Red
Loki rushes to Harry’s side, crouching next to him and slowly lifts Harry up to him with his trembling hands. He cradles Harry’s head but Harry was still unconscious, his veins no longer glow red, everything about him seems normal. Jane on the side stirs awake and Thor smiles slightly at her and helps her to sit up. Jane looks to where Loki is cradling his son still. “Loki…I’m sorry, I didn’t know that would happen.”
Loki would gladly curse her out but right now all he wants is for Harry to open his eyes and stare back at him with his emerald eyes. He’s so scared, scared for Harry, scared for himself, scared to be alone. Harry seems to be breathing normally, his chest moves up and down slowly, its like he’s sleeping. Loki healed his head, afraid of bumps appearing after the fall, hopefully no concussion.
“Loki, we need to bring him to Asgard.” Thor was standing beside him, few inches away not wanting to get in his brother’s space after what happened although he is very worried for the child.
“I will call for Heimdall. Father need to see him or at least to the Healer. We do not know what is going to happen now, Loki pleas-“ Loki stands up carefully with his arms full of Harry, nod his head and walks out the door. Thor merely watch him leave before sighing, he looks back to Jane and helped her up before walking out and closing the door on their way out.
Loki still did not meet their eyes, Jane held on tight to Thor and he called upon Heimdall to open the bifrost. “Welcome back Thor, Loki and Lady Jane.” Heimdall greets them before twisting the sword to lock the gateway.
“Heimdall, we’re here to see the Healer. Where is Odin?”
“The Allfather is having a meeting with the warriors, you will find Frigga with them.” Thor nodded a s thanks, Loki still not meeting anyone’s gaze but Heimdall did not question it after seeing the child on his arms. They walked to the palace where they went straight to the Healer, thankfully empty and Healer Eir greets them all and upon seeing the unconscious Harry she lead Loki to the healing table where he hesitantly lay his child carefully on it. Jane lay on another healing table where other healers assess her state and informing them that she’s perfectly okay and no sign of Aether left. Thor has already ordered on the guards to tell Odin that he’s back and to meet him at the infirmary. Loki steps back when Thor pulled him back slowly and lets go of Harry’s tiny hand so Healer Eir can scan him and hopefully the Aether as well. Jane sat down somewhere behind to not disturb the others and startled when the door opens and Odin along with Frigga walked in.
“Thor?” Odin said to Thor but stops talking after noticing another person beside him.
“Loki?” After not seeing him for a long time, Frigga approach them and held his face with both of her hands. “Hello Frigga.” He did missed her while he was away, he avoided looking at Odin as he muster up a weak smile for Frigga. “And whose child is this? Thor please don’t tell me you had a secret child with the mortal.” Jane did her best to not look insulted but it was hard when Odin has lowkey insulted her.
“No, this is not my child, rather he is my ne-“
“He’s mine. Harald Lokison.” Loki stared back at Odin who managed to concealed his emotions rather well. “Well, I can see the resemblance.” Is what the Allfather said after a few moments of silence and Frigga along with Thor exhaled, glad that Odin did not irk Loki with his usual undeserving comments. Frigga was thrilled at the news of a grandchild though, she didn't expect it from Loki at first knowing how he is but all is well she believed.
“Oh he looks just like you when you were younger, though his eyes are rounder than yours. Who is the lucky woman hmm? or perhaps?” Frigga glancing back at Harry and Loki, trying to pump some details about Harry.
“I adopted Harry. A Midgardian, I adopt him as my own few years back and did not tell you. I saved him from undeserving cretins, he’s all mine now.”
“Just like how I pick you up.” Frigga sigh, of course Odin and his big mouth. “Yes, but I showed him the love and affection he deserved, love him like he is my own and now he’s undoubtedly mine and he loves me back. He never fails to show that to me.”
“I am glad you’ve found each other then.” Odin fortunately kept his mouth shut.
“Did you manage to destroy the Aether?” Odin asks Thor, assuming he destroyed it as Jane is now Aether-free. “That’s the problem. The Aether somehow moved hosts from Jane to Harry.”
“How could that be? Jane’s body could barely host the Aether what more could we say about this small child.” Frigga went near to the healing table and brush Harry’s fringe away from his face. He reminds Frigga of Loki with his jet black hair but that’s about it, Harry has sun-kissed skin and his cheeks filled with baby fats. His eyes were rounder and softer, she could tell whereas Loki’s eyes were harsher. Odin walked closer to the child, on the opposite side.
He gently took the unconscious child’s hand, palms facing up and hover his hand over the skinny arm. Red bright energy coursed through his veins, much like Jane’s did before. Odin frowned, confirming the Aether’s presence, not knowing what else to say. Healer Eir without a word kept on assessing Harry’s conditions, monitoring and taking note of any changes.
“It seems different this time.” Healer Eir was looking at something in front of her, the data collected was in front of her. “Is he okay?” Loki ask, afraid of hearing the answer.
“He’s perfectly healthy, the aether seems dormant. It was unlike when it was in Lady Jane’s, where it was restless and prowling around protecting but destroying its host but with this child, you can barely tell.” Healer Eir will need to conduct more and take note of any changes. The Aether’s presence itself is fatal to an adult, much less a child.
“We can’t let anyone know about this, the matters regarding this will not leave this room. Understood?” Odin refers to everyone present in the room. If the Dark elves were to find out about this, more problems will arise. “Malekith will no doubt return again to retrieve the Aether knowing it will be here, but he does not know about the changes. This could be an advantage to us, we shall bait them with false information.”
“You’re planning on using Jane.” Thor frowns, unhappy about Odin planning to use Jane as bait. “I object. You will not put her in harms way. Malekith can sense the Aether is no longer in her once he sees her, what will happen then? What if Malekith attacks her? I will not risk it father.”
“She won’t have to directly meet with Malekith, as long as we could lead him somewhere safe enough to attack him, we shall ambush him before he realizes the Aether’s absence.” Before Thor could object more, Loki noticed Harry’s tiny fingers twitching, Frigga noticed this as well.
Harry’s eyes slowly opens, his eyes slowly adjusting to the bright lights. He hears an unknown gruff voice, not his father. He recognizes Thor’s voice and exhale through his mouth. But where was his dad? His throat felt dry, he’ll hold the thought of calling for him and focusing on opening his eyes and sitting up. Warm hands helped him up, he noticed the smell of flowers but he can’t put a name to them but surely pretty flowers.
His eyes open, visions blurry but adjusting with time and he saw his dad with a worried look. Harry smiled at Loki not hearing gasps from the room. Apparently, Harry’s eyes were still red.
“Dad?” He still feels hazy, not remembering what happen just a dull ache and feeling weirdly full.
“Oh my precious, you’re awake.” Loki picks him up and keeps him close after getting over the shock that his child’s eyes were red still. “Brother, his eyes” Thor said softly, Harry was unaware of how his eyes look of course but he does not care at the moment. He just wants his dad’s touch. Odin did not know what to make of this situation, but the red eyes was not a good sign for sure.
"We will keep him within the palace, we will have to hide him from others for now at least until the attack on the Dark Elves." Odin's gaze never linger long on the child, something about his red eyes. Why would the Aether willingly change host? To a weaker host. "Well, he's welcome to stay within my chambers. I'll prepare the room now, Loki and Lady Jane will follow me. Loki and I should be enough to guard the child while Odin and Thor plans the rest." Frigga offers a gentle smile to Harry who laid his head on Loki.