In the Pointless Conversations with the Old Me
"And who here is not buried in another person's heart?" --Richard Jackson
Loki's disarrayed appearance had been an illusion.
The truth of it was that Loki was lying in a pool of his own blood.
Loki had tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists with shards of broken glass.
The cell smelled strongly of distressed Omega.
Thor held his breath.
The last thing he needed was to lose his head.
He had to get Loki and the children out of Asgard. Gently, he wrapped Loki's wounds and lifted his brother into his arms.
The children watched him warily.
"Come with me. I am going to take you somewhere safe," Thor tried to keep his voice soft.
The children hesitated before conceding that they would rather face the unknown than stay in the prison.
"Heimdall I need your help," Thor murmured under his breath.
I cannot interfere, Heimdall spoke in his mind.
"You know what he's done," Thor whispered.
He is my king, Heimdall replied.
"As will I be," Thor growled.
I cannot directly interfere. Heimdall chose his words carefully.
Thor cursed under his breath.
It would have to do.
If Loki were conscious, he could direct them to one of his secret portals.
Thor doubted they had the time to allow him to recover. He needed to get them out of Asgard before Odin discovered his treachery.
The rainbow bridge would be the fastest way to leave Asgard. It would also be impossible to do so without Odin's knowledge.
Their only option then was a spaceship.
To the docks then.
It was not so far a journey as the rainbow bridge.
But smuggling two princes and six children...
"Norns," Thor muttered.
When they were children, Thor and Loki used to play in the tunnels under Asgard.
The tunnels were expansive, to say the least.
No one knew the exact layout of the tunnels, not even the Aldafaðr.
Thor led them to the closest entrance. He lay Loki on the ground and lowered the children into the tunnels. Swinging Loki over his shoulder, he dropped into the tunnels.
"I-It's dark," the little girl's voice trembled.
Thor sighed. "I need you to be very brave. Can you do that?"
The little girl nodded.
They walked until they were far enough away that Thor thought they might rest.
"Let us take a moment," Thor said softly.
The children were tired.
Thor could hear their stomachs rumbling. He wished that he had anything to give them. "What are your names?"
"Hel," the little girl, torn in two, said.
Jörmungandr, the snake said.
Fenrir, said the wolf pup.
"Vali," a little girl said.
"Narfi," a little boy said.
The foal could not speak not even through mind speak. It was younger than the others.
"I am Thor, your uncle." He smiled at them.
Silence settled around them like a blanket.
The children curled around each other.
Thor watched with a vice of sadness around his heart as one by one the children slipped into dreams.
Loki was still lost to his dreams.
He wanted to hear his brother's voice. He wanted to hear everything from Loki.
Loki had kept this from him somehow.
It broke Thor's heart.
He had always told Loki everything. He had thought that Loki told him the same.
Tears came unbidden.
Thor had thought that he had finally found his worth.
But how could one be worthy after failing the one he loved most?