Chapter 1
Prince Anthony was a master of courting. In fact, one could say, it was one of his most prized skills with which he knew how to work his way around the entire process, knew how to sweep anyone off their feet. It was enjoyable to court and to chase someone. Then again, most of the ones Anthony courted did not last very long.
Regardless, it was still odd for Anthony to find himself on the other end of the stick, being the courted one instead.
But who was he to complain if a handsome, witty and intelligent Prince of Asgard wished to take him as a lover? It was as though all the qualities he would like for a partner was fitted into one man and then handed to him. Loki was everything that Anthony wished for, everything that he hoped to fall in love with—the perfect man.
Which is why when a servant knocked on Anthony’s door and said, “Your Highness, Prince Loki wishes to see you in his quarters,” Anthony was not at all surprised. The courting had been going on for four weeks and he was used to it.
“I will be there soon,” Anthony said, standing in front of the mirror and fixing his hair. A besotted smile had unknowingly crept up his face and he tried to tame it as to not resemble some sort of giddy maiden. He was a Prince, for the love of the Norns.
He put on his small crown knowing Loki liked how it looked on him. And then he made sure his clothes weren’t a mess before deciding to open the door and heading to Loki’s guest chambers. Anthony had invited him to stay over a week ago but the King and Queen would not allow that Loki sleep in Anthony’s chambers so as a compromise, they gave Loki temporary chambers that were a floor below Anthony’s.
A few servants bowed to him as he made his way to Loki’s and he just gave them a friendly smile. Anthony was no terror of a prince. In fact, he much rather befriend the servants of the palace than have them scared of him.
He stopped in front of Loki’s chambers and gave it a soft knock.
“Yes?” called out Loki from the inside.
“It’s Anthony,” Anthony answered. He adjusted his crown one last time before Loki opened the door and greeted him with a smile.
Loki pulled Anthony inside and regarded him with awe. “Ah, you look as beautiful as always.”
“Loki...” Anthony huffed, his cheeks flushing red at the compliment no matter how much he tried to stop them from doing so.
“I only speak the truth, my courted.” And that would have been a good time for Anthony to lean over and kiss Loki but... Loki was strict about courting rules and he claimed that unless Anthony answered his courtship, there will be nothing further than a bit of cuddling. But oh, Anthony would have answered him days ago! The only reason he has not was because Loki had not asked yet.
Loki took his hand and led him further into another room where a table had been set up and the room was lit with candles. Anthony was glad it was quite dark because he was certain his cheeks were bright red.
“Loki...” he said again.
Loki chuckled and kissed Anthony’s hand in response. “My darling, is my name the only word you know?”
“Oh, do be quiet,” Anthony pouted, gazing around the room. There was a soft sound record player playing in the background, a bouquet of flowers on the table that Loki most certainly picked himself and then two plates of food opposite to each other. “It’s beautiful...”
“Nothing compared to you but I am glad you appreciate it,” Loki was quick to respond. He brought Anthony over to one of the chairs and pulled it out for him like the gentleman he was. Anthony knew even he was not as gentle as Loki was. Loki was perfect—too good to be true.
Loki reached over to put the bouquet beside Anthony so it did not get between them. “Let us eat,” he smiled.
Anthony nodded eagerly and dove right in—to Hel with looking prim and proper, Loki was one of the best cooks Anthony had ever met. Just this once, Anthony let go of his royal poise.
Loki was smiling at him the entire time, he could feel it. It was the most loved Anthony has felt in his whole life.
Once they finished their meal, Loki cleaned up the plates with his magic—another reason why Anthony was in awe of him. Anthony knew a little bit of magic, sure, but it was nothing compared to what Loki could do. Loki was a proper mage, perhaps even the most powerful one in the realms.
“I have been planning for this night for a week now,” Loki murmured while Anthony was musing about him. He took something out of his pocket, “and as you are not something I take so lightly, I did my very best to ensure you would like this.”
Anthony had an idea of where this was going and he gasped when Loki pulled out a necklace and held it in front of him. “Prince Anthony of Alfheim, the greatest mind in all the Nine Realms, would you do me the honor of being my beloved?”
“I have been waiting for you to ask that for a while now. I would be honored, Prince Loki,” Anthony grinned, moving forward in his seat.
“This pendant is a promise that I will do my best to ensure that no physical harm ever comes upon you,” Loki said, “It will act as a shield and as a token of my love for you. Should anyone dare touch you with malicious intent, they will immediately be disintegrated.”
“Woah,” Anthony whispered. How had he gotten so lucky?
“Shall I?” At Anthony’s nod, Loki stood from his seat and walked over behind Anthony and wrapped the necklace around his neck. “Perhaps we should seal it with a kiss?”
Anthony could barely contain his excitement as he stood and exclaimed, “Yes! Of course, yes.”
Loki pulled him closer and their eyes locked for a brief moment before Loki leaned down and kissed him, his soft lips right over Anthony’s. Anthony closed his eyes, smiling as he relished the kiss he had waited so long to happen.
“Anthony,” Loki murmured when they parted, “Listen to me, I love you. I always will.”
Anthony was in a high, far too over the moon to realize the odd structure in the way Loki phrased his sentence. He merely nodded. “I love you too, Loki.”
“Would you sleep in my bed tonight? Nothing sexual, of course. I would just like to spend the night with you,” Loki said softly, stroking his hand over Anthony’s cheek.
Anthony grinned. “I would love to, Lokes.”
--- --- ---
two days later
Anthony was leaning on Loki’s chest as they laid in Loki’s bed, the picture of absolute domesticity. Loki had a book floating in front of him and Anthony was tinkering absentmindedly with a tiny invention of his.
“Hey, Lokes?” Anthony piped up after a while.
Loki looked at him. “Yes, my love?”
“When can I see your palace in Asgard?” They had, after all, met in Alfheim, and Loki has been staying here since. Anthony had yet to visit Asgard himself.
He felt Loki stiffen beneath him. “Sometime soon.”
“Well, I really—” increasing shouts and commotion was heard below them, cutting Anthony off. His eyes widened and he sat upright. “What’s that?”
Loki muttered something under his breath, closing his book. “Perhaps sooner than I thought,” he mumbled. He slipped away from Anthony, standing and peering over the window. “Anthony, remember my promise, yes?”
“What—” a piercing scream echoed just outside the room and Anthony swallowed. “What’s that noise?”
“That, my love,” Loki sighed and turned around, giving Anthony an apologetic smile, “is simply my people taking over your castle.”
“What?” Anthony screeched, much louder than the scream that had echoed earlier. “Loki, this isn’t funny—”
Loki shook his head, walking to Anthony to press a finger to his lips. “I bear no jest. Alfheim has something Asgard desires and we shall take it and your people as our prisoners. Thus, on this day, we have declared war on Alfheim.”
Anthony felt his heart sinking at that and the pendant around his neck suddenly felt much heavier. Loki of all beings betrayed him. Loki. His Loki. The one he had spent over a month with. His perfect lover.
“It was all a lie...” Anthony said in a hush whisper as the dreaded realization dawned on him. “You were merely a way to get inside... you used me.”
Loki frowned. “My love for you was no lie, Anthony. I admit that I did begin to court you out of necessity but I did fall in love with you along the way. I keep my promise, Anthony. No physical harm shall ever descend you.”
“No wonder you emphasized on physical,” Anthony growled, getting off the bed. He had left his sword in his room so here he was defenseless.
There was a sudden banging on Loki’s door and Loki’s eyes widened. He grabbed Anthony by the hand. “You must listen to me. I have done everything I can to ensure that Asgard understands that you are to be harmed under any circumstance but you must play by the rules.”
Anthony shoved him away. “If you think I will betray my people for you, Asgardian, then you know even less about loyalty than I first thought.”
“Anthony—”
“I’d rather be killed than play by your rules,” Anthony spat. The door burst open and three Asgardians in full battle armor were on the other side, bowing to Loki.
“My Prince, we have retrieved Skofnung and the stone and have taken the rest of the royal family prisoners.”
Anthony spun around to face Loki and gave him an incredulous look. “You wanted Skofnung? Why did you not negotiate with Alfheim instead? You utter—”
“Ah, but Asgard are a people of battle. Where is the fun in negotiation?”
Blinded by rage, Anthony reached up and slapped Loki on the cheek, the sound echoing in the chamber. “You are absolutely sick.”
One of the Asgardians reacted as though Anthony had slapped her and she stomped over, ready to grab Anthony. “You dare disrespect a Prince of Asgard—"
“Leave him, Sif,” Loki said, waving his hand in the air. “He’s my prisoner, I can handle him.”
“Like Hel you will,” yelled Anthony, spitting right at Loki’s face. Loki sighed, wiping it off. He snapped his fingers and chains began to wind itself around Anthony, binding his arms.
“Like Hel I am,” Loki confirmed, putting his hand on Anthony’s shoulder. “Time for you to see Asgard in all its glory, my love.”
--- --- ---
Anthony was in a cell.
He had no idea where his parents were nor did he know how much time had passed since he was brought here. The last he saw of Loki was when they teleported to Asgard and Loki had instructed some guards to take Anthony down to the dungeons. Anthony had reacted harshly but in the end, they were able to subdue him enough to bring him here.
It had been quite a long wait before Loki appeared in front of the cell, dressed in his Asgardian battle armor. Anthony always thought he looked good in that. Now, though? Not so much.
“After everything, you still have it in you to visit me?” Anthony said lowly, standing up from the floor and walking closer to Loki. He leaned forward, angry. “Why? Have you come to gloat? To mock?”
Loki put his hands behind his back and ascended the steps to the cell. “I cannot be apologetic, Anthony, but I am not here to boast either.”
Anthony scoffed. “Then what are you here for?”
“I believe to at least owe you an explanation,” Loki admitted. His form shimmered and suddenly he was in the cell with Anthony. Anthony narrowed his eyes, knowing this was no more than an illusion.
“Whatever explanation you have for me, I do not want to hear it. You lied to me, betrayed me, you have killed my people and taken everything I have. No explanation will ever give you any redemption.”
“It is not redemption I seek from you, nor do I seek forgiveness. It is only understanding,” Loki said, approaching Anthony with proper caution despite the fact that Anthony could not harm a mere illusion. “I cannot visit you because Thor has forbidden me from doing so. Do you know why that is, Anthony?”
Anthony remained silent.
“Because he thinks I will break you out, set you free. And perhaps I will, if the temptation is strong enough,” Loki chuckled dryly. He looked at the necklace that Anthony could not find it in himself to take off. “That necklace is the only reason you are safe, Anthony. I warned them if they harmed you, they will be killed instantly.”
“So if this is the only thing protecting me, then what of my family? My people? Who’s protecting them?”
Loki gave him a sad smile and Anthony really wished he could punch him. “I am afraid they were not offered the same protection as you. Your mother and father are strong, they have spirit like you but I am not certain how long they can keep up such spirit. Your people, on the other hand, are now under Asgard’s rule.”
“I thought Asgard ended its war-hungry regime,” Anthony muttered. There had been a time where Asgard ruled over all the realms but that had been ages ago, Anthony had not been alive for it yet and now...
Loki shrugged. “My brother is king now. Things have changed.”
“Oh, so you’re his puppet now,” Anthony sneered, knowing this to be a sore point for Loki.
“I am loyal to the crown,” Loki responded, stiff.
Anthony crossed his arms. “Is that so? Your loyalty seems a bit flimsy to me.”
“I can rid you of any protection, Anthony.” Loki glared at him. “Do not test me.”
“Oh, then go ahead and rid me of it. Why protect me? Just kill me, my Prince. Get it over with!” Anthony shouted, punching Loki in the face. But as expected, his hand went right through. He growled in frustration and added, “You’ve taken everything else, why not my life too?”
“I cannot do that, Anthony,” Loki murmured regretfully.
Anthony recoiled. “And why not?”
“I love you too much to lose you.”
“If you loved me then how are you okay with this? Does it make you happy to take everything from me? Is that love?”
“Anthony—”
“Get out, Loki,” Anthony growled, his voice steel and cold. “and don’t you ever come back.”
“I only want—"
“I said get out!” Anthony finally roared, “I don’t ever want to see you again!”
Loki took a step back and his jaw clenched as though he wanted to say something but thought better of it. He disappeared.
And Anthony never saw him again.
The necklace that hung around him would not budge, no matter how much Anthony tried to rid of it. It was a cruel torment. The irony of the necklace was that it was meant to protect him.
All it did was serve as a reminder of what he once had, and all that he lost to the man who gave it to him.