The Antipathy
Thor looked at Loki with the most confused stare in his eyes. He shifted his glance down to Loki’s lips back up to his eyes, and simply asked, “What?”
Loki nodded and repeated, “We must take the Bifrost to Jotunheim.”
“But why? You know Asgardians are not allowed to travel to Jotunheim, Hela, I’m not even allowed to travel to Jotunheim. Even with good reason, it is against Odin’s will,” says Thor.
Loki’s eyebrows furrowed. “But you’re the King now, are you not?” asked Loki.
Thor thought for a moment, and slowly spoke, “I suppose I am the King now, but what will The Allfather think of this? What will he think of me?” asked Thor, mainly to himself.
“It has to be done, Thor, everything will be explained then,” said Loki.
“This simply cannot be done, Loki. I have feelings for you, feelings that I cannot deny, but even for you, this cannot be done,” says Thor.
“Then we’ll do it in secret,” says Loki. “I know of a pathway that can take us to Jotunheim without speaking to Heimdall or alerting your father,” says Loki.
Thor looks at Loki puzzled. “How do you know of such a thing?”
Loki paused before speaking. “It is how I got here, to Asgard. In secret,” spoke Loki.
“In secret?” asks Thor.
“Indeed,” says Loki.
Thor sighs and takes a hold of Loki’s cheek. “I do not like this. But I will do it for you. We must go now, before the Wedding Ceremony tomorrow,” says Thor.
Loki leans into Thor’s touch and speaks, “Very well then, now we go.”
-
Loki is stuffing a few miscellaneous items into a messenger bag as Thor is admiring all of his house plants in Loki’s bedroom.
“All of these are yours?” asks Thor.
“Nobody else lives with me, so, yes, they are all mine,” replies Loki.
“Exquisite. It’s like a jungle here!” exclaims Thor, taking a gander at what looks to be a tulip, rubbing the petails between his index and thumb.
“All right, I’m ready,” says Loki, housing his messenger bag over his shoulder and tucking his long black hair behind his ear.
Loki and Thor begin the trek down to the ‘Secret Spot’ as Thor calls it, and Thor’s hand brushes against Loki’s as they walk.
The ‘Secret Spot’ is in a brush of woods, thicker than Thor could have ever imagined. This is uncharted territory for Thor, and he thought he’d explored every bit of Asgard himself. Apparently he was wrong.
Loki grabs Thor’s hand and intertwines their fingers. Loki looks at Thor, into his eyes, down to his lips, and back up to his eyes again. “Ready?’
“As I’ll ever be,” says Thor.
Thor and Loki both step into a stream, a stream lined with rainbow colors and rocks, the yellows and blues cascading among the water, transforming them into a tunnel-like state that mimics the Bifrost.
Loki holds onto Thor’s hand tighter, and Thor grips Loki’s hand in return.
One moment, they were in a beautiful brush-lined forest with a rainbow stream, and now, they were in the barren woods of Jotunheim. No leaves bare the trees, only rough, cold, damp bark.
Snow was sifting through the sky and falling in Loki and Thor’s hair, gracing their hairlines.
There was a similar rainbow stream on the ground that they were standing in, only icy, and more blue.
Loki was the first to speak as they both stepped out of the stream. “We must go this way,” says Loki, pointing West.
“I will follow you,” says Thor, still holding hands with Loki. Loki’s fingertips were turning blue, but thankfully Thor didn’t notice.
Loki was taking them to the Jotunn Castle, a frozen Ice Palace that holds Laufey and all of his guards, soldiers, as well as royal staff.
The walk there was quiet, mostly because Thor knew not what to say, and even why they were here. He knew not to ask, because the history of the situation will lay in front of him once Loki takes him to the destination.
Thor brushed his thumb against the top of Loki’s hand whilst walking, and quietly muttered, “I’m cold.”
Loki stops and takes out a jacket from his messenger bag, handing it to Thor.
“It might be a little too small for you, but here,” says Loki.
“Thank you,” says Thor quietly.
They continue walking until the Jotunn Castle is within eyesight. Thor’s eyes become wide.
“My father has spoken of this place, as well as my mother,” says Thor.
“When?” asked Loki.
“Well, when I was a child, mainly, but as I grew up I was told of the Jotuns, too. How the war was so bloody and how many of our soldiers had died among the Frost Giants,” says Thor.
“That’s why you were forbidden to visit?” asks Loki.
“Yes,” says Thor.
They both arrive at the gates of the Jotunn Castle, and they both stand there for a few moments before the icicle-ridden metal gates open up for them.
Loki searches for Thor’s hand once more, gazing over at him. Thor grabs Loki’s hand and holds it tight as they walk up to the Castle’s main door. The main door opens with ease and they enter the Throne Room immediately upon entering.
Laufey is sitting on his throne, a beautiful ice throne carved with Jotunn insignias. There are wooden tables filled with food, much like at one of Thor’s bashes. There are ice sculptures and a stunning fountain on either side of the Throne Room.
Laufey smirks as Thor and Loki enter, and Loki drops his hand from Thor’s. Laufey is very large and tall, and blue, for that matter, Thor thinks.
“Loki,” says Laufey, in a booming voice, as he stands up from his throne.
“Laufey,” says Loki. “I would like you to meet Thor,” says Loki. in a stern voice.
Laufey sizes up Thor before speaking. “Ah yes, Odinson.”
“We are to be married – tomorrow,” says Loki.
“Married, you say..” says Laufey. “Does Odin know of this?”
“He does,” says Loki.
“And does Thor know of your parentage?” asks Laufey.
“He does not,” says Loki. “I thought it would be easier to show him than tell him.”
Thor looks absolutely bewildered. “Show me what?”
Loki starts quietly to Thor, “Thor, this is my father, Laufey. For I am Loki Laufeyson.”
Thor’s eyes practically bulge out of his head and turns to Loki slowly.
“This. This is what you had to tell me?” asks Thor in a heightened voice.
“I could not marry you unless you knew of this. It was already a secret of me keeping it from you, anyway, but you deserve to know, now that we are to be married,” said Loki.
Thor has many conflicting feelings, my God, does he ever. He has significant feelings for Loki, he does, but Loki is–
Loki closes his eyes and clenches his fists, his fingertips all the way up his arms and legs, the skin of his face and neck all turning blue.
“I’m Jotunn, Thor,” says Loki. “I am truly sorry.”
Thor gazes down at Loki, absolutely fummoxed.
“You,” says Thor, his voice raised.
“You.. look beautiful,” says Thor quietly. Thor’s hands immediately caress each side of Loki’s face and kisses him sweetly on his dark blue lips.
Loki pulls away from the kiss after a few seconds and exclaims, “You are not upset?”
“No,” says Thor. “What has happened in the Nine Realms before my time has nothing to do with me. All I know is the now, and now I know that I still wish to marry you,” says Thor.
Loki could cry happy tears. Well, happy tears that would turn into icicles. But Loki turns to Laufey and speaks again.
“I have come for your blessing, Father, I do wish you will give me it,” says Loki.
“Oh, my petulant little Loki, I haven’t seen you in ages.. You disappeared on me, you know,” says Laufey.
“I was not fit to be King, Father, you know of my thoughts on the matter,” says Loki.
“And now you live your happy life in Asgard, taking the secret way there, living with all your plants in harmony.. I envy you. Such a simple life. But I fear you have your royal duties to attend to, my son,” says Laufey.
“Seize him!” shouts Laufey, as a guard takes ahold of Loki and puts handcuffs on his wrists.
“No! Please!” Loki exclaims, writhing around and trying to escape the handcuffs.
“Father, please!” says Loki.
“I’m afraid not, little Loki. You can’t always get what you want,” says Laufey. “Guard, expel of Thor Odinson immediately.”
Thor is taken by the hands and put in handcuffs as well, as much as he tried to resist, shouting “Loki!” as he was being taken away.