured, raising an eyebrow. Thor took the moment to switch to more comfortable clothes and saw Loki’s eyes widen again at his appearance. He looked in his eyes and must have noticed the distant look that always haunted his eyes now. “Brother. . . You’re not okay, are you?”

“Not now, Loki,” Thor sighed, shaking his head. “You’re hurt. You’re basically half-dead right now. You were dead. We’re going to take care of you first.”

“No, Thor.” Loki stood, still a bit shaky, and looked his brother in the eyes. For a moment he was silent, but Thor could tell that he was on the brink of losing his temper. “Thor, I know that d*mn look and I’m not going to let it slide. I am not going to live on a planet that hates my existence without my f*cking brother.”

Thor was surprised to see tears starting to shine in Loki’s eyes. He had seen them there many times before, but it was never for him. He never thought that Loki could cry for him. “I’m here, lillebror,” Thor told him softly. He held out an arm and let Loki fall against his chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Loki balled up a fist and weakly hit Thor’s chest. “I know that look,” Loki cried. “I know that look, storebror. Please. You’re hurting. I know. I can see it.”

“Loki, look at me.” Loki pulled away and looked at him. “You’re right. I’m not okay. I am hurting. But you have to listen to why before you freak out on me, okay? Let’s sit down and talk.”

Thor waited for Loki to nod before leading him back to the rock and sitting next to him. Memories of them talking like this when they were younger flooded his memories. There was a time that whenever either of them were upset, they would sit and talk it out. It was something Frigga encouraged, and it usually did help. But that stopped after what Odin saw in the Godseye Mirror.

“After. . . After what happened on the Statesman, I went to Eitri to craft Stormbreaker,” he started. He might as well get the whole story out of the way while Loki was listening to him. “Thanos was heading to Earth to take the Time Stone and the Mind Stone, and I knew that I needed to get to Midgard to help Bruce and the others. I got there in time. I was relieved. Vision was still fighting. Thanos wasn’t there yet. . . But he ended up taking the Stone anyway. He had it. He had all of them. And I stabbed him with Stormbreaker, but it didn’t kill him. He used the Stones. He wiped out half of all creatures. Told me I should have gone for the head.”

Thor felt a hand on his knee and sighed, closing his eyes. “I felt like I had failed. I was meant to avenge you and Heimdall and all the Asgardians he killed that day, but I failed. Not only that, but it was my fault that humanity was destroyed.”

“Thor. . .”

Thor shook his head. “We went back and found him. He had used the Stones again, and we thought that now that we were all together. . . All of us that were left, anyway. . . We thought we could overpower him and use the Stones to bring everyone back.”

“He destroyed them,” Loki murmured. Thor nodded, glancing over at him. He had forgot that his brother worked for Thanos at one point.

“He destroyed them,” Thor confirmed. “I. . . And I killed him. I killed him even though it meant nothing. Because everyone that I loved was gone.

“Val and Korg and Miek. . . They helped me set up New Asgard here, but it wasn’t enough. I locked myself away. They were the only ones who were allowed to see me unless I came out for supplies.”

“Supplies?” Loki questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“Alcohol. Food. . . That was about it,” Thor admitted. “Spent most of the day playing Fortnite with Korg and Miek. I just kept drinking, hoping that I would finally reach my limit, but it never happened. Five years and it never happened.”

“Hold up — five years?!” Loki asked. “It’s been five years?”

Thor nodded slowly. “About a month or so ago, Bruce and Rabbit came and found me. Told me they thought they had found a way to bring everyone back. I didn’t feel like I should come back with them. I. . . I didn’t feel like I should be considered an Avenger anymore, but they convinced me to come back.”

“And how, exactly, did you bring everyone back?” Loki asked. “The Infinity Stones are gone. That shouldn’t be possible.”

“Stark figures out time travel,” Thor shrugged. He saw Loki’s eyes widen a bit. “We split up and went to collect the Stones from different times. Rabbit and I. . . We traveled to Asgard. When the Aether was in Jane.”

Loki thought for a minute, and Thor guessed he was trying to place the time in his mind. Then a dark look clouded his eyes. “That would have been when I was imprisoned,” he murmured.

Thor nodded sadly. “I. . . It was the day mother died,” he admitted, lowering his head to his hands. “I spoke to her. I tried to hide, but you know there’s no hiding from mother. She told me to leave the sneaking to you.”

Thor smiled over at Loki and saw him return it sadly. “I wanted to warn her, but she told me that I was there to fix my future, not save hers. I. . . I think she knew she was going to die, Loki.”

“She visited me earlier that day,” Loki said quietly, his voice sad. Thor looked over at him again, curious. Their mother was not meant to visit Loki. No one was meant to. “The last thing I told her was that she wasn’t my mother.”

“I’m sure she knows you didn’t mean that,” Thor assured him. “She knows everything.”

Loki chuckled, the laugh wet from the tears that were gathering in his eyes. “Odin said that she would be proud of me,” he recalled. Thor remembered their father saying this after they found him in this spot. Loki had cast a spell on him that took him years to break. “I don’t know how she could be, though. I was never the son she wanted me to be.”

“She loved you, Loki,” Thor pressed. “And I believe she would be proud. Maybe you weren’t perfect, but neither was I. What matters is that we learn from our mistakes. That’s what she always said, remember?”

“Yeah. . . Yeah, I remember. I just. . .” Loki trailed off, glancing out at the water. “I fulfilled the prophecy.”

Thor realized what he meant immediately. He remembered the feast. He remembered the terror on Odin’s face. He remembered finding Loki listening to his and Frigga’s conversation through a goblet. He had immediately known that it was Loki that Odin had seen in the vision. Of course it was Loki. He was the secret sorcerer. The god of mischief.

They always knew that Loki would bring Ragnarok to Asgard, but something about it seemed off to Thor. “I don’t think that the prophecy was what Odin thought it to be,” Thor told him.

“The Godseye Mirror was never wrong, storebror,” Loki muttered. He was looking at his hands, and Thor guessed he was remembering how he and Amora broke the mirror trying to see the vision that was given to Odin.

“But Father was many times.”

Loki’s eyebrows knitted together as he thought. Thor saw the change immediately as Loki realized what he meant. “You think Odin was confused?”

“Odin saw one of his children leading an army of the dead,” Thor reminded him. “You didn’t do that, Hela did.”

“He saw one of his sons, Thor. Not just one of his children,” Loki reminded him.

“He thought he did,” Thor countered. “No offense, but you and Hela resemble each other quite a bit. If I didn’t know better, I would think I was the adopted one. Perhaps he saw her and thought it was you.”

There was a flicker of hope and desperation in Loki’s eyes. Thor smiled at it, letting his muscles relax as he saw the change in his expression. “That. . . That actually makes sense.”

Thor nodded in agreement, standing up. At first he just stared out at the water, then he turned and reached out a hand to help Loki up. “Let’s go into the city and have your wounds checked. Then you can rest,” Thor insisted. “You have living quarters in my home place.”

Loki froze, his face reflecting a mixture of emotions that Thor didn’t automatically recognize. For a moment he was worried his brother might deny the request, but when he spoke, his voice shook with emotion. “You have a room for me? Even. . . Even though you thought I was dead.”

“Of course,” Thor smiled weakly. “I. . . I wanted you to have a place if you ever came back. I thought I knew it was final this time, but I couldn’t push past the thought that it might have not been. And I’m glad now that I listened to myself.”

Loki looked lost for words. He looked around, his eyes darting here and there as he processed what Thor was saying. Then, before Thor understood what was happening, he felt arms wrap around him and a face pressed into his shoulder. Loki was hugging him. “Thank you, Brother.”

Thor returned the hug tightly, lowering his head until his face was in Loki’s tangled hair. “Of course,” he whispered. “I love you.”

“I. . . I love you too, Thor,” Loki breathed. Thor couldn’t remember the last time he heard his brother say that. It must have been before he was cast out of Asgard so many years ago. “Always, more than anyone else.”

[crowkingwrites]

I Knew They Would Love You

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Fic Request:  Request: Loki introduces fem!reader to the Odin family (Frigga, Odin, Hela all alive) and reader being worried about how the family will take her but they love her. Even Hela tries to steal her to be her new best friend. Thor and Odin being impressed by her appetite and frigga thinking she’s a perfect match. Loki just happy they love her even though he knew they would

Words: 2374

Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14698947

You wringed your hands again and again, thinking of the royal family of Asgard. Servants threw over a soft and light dress on you. The fabric was beautiful to look at and the arm braces were intricately decorated with snakes. The servants stepped back and you looked at yourself for the first time.

Half of your hair was braided and the other half was loose around you. Your figure showed, and the dress made you look much better than you felt. It was all beautiful. You felt like a princess for the first time, but a gut feeling wouldn’t go away.

“Isn’t this all a bit much?” you turned to Loki who was in full royal garb. His long horns shined under the light.

“Darling, you look beautiful,” his smile reached his eyes. He placed his hands on your shoulders for a moment, and then they slid down your shoulders and held your hands. He squeezed them. “I’ve waited a while for this day to come.”

“I’ve dreaded this day,’ you responded. Loki knew you meant no harm. Your hands shook and Loki took them again.

“I think you may be overreacting,” he looked down to you. He raised his eyebrows. “We could move this to another day if you wish.”

You shook your head. “No. I can do this.”

Loki smiled and nodded. Both of you were taken into the palace deeper by guards who flanked each side of you. It intimidated you as a guest, but Loki took your arm into his and kept walking.

“Did you tell them? What I was? Who I am?” you asked Loki. He only smiled.

“Yes, I did. Of course, Thor already knows, but my sister and Frigga are very excited to meet a Midgardian who possesses the power of magic.”

Loki radiated beside you. His fingers wrapped around both of your hands as you turned down the hallway of the palace. He squeezed your hands, calming your nerves only slightly. You looked up to him to see his confident face. Then again, he was always confident regardless the situation.

“Little brother,” you heard a purr ahead of you. She was tall, slender, and her straight dark hair looked like black daggers. She looked like a weapon. “Hela,” Loki smiled. He hugged his sister as a greeting. He pulled away and extended his arm out to you. “This is Y/N.”

“This is her? The Midgardian who has taken my brother’s heart?” her tone sounded more dangerous with each word. Her eyes went over you as if she waited for you to attack of some sort. You looked to Loki, but he only beckoned you to come closer.

You gulped and took Loki’s hand. He guided you to Hela who now stood in front of you. Her dark eyes reminded you of Loki, but it was her smile that sent chills down your spine.

“Hello,” you squeaked out.

“Hello Y/N,” she said to you.

“How-how are you?” you asked, punishing yourself for how stupid you sounded in front of a goddess. Hela looked to Loki and then back to you quickly.

“Did he say something awful about me?” she asked.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You look like you’re about to turn and run away from me, my dear,” Hela almost chuckled. She took your arm and guided you towards the private family dining room. Loki followed. “I’ve been waiting to meet you. Loki tells me you’re quite talented with magic.”

“Uh yes,” you said. “I have been Doctor Strange’s apprentice for quite some time now.”

“Doctor Strange?” Hela turned around.

“An acquaintance of mine, a teacher of hers,” Loki answered. “He’s a part of the Avenger team and a protector of Earth.” Hela smiled and continued on with you.

“What can you do? Illusions? Teleportation?”

“All of them actually,” Loki answered for you, now walking beside you. You bowed your head.

“Well let’s see them then!” Hela encouraged you. The three of you entered a large space in the palace. The floor was a beautiful soft gold. Above you was an intricate chandelier that looked more like a galaxy than a light fixture. You stared in awe at it. It was such a beautiful thing to look at. Your eyes fell to two noblemen who stood underneath the chandelier.

Hela put her hands on your shoulders. “Let me see you make it fall.”

“What?” you reacted.

“Just for fun. Scare them,” Hela pointed to the two men. “If it helps, they secretly share a dislike for our Loki.” You looked to Loki, waiting for some kind of approval. Loki smirked at you and nodded towards the ceiling. Mischief, you thought. It runs in the family.

You lifted your hands towards the ceiling and began to draw sigils in the air. They came out purple and when linked together, they turned into a deeper violet. The chandelier shook. The two men heard a loud crack above them. White-faced and panicked, they looked to the ceiling to watch a chandelier fall towards them. Each ran in the opposite direction, screaming their heads off.

Hela and Loki laughed hard. Hela had a hard time finding her breath. Loki leaned against the wall and turned away from both of you. You put the chandelier back in its place and joined the laughter.

“Amazing,” she purred. “I like you.”

“Careful, sister,” Loki warned with a smile. “I saw her first.” He winked at you. The three of you continued on an impromptu tour of the palace until you reached the royal family’s private dining area. Odin and Thor wasted no time. They were through their first course for lunch when you finally sat down.

“Y/N!” Thor greeted. “It is good to see you.”

“So, you are the one Loki’s been on and on about,” Odin looked over you. Hela was one thing, but the King of Asgard was another. You sat straight up and tried to make yourself look as presentable as possible.

“Your Majesty,” you bowed your head.

“My child, lift your head and let me see you,” Odin said. You did as the king told you. He met your concerned eyes with kindness. He nodded. “She is as beautiful as you say, Loki.”

You quickly turned to Loki who smiled back at you. “You said I was beautiful?”

“I did,” Loki confirmed in between bites of a vegetable medley in front of him. “How else was I supposed to describe you? Lie to them and tell them I was in love with an ugly creature? I don’t think so.”

“Go on, Y/N. Eat,” Thor gestured with his fork to your plate.

“I thought we were waiting four your mother?” you asked.

“She can’t come,” Thor explained also in between bites. “She’s having lunch with a guest from another realm. She did want to see you later. I believe she wanted to have tea with you alone.”

“Alone?” you turned to Loki. “You told me that you would be with me all day.” Loki squeezed your hand again. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. Besides, my mother is the most gentle out of all of us.”

Anxiety rocked your body as you started to eat. You chewed and swallowed the vegetables in front of you. You nearly demolished two chicken legs. You gulped down a pint of ale to polish it all off. The thought of facing Loki’s mother alone made you increasingly hungrier. How on Earth were you going to handle it? You kept eating mashed potatoes covered in butter until you heard a chuckle from Odin.

You looked at yourself and realized how much you’d actually eaten. You never felt so mortified. Surely, the King of Asgard can’t have Loki be with such a hungry, nervous eating pig.

“Well done, Y/N!” Odin smiled, seeing your empty plate. “Never have I seen such an appetite in a young lady before. You must be one of the stronger Revengers.”

“Avengers, father,” Loki corrected.

“Regardless,” Odin started. “I’m happy to see Loki with a warrior such as yourself.” He nodded to you.

“I didn’t think you could eat so much,” Thor sat in somewhat of a shock. “Where did this come from?”

“I eat when I am nervous,” you confessed. Your nerves tingled your hands with a sort of electricity. Out of the corner of your eye, you watched a light flicker. Loki slid his hand into yours. He bent towards your ear.

“You’ll be alright. I promise.” After excusing both of you, Loki started to guide you to other parts of the palace. Ones where the history and culture of Asgard was rich. You lowered your head, thinking to yourself.

You remembered how much Loki spoke of his mother. He adored her. He admired her. She was his hero. If she didn’t like you, then what? Your stomach rumbled with the idea of the Queen of Asgard hating you. It made you even sicker when you thought of her reaction to you and impulsive powers.

“Y/N?” Loki said, out of concern. His thumb brushed over your knuckles. “Your body is here with me, but your mind is elsewhere.”

“What if she doesn’t like me?” you asked.

“She will,” Loki reassured you once again. Both of you saw another light flicker in the distance. “Do you trust me?”

“I do,” you said. Loki kissed your temple.

“Then trust me. Be yourself. Go on,” Loki said. Doors automatically opened to reveal a modest tea room. The afternoon sun warmed your skin, but the slight breeze comforted you. In a chair that faced the view of Asgard sat Frigga. Her hands were folded on her lap and she enjoyed the quiet until you came in.

“Ah hello,” she smiled and offered you the chair next to hers. “Please sit. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Waiting? I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” you said in a panic. “I didn’t mean to make you wait.”

“Nonsense,” Frigga waved off. “You didn’t make me do anything. Sit with me.” Her tone was warmer than the room. You saw the assortment of cakes and hot tea that awaited for you, but your stomach still turned. You mentally searched for something, anything to talk about, ut Frigga beat you to it.

She poured you a cup of thick green tea. “Loki has told me many things about you, but he neglected to mention how you two met.”

“Oh, it’s a bit of silly story, your Majesty. I’m not sure if you’d like to hear it,” you smiled to yourself.

“Oh, did he embarrass himself?” Frigga smiled with you. “I’m very familiar with that.”

“No, not exactly,” you started. “Loki came to Doctor Strange to help make amends for the Incident. I was training in another room when they were meeting. One of my spells got out of hand and it hit Loki. It sent him into another part of Earth for quite some time before I could bring him back. He was very cross with me.” You giggled. “It was very hot where I sent him.”

“Oh my,” Frigga giggled with you. “I remember Loki when he was younger. He would get himself into all sorts of trouble all the time. I imagine you have advanced in your training?”

“I have, Your Majesty.”

“Call me, Frigga,” she smiled. “I am not your ruler.”

“Frigga,” you repeated. “I have advanced into my training. I’m currently learning to turn time.”

“Turn time?’ Frigga responded, blinking. “As in time travelling?” You smiled, feeling a new energy fill you with excitement. You have been waiting to speak with someone about your newfound time magic.

“Almost,” you bounced. “Think of it this way. I may view the past and see possibilities in the future, but I cannot affect it. I cannot change any actions or words. I can only be a spectator to it. It’s been so interesting to learn especially with Loki’s help. Memories can be as vivid as you and me speaking right now. I can walk among these memories and—

The teapot shattered in front of you. Frigga gasped at the sound. You closed your mouth with your hands and sank back into your seat. You shouldn’t have been excited. You shouldn’t have spoken. You examined the broken pieces and looked at Frigga’s shocked face. You turned away from her. You’ve ruined it. You spoilt the entire day.

“You’re sensitive, aren’t you?” Frigga asked. Her hand touched your shoulder gently. “Loki told me you were a powerful witch. You must be sensitive to the energy around you.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to break anything,” you said. Frigga shook her head.

“Nothing to be sorry about. If I must be honest, I find your kind fascinating. How strong you must be, and yet you appear to be so kind.”

“Thank you,” you quietly said. Frigga took your hand into hers.

“Your emotions are not your weakness, my dear. They are your strength,” Frigga smiled. “Not many who practice magic can claim their power comes from their heart. This must be why both of you work so well together.”

“Loki and I?”

“Yes,” Frigga’s smile reached her eyes. “Loki has been trapped in his own head for some time. To see him so happy. To see him stronger and better. That must be because of you. I can see why he loves you very much. Both of you share the same passion and knowledge for magic. Then again, Loki tends to fall in love with women who are exceptionally kind.”

“Thank you, Frigga,” you felt a sense of calm wash over you. You picked up a cup of tea and sipped at it.

“How long do you plan to stay?”

“Stay?” you asked. “I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to.”

“Of course you may stay! I would personally love to see your form of time turning in action. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two,” Frigga sipped on her own tea. You smiled, feeling much more comfortable in her presence.

Loki looked on outside the door. He smiled to himself when he saw two of his favorite people interacting with one another.

‘I knew they would love you,’ he thought to himself.

Taglist: @angelicshinigami @sugarwastaken @carilov09 @disneyprincessbuffyannesummers @i-theredqueen @sleepylunarwolf @trashpandabarnes

[feynites]

Brunnhilde

Okay I think this is my last Thor fic.

...Probably.

......Maybe. We’ll see.

It has been a long, long time since anyone called Brunnhilde by her name.

She can’t even remember the last time, in fact. Among the Valkyries, ‘sister’ was a more common term of address. Even when it wasn’t, she had ended up bearing the same name as the commander of her order. The two Brunnhilde’s. Her stern commander, cold as a star-filled evening; soft and sweet as moonlight. And herself. Sunny, dedicated, impatient Brunnhilde, who loved her summer wines too well, and her commander far too well.

Not that anyone had minded, in the end.

When necessary, most of the Valkyries had called her Hildie, to keep the confusion away. But ‘sister’ was still more common. And ‘beloved’, too, whispered in words that have kept a place in a corner of her heart. Under lock and key, where they can only whisper to her in the dead of night. After all the noise and the lights have become too much, and she cannot keep it all at bay any longer.

The Grandmaster, of course, has his numbers. To his guard she is ‘bitch’, and to many of her rivals it’s mostly the same. Numbers and insults and sometimes compliments, whenever someone is trying to butter her up.

After Asgard falls, she is ‘Valkyrie’.

Of course. She is the only one left. There’s no need to clarify things any further, and no one seems bothered to ask for a name. Of Asgard’s survivors, she recognizes only one face. And she never knew Heimdall very well – never knew most of the Vanir. He keeps to himself on the ship, too. They’ve only seen each other a few times, and the look in his strange eyes – like they were seeing straight through her – kept her moving.

She’s not sure if she’s happy that someone else from before is around, or if she kind of wishes it’d been more of a clean sweep for the old timers.

And… shit.

Well.

She’s an old-timer too, now.

Sakaar had a way of making time pass differently. Not totally differently. But… differently. She’s not really sure how old she is, anymore.

Not that it’s a big deal. But it’s strange to walk among what’s left of Asgard, and have no frame of reference for a lot of the things people are talking about. For the dead being mourned, and the events being debated. Shit, she doesn’t even know if Odin left any more spawn hanging around, waiting to crop up at the next inconvenient point in time. When she asks Thor, he says ‘no’ at first. But then he gets a deeply concerned look on his face, and excuses himself to go find Heimdall.

He does that a lot.

She’s pretty sure that the throne is actually more or less in Heimdall’s hands, right now. Which is fine by her. At least someone seems to have the first clue of what the hell they’re doing.

Going to Midgard, she reminds herself. The last time she was on Midgard was four thousand years ago. Pretty place. Boring place. Kind of depressing – the people had really short lifespans, and they were all like Bruce in terms of resilience. Tissue paper people.  But, without the Hulk.

Unless… they all do that, now…

She veers away from asking Thor about potential Odinspawn to go and ask Bruce if the refugees of Asgard are heading for a planet full of people who can just turn green and throw them around like ragdolls. Because honestly that doesn’t really seem like the ideal safe harbour. She heard about a lot of places on Sakaar. Other realms, other planets. With a little digging they might even be able to find one that’s uninhabited.

She finds Bruce on the bridge. Trying to figure out more of the ship’s working parts. He is smart, she’ll grant that. The universe probably had to offer the tissue paper people a few things to make up for the two-minute lifespans. And, of course, thousands of years of living under Asgard’s ‘protection’.

Bruce blinks up at her with a look that says he’s been reading glowing script for more than six hours, probably. Or that he’s been drinking, but, he doesn’t tend to imbibe. Near as she can tell.

“So just to check a thing – are you the only mortal who does the thing, or is that normal for your people?” she asks, twirling her hand in a way that’s meant to indicate ‘turning green and becoming an unstoppable force of destruction’.

Bruce blinks, and takes a minute to process her question. He looks confused, and then incredulous.

“The – you mean, turning into the Hulk? You’re asking me if that’s normal?” he checks.

She nods. Already kind of guessing at the answer based on his response.

“No,” he confirms. “That’s not normal. That’s… no, not even a little bit.”

“So everyone else on your planet is just, like, Bruce Banner levels of threatening?”

Bruce hesitates.

“Um,” he says. “Uh. Well, no… yes? I mean, it’s not like I’m not a potential threat as Bruce Banner. Intellect is of course the most potent tool and the most dangerous weapon that anyone can wield. Uh, case in point – one of the most prominent people on our planet is Tony Stark. Who… you won’t have heard of, of course, but he’s an inventor. He made this suit. Robot suit. Well not really a robot suit that’s a colloquial oversimplification-”

“Got it. Lots of nerds,” she sums up. “But you’re the only Hulk?”

Bruce nods, and then hesitates a little.

She waits.

This is seeming a lot like the question about potential Odinspawn. It’s a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but apparently at some point after the fall of the Valkyries, people throughout the universe just stopped asking important questions.

…Not that she can get on her high horse about that, considering her own decision to just bury her head in the sand, too.

It’s strange. How much it feels like she’s waking up for the first time in…

Four thousand years.

“I am the only Hulk, but, there are some other people who are… stronger than average,” Bruce concludes.

“How much stronger?” she presses. It’s only practical to know what they’re getting into. Especially since most of the people who survived Hela’s assault are non-combatants. Those who never really could have taken up arms against her in the first place. Aesir are hardier and stronger than most, but they’re not all warriors. And resilient physiology only goes so far.

She would know. She wasn’t the only one to end up in Sakaar. Falling off the stray end of a path somewhere. She was just the only one who made it this far.

Bruce tilts his head, thinking.

“Well… There’s Cap. Steve. He could go toe-to-toe with Thor, I can’t actually say who would win in a fist fight. And there was, um. Another project. Like me. He’s gone now, but, it’s been two years. I guess they could have tried again while I was out of it,” he explains.

“So, you’re saying, there could very well be other Hulks on Midgard?” she presses, folding her arms.

Bruce sighs.

“Possibly? Not many. There wouldn’t be much of a planet left if there were,” he insists. “And they’re not ‘Hulks’. Hulk is… well, it’s a thing, sure, but it’s also kind of like a name. He picked it. I don’t know why, so don’t ask.”

“Hulk’s your name?” she checks. That was what she had thought to begin with, but the way Bruce talks about it…

He shakes his head.

“Hulk’s his name,” he insists. “Not that we’re… we’re not really separate beings, I guess. Except that we are. It’s complicated.”

Awkward silence descends.

After a moment, Bruce lets out a breath.

“Kind of weird to think I spent two years living on an alien planet, and no one there even knew my name,” he muses. “I was just ‘Hulk’ to you all.”

She hesitates. A weird feeling in her chest. Two years is hardly anything to an immortal. But, maybe to a tissue paper person, it feels like a lot more. And time on Sakaar can be strange in more than one direction.

“Don’t worry about it,” she tells him. “No one on Sakaar knew my name, either. And I was there a lot longer.”

Bruce frowns a little.

“No one?” he asks. “That can’t be right…”

She raises an eyebrow at him.

“What’s my name?” she asks.

He opens his mouth, like he has an answer. And then he hesitates. She wonders if his brain is stuttering over one of Hulk’s nicknames, or if he’s trying to grasp it and failing. After a few minutes, though, he gives up, and settles on an embarrassed look.

“See?” she concludes, and turns to leave.

“Well, wait, though – what is your name?” he asks.

In hindsight, she should have seen that coming. Her strides falter, just a little. It’s a simple question. And it’s not like she’s forgotten. It’s still there, in the back of her mind. On the tip of her own tongue. Lurking in the hollow of her throat, like a scream that won’t come loose. Brunnhilde, I’m Brunnhilde, I’m a person, dammit, I’m not a fucking number, I’m…

But it’s not so much the thought of hearing someone say her name, as it is the thought of hearing someone say her name, that’s keeping it under her tongue.

Brunnhilde.

Maybe it’s not even the thought of hearing it. Maybe it’s just the reality of having to say it.

Well. No one lives for thousands of years on Sakaar without learning how to cheat.

“My friends called me Hildie,” she tells Bruce. Glancing back towards him. And it comes with only a little strain. Only a small twinge, like pressing on an old bruise.

“Hildie?” Bruce asks, surprised. He laughs a bit.

She raises an eyebrow at him.

“What’s so funny?” she wonders.

“Nothing,” he assures her. “It’s just… it’s a very sweet sort of name. I like it. I wouldn’t have guessed it, but… it suits you.”

She takes a moment to tell, but, she doesn’t think he’s making fun of her. And she supposes he has a point. Hildie was the name of a Valkyrie sister, a warrior-in-training, someone still new to riding her winged steed when Hela knocked it out of the sky. It’s the kind of name one of her sisters might groan, while leaning against her shoulder. Sore from some battlefield injury, and playing it up a little to get some treat or drink smuggled in.

A name for someone with friends.

“Maybe it’ll fit better again, with some time,” she suggests.

Time that’s finally moving forward, now.

She leaves Bruce, and goes to see if Loki might know more about any hidden bastards of Odin’s. A Valkyrie’s duty is to protect the people and throne of Asgard, after all. If she’s going to do that, she’s going to need to know what else they might be up against.