Kaleidoscope

A/N: Time travel fix-it! My favorite ♥

~ II ~

~o~0~o~

Loki was back in the past, right in the middle of Thor's coronation. He momentarily recognized what happened, but before he could somehow proceed to what to do, the unbearable pain in his head made him fall on his knees and scream. For a moment he was horrified Thanos took a hold on him, again, but no. The pain was different. But still unbearable.

It didn't matter that thousands of people watched him, the pain was blinding and deafening. He couldn't even hear how his mother shouted in alarm and fear when he dropped like the dead on the golden floor, blood seeping from his eyes and ears. Aside from that first agonized scream when Loki thought his skull was split open, he made no sound, he was unable. After unbearable moments of feeling torturous pain in his head, Loki had finally lost consciousness.

~o~0~o~

Aesir watched in dismay and incredulity how the second Prince let out a short horrible scream full of pain right in the middle of the heir becoming their king, and then fell down. Many instantly suspected Loki to just take everyone's attention on himself, knowing him jealous and bitter about Thor takes the throne. Some even laughed at such a childish trick, sneering in disgust. That was until the closest person to the dais saw the blood of the Prince that marred the floor, so much of it. Women screamed in horror at how their second Prince became pale and deathly looking, his movements slowing to a complete stop. The Queen was screaming for the healers. Thor stood still, not believing in what was happening. Thor's friends joined him, murmuring something quietly in his ear, the Lady Sif somewhat angry. Thor looked at his father and saw him, unmoving on the throne, looking a little bored if that was possible. Thor didn't know what to think. Loki could simply be faking the whole thing... ruining his day of triumph. That was what the Warriors Three were thinking, as well as Sif. But as Eir was directing her apprentices to help move Loki, who was white, Odin suddenly called for Thor to quickly come with him.
As Thor was leaving the throne room with bitterness and anger at Loki, he promised himself to make his brother pay for it.

~o~0~o~

The joining of the bloody Frost Giants to the equation was the last drop. The monsters dared! Everything looked suspicious and one look at father confirmed that Loki's interruption and then the Jotuns' suicidal attack was not a coincidence. And Thor would find out the truth.
All his rage and spite at Loki for what the snake did vanished in a second Thor saw mother crying at Loki's bedside. The picture where his mother, the Queen, who was always presentable without a hint of what she felt in front of others, got shattered in a million pieces.

Frigga was weeping, holding Loki's limp hand as it was her anchor in the world. Finally, looking where his brother lay on the bed in the Hall of Healing, Thor felt his heart stutter in horror and fear. Loki as if got older in those hours he was absent, so different and barely recognizable anymore. His face was stone still and lifeless. No color was left. Thor didn't think he would feel afraid again like that time in Nornheim, when he almost lost his brother to death. Loki miraculously survived then. Now... One look at Loki and Thor doubted it would end with a miracle again.

His mother cried out when she saw him step into the room as if in a daze. Thor was near her immediately, gathering her in a hug. His eyes were still on Loki.
Brother, what happened to you?
"My son." Frigga sobbed. Thor wasn't sure who she meant.
"What is wrong with him?" He asked with a trembling voice. Loki was as good as dead, that with no blood left in his face, with his lips blue and almost absent breath in his chest.
"Thor, tell me... Have you seen Loki in pain? Maybe he was feeling unwell before? Have you noticed your brother's health worsening in previous days? Please tell me."
"No, mother. I... I didn't notice. Loki was fine. I swear he was fine!"
"Sweet Norns, for what you punish us?! Why him?! Why my Loki?!"
"Mother! Please tell me what is wrong with him!"
"No one knows," Frigga squeezed his hands. "It is something with his brain, it... It is like a hemorrhage." On Thor's dumbfounded look, Frigga explained. "Effusion of blood, like a stroke..." The Queen teared up again. "But how could it happen?! Loki has been never ill since childhood! What curse is this..."
Thor held his mother tighter, disbelieving that Loki could have hid something this big from him and their friends. A stroke, effusion. Norns.
But surely! Surely they would have noticed! Surely... Only he wasn't so sure. Loki was avoiding them lately. Their friends, and Thor himself, thought it was because of the oncoming coronation and Loki was just jealous and couldn't make himself be glad for Thor, but with the newfound information, Loki... Oh no. Loki could have been ill and they didn't notice! All this time Loki could have suffered in silence, but Thor's mind was completely on his coronation! Everyone neglected to see deeply in Loki's behavior. Gods, he was such a fool!
Thor prayed his brother would wake up. His coronation was completely forgotten.

~o~0~o~

People started to believe Loki's sudden illness a bad omen, that Thor's coronation would bring out destruction and ruin.

~o~0~o~

Loki was afraid to open his eyes. Not enough that it hurt to form a simple thought, but it was unknown what reality he would see. Because Loki remembered - he was at Thor's coronation. How it was possible, he had absolutely no idea. It was absurd, unbelievable.
But what if...
What if fate took pity on him, for all his misery and despair? What if he had his second chance to live?
Loki always thought himself unlucky - just look at his history! Unwanted, abandoned, monster, took in just to be a pawn. Disrespected, always in shadows, mocked and unlikable. Rejected and left for dead. Locked up for eternity and forgotten. But maybe...
He could now... live? It was too good to be true. But if it was... He would not be so foolish enough to make the same mistakes.
And if it was true, it was not surprising - his condition. The years worth of memories were thrown into his younger (good, naive, lost) self, resulting in his brain overload. If Loki knew anything in healing, then it would pass. Surely, it would not happen instantly, but in time he would be back to his... his...
Health, position, freedom…
He was free, he was still a Prince of Asgard, he was still a good son who didn't know about the monster under his skin, and his parents didn't even suspect that he knew their dirty little secret.
Oh. How... delightful.
And just because no one would ever think about the possibility of time travel, he would be treated as gravely ill. Eir, no matter how he once liked her, wouldn't come out with a right diagnosis. Sorry, Eir. But better you don't know.
Loki didn't know how much time passed since he lost consciousness (in front of all of Asgard, like a flower, gah). No matter. Asgard thought worse of him anyway. It was nothing. Maybe he would even play on some emotions, why not. He recalled that there was a lot of blood he lost. It was even better.

~o~0~o~

"Oh, my son! Why didn't you tell anybody?"
"Mother?"
"It couldn't have had appeared from nowhere. Tell me, when you started to feel bad?"
"I..."
"Please, don't lie to me!"
Hmm...
"It started... It started a week or something before O- before father proclaimed Thor his heir, I think... At first I thought it was because I felt nervous, and then upset, but the- the pain stayed for the next day. And the next. I confess I dismissed it, because - what is a headache? I could have simply inhaled some toxic potions in my studies, I don't know. So I let it be. I know I did a foolish thing, not asking Eir but... " Well, it was true. "But everyone's been very busy. I didn't want to ruin the Thor's day."
"You... you foolish child!" Frigga shouted at him in anger after what started to cry again. As much as it was amusing to lie to everyone, seeing his mother's tears was not.
"Mother, please..."
"You could have died, do you understand that?! Died because of... Your health is more important than the coronation! To Hel with it if that meant you would be well. Loki..."
Here Loki could no longer pretend and gathered his mother in his arms. It was unreal for him to hold her. Because the last time he did... It was so long ago, right after Laufey hurt her. After that Loki had only an illusion.
"I must tell your father and Thor. Your brother was beyond himself with worry for you, my son." But not Odin, huh? Interesting, what did Odin feel?
"I am sure you exaggerate, mother. Thor cared not for me-"
"No! He was worried! Do not lower his care for you, boy!" Care for a Jotun. Especially by this version of Thor.
"I am sorry... I don't know why I am saying such things... everything's confusing. But..."
"Yes?"
"W-what about Thor? Is he king? Have I missed it?"
"Oh. No. It was cancelled. And something else happened in the midst of chaos."
"What?"
"The Jotuns." Oh dear. "Some of them got into the vault."
"Norns, mother. I hope no one is hurt, and they are dead!" He wasn't really glad for their deaths if he was honest with himself, but... He was also ashamed of himself for using the Bifrost as the means of destruction. Damn him. "What did they want? "

Frigga was looking strangely at him, sadly. But she looked down and took her emotions on hold.
"They wanted the Casket Odin took from them in the war."
"I see. Though... you said, some of them? Not many?

"Just a few. They are dead now... My son. Please."

"Mother?"

"Please be careful."

"Always, mother. I will be very careful." From now on.

~o~0~o~

The Warriors Three and Sif entered the healing room and Loki stilled. How foolish he was to want to win their sympathy, their respect. They never had it for him. Poor foolish child.
"Wow, lad. You look..."
Older. He was looking like he was the last time he remembered himself. With sharp bones, weary hardened eyes, lines on his face from various hardships. Loki was so very tired. And now on his young face it looked all the more obvious. This young Loki hasn't endured the Void, the Titan, the Other, the Hulk, the prison. The death.
"What are you doing here? " Loki asked turning away from them. He was done playing alone with their farce. They were here to accuse him and speak on the behalf of Thor’s wounded pride. Not because they cared Loki was ill. So why bother. After this day no one would mistake these four for Loki Odinson’s friends.
"Oh! Can’t friends come to inquire about their friend's health? You gave everyone quite a scare."
"I am alive."
"That’s it? Nothing else to say, no tale to spread?"
"No."
"Won't you even look at us?" Sif hissed, trying to seem friendly, but failing spectacularly.
"Why, lady Sif. I might have almost died from the cob in my brain but I distantly remember your face sneering in disgust as I lay bleeding."
The way all four's faces paled and then shifted in discomfort was so interesting to watch. Because Loki surprised them. Never before he was so bold as to call them out on their behavior. He was silent before their jabs. Just endured their arrogance.
Not anymore. He was not the same Loki. And they should know that.
"Wow, Loki. Harsh. Sif would never do that, right? We all know that! You must have imagined it." Fandral tried to make the situation better, as always. "But I hear from your lips it was bad, huh?"

“Nothing I want to share with you. Now. Be so kind as to leave me.” Too villainous too soon? Loki thought as the four people stared at him. “I don’t feel well.” There. Better.

“Oh. Yes! Of course, er. Get well, Loki.” Vostagg muttered uncertainly, turning to the exit. The others followed after, throwing the man nervous gazes.

Loki watched them until the doors closed. After what he lay down and closed his eyes.