Iota
[Pandora – Northern Mountains]
“You should wait till Spider is awake to say your goodbyes before leaving,” Loki murmured dryly as he watched Sif readily fastening her armour back on.
Her eyes narrowed quickly in response. “I’ll miss you as well Loki,” she hummed with a smile as morning light broke through the once-darkened skies that conquered the night. “I do want to say goodbye to Spider; It is not I don’t want to, but it is because it will do the boy no good. Think about it Loki. The boy has no people to rely upon apart from yourself.”
“Yet you still appeared,” Loki rebutted. “You could have appeared in the dark when night reigned and when Spider was asleep – much like how Thor ventured here. Instead, you choose to appear during the day.”
“I wanted to meet the boy that seemed to captivate the second Prince’s heart,” Sif answered with a shrug of her shoulders. “Besides… womanly intuition.”
“Oh – motherly intuitions you mean,” Loki blinked. “Pining for the good God of Thunder, Sif?” Loki asked with a short chuckle.
“No,” Sif scoffed in return while shaking her head. “Thor pines for Jane, as for me – I’m not entirely too sure yet.”
Loki rolls his eyes. “He wants a mortal?” he asked with disgust. “Mentally inclined… clearly.”
“Be happy for your brother, Loki,” Sif murmured while she stepped into Loki’s personal space.
“A mortal!” Loki screeched while he stiffened his back.
“And Spider is a mortal,” Sif continued as she pulled Loki into a hug.
“My bones, woman,” Loki huffed as his cheeks went pink. “And Spider is no love interest – unless you now have a thing for them pubescents?”
“Disgusting,” Sif murmured while shaking her head and playfully slapping Loki across the face. “Speaking of the boy – he misses his family, you know?”
“Of course, he does,” Loki huffed while Sif retreated a few more steps. “Pointing out the obvious does you no good.”
“Your family Loki,” Sif answered while letting her head fall to the side. “Here I thought the great silver tongue could read between the lines.”
“Didn’t realise that I’ve been rubbing off on you,” Loki answered while shaking his head. “Take care Sif.”
“Do you have anything you would like me to pass onto the King, Queen or Thor?” she asked with the corner of her lips curling upward.
“No,” Loki answered dryly. “Goodbye,” he continued with a nonchalant expression.
“I’ll see you soon, Prince,” Sif murmured as a beam of rainbow colours fell from the skies above.
Within moments, the beam of rainbow colours had dispersed and Sif had vanished.
Letting a sigh loose, he turned around and faced Spider, who was soundly sleeping. Kids were different and Loki never imagined being a parent, let alone being a parental figure. Yet, there was something calming about it.
It was a different walk of life. He was use to his seidr, and his idea of normalcy was nothing short of battles and war. After all, Asgardians were a warrior race.
“Loki,” Spider murmured as he sat upright while rubbing his eyes. “Where’s Sif?” he asked after a moment.
“She’s gone home,” Loki answered while pointing to the sky. “Back to Asgard.”
“Oh,” Spider said crestfallen. “She was cool.”
“Yeah… she was,” Loki answered with a short smile. “So, tell me, Spider… when were you going to tell me that you missed your family?”
Spider’s eyes widened in response. “I don’t want to… given everything that has happened, I want to hate them… but I can’t bring myself to do that,” he replied with a heavy-hearted sigh. “Against all things, they were the closest thing to family.”
Loki had a resigned expression as memories of Odin and Frigga captivated his mind. “Because regardless of everything that has transpired… they still raised you. They had an influence on how you were brought up. At some point… at a point, they cared, but as you grew older… that innocence you had as a baby had slowly changed.”
Spider nodded. “They saw my father in me.”
“Aiie,” Loki murmured softly as he stepped forward. It was instinctive when he thought about it. It was something Odin would do when he was young. When he was troubled, Odin would pull him into a hug and just hold him in place.
His arms were stretched as he pulled Spider into a hug. He might be an adolescent, but Loki knew better, that Spider was a child at heart and mind.
Rummaging his hand over Sspider’s thick dreads Loki sighed. A moment turned into minutes before Loki stepped back. “Feeling better?” he asked. The words were alien. Till now, Loki would have never thought that he was a compassionate soul. The words felt bitter, but very sweet as well.
“Yeah,” Spider answered sheepishly as he sniffled behind the dried tears.
“Do you want to go see them?” Loki asked.
Spider’s eyes widened. “Like… them? Jake, Kiri, and the others?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes,” Loki answered with a bemused smile.
“Do… will,” Spider murmured.
“If they miss you… they miss you… if they don’t miss you? You’ve tried reconciling,” Loki answered softly. “At least, there’s no regret,” Loki continued softly as he pressed a fist against Spider’s heart.
“Yeah… yeah,” Spider murmured shakenly.
“Want to put the fires out, do a little hunting before we leave then?” Loki asked as he stepped back.
“To leave now?” Spider asked excitedly.
“Yes,” Loki laughed.
Immediately, Spider ran towards Loki and pulled him into the tightest hug he’d ever given before running away back into the forest.
Blinking his eyes, Loki just smiled. “Children,” he hummed while shaking his head. “Guess my role here is coming to an end,” he murmured softly.
You make it sound like, that you will never see Pandora, mused Eywa.
“I was under the impression that I’m here because of what you and Odin discussed,” Loki murmured.
It is, Eywa mused. But I also seem to recall… distinctively, might I add, that I said you’re welcome to come and go as you, please… I did say how saddened I was that you made me wait over a thousand years to see you.
“I grew up I guess,” Loki answered softly. “Asgard protocols… all the other realms amongst other atrocities have kept me busy. If you’d have taken Odin up on his offer on aligning Pandora under Asgard’s might, I might have been able to visit more.”
Is that what you truly think? Eywa asked playfully. That Pandora should be under Asgard’s protection? Or… to be more factual, Asgard’s subject?
“You make it sound demeaning,” Loki hummed gently.
Come now Loki, Eywa said. You are no fool, you know about how your father conquered realms. The signs have always been there. Subjugation, depravity, and destruction is a common feature in the All-father’s peace.
“That’s a lot of hate for the All-father,” Loki hummed. “You should be careful. He won’t take such words lightly.”
Do you know why I chose you Loki? Eywa asked softly.
“What do you mean?” Loki asked.
All those years ago… When Odin came to Pandora with his armada to talk about peace and prosperity, I swayed the conversation to something else in its entirety. Your sister had been banished and you were but a child. Some Avatars existed, but not as many as now… I saw you Loki. I saw the darkness and light battling for your heart. I have seen these attributes many times, but you were different. Against all odds you’ve always chosen to walk a line of grey while being selfish, Eywa answered.
“Sounds like me,” Loki hummed in response as memories of Hela fastened his heartbeat.
I am everywhere, yet not everywhere… As Pandora continues to grow, my capabilities weaken. You know this… I’m a sentient life force after all-.
“Even the greatest of all gods could never be in two places at once,” Loki realised.
Indeed, Eywa answered. I am tired, Loki.
“What are you asking me?” Loki asked.
The All-father would protect the people – that I have no doubt about… but that does not excuse the benefits – the reaps and rewards that Asgard would benefit. I see you Loki… Oel ngati kameie, Loki. I see you as the kind to rule lightly, to rule from afar, but more importantly, I see you as the one who would look at protecting Pandora as a whole.
“I have no intention of being King,” Loki answered quickly. “That mantle belongs to Thor.”
Thor? The brother who was meant to be ascended at his coronation? The same brother who has yet to ascend. Eywa questioned. He has no interest in being king… an ambition long forgotten. The mantle will… is destined for you.
“Odin would never -,” Loki started.
Do not presume to talk about things you do not know factually, Eywa cut in. Do you not recall our conversation about Ymir?
[Flashback Begins]
You are him.
“Preposterous,” Loki answered.
Is it? You survived a fall in space… a feat done by no one, Eywa answered.
“But that would mean,” Loki started.
Yes… eternal life, Eywa answered.
[Flashback Ends]
His blood flows through… your lifespan is not a mere five thousand years… you have his blood. You are destined to live forever – and Odin knows this, Eywa continued.
Loki blinked his eyes. “He spoke to you about this,” Loki realised.
Amongst other things, Eywa answered.
“Bastard,” Loki murmured darkly. “I sat on the throne once… I remember the uproar and hate for it.”
People change, Loki, Eywa answered.
“I don’t,” Loki answered obstinately.
Eywa sighed. Whether you like it or not… you are bound and destined for royalty. The blood of Ymir, the greatest primordial giant flows through you. The same drops that formed when ice from Niflheim and heat from Muspelheim met. Let’s not forget that you are the royal prince for both Jotunheim and Asgard.
“I can renounce it,” Loki answered.
Then you would be a bigger fool than I thought, Eywa answered. But you’re not… because you are lying.
“I am the God of lies,” Loki said darkly. “Do not presume to know me, Eywa.”
But I do Loki, Eywa murmured. I know you too well… You could have let Spider drown, but you didn’t. You could have let him give up on trying to use Pandora’s ways, but you didn’t.
“Because you told me to,” Loki huffed in annoyance.
Or is it because you liked the idea of being a God… To be free to do what he wants, how he wants – you could have simply told him to get an avatar body – you could have made one yourself with your seidr… but you did so in such a manner where he could be an Avatar while being a human being, Eywa argued.
Loki opened his mouth and quickly shut it before shaking his head while sighing softly. “There are days where I think I hate you.”
You love me, Eywa answered playfully.
“What do you want of me?” Loki asked dryly while kicking the fluffy snow around him while putting his hands into his pockets.
To be you… to embrace your purpose… to be happy. You are no monster, you are good – granted, there will be days where you are bad… but in the end, you will always find yourself, Eywa murmured.
To be good.
To be decent.
To not be a monster.
“Take Pandora under my wing, you say?” Loki asked after a moment.
*
[Asgard]
The golden halls of Asgard were quiet. Yet, that quickly changed.
A bellowing laugh flickered into existence as the All-father couldn’t contain his joyous laughter as tears of joy crept from beneath the woven eyepatch.
“Father?” Thor asked curiously while looking at Odin who was seated on the throne.
“He is cheerful,” Frigga murmured softly.
“Loki?” Thor asked quickly.
Frigga nodded while maintaining her gaze on her husband. The last time he had laughed in such a manner was when Thor, Hela and Loki were playing hide and seek. A memory burned into the centre of her heart.
*
[Pandora - Bridgehead]
“Do you have it?” Frances Ardmore asked the soldiers as she walked into the debriefing room.
“Yes – we had to work diligently to make sure the Na’vi didn’t know that we were in their seas,” one of the soldiers said as he stepped forward with a decapitated Miles Quaritch. “I’ve already taken out the memory card, as instructed,” he continued as he passed the decapitated head and micro card to the general.
“Perfect,” she answered darkly while smiling. “Time to bring the demon back.”