c57 : Odin and Loki
Destroy Jotunheim?
Thor and Loki exchanged looks filled with horror and fear. The weight of the situation dawned on them if Russell destroyed Jotunheim, they might not be spared either. The core of the star would tear apart, resulting in an enormous explosion, and neither of them had the means to escape Jotunheim in time.
"But he didn't do it," Odin continued.
"Killing is merely a tool, not an end. Unnecessary deaths won't bring peace. Thor, my son, remember this: As a king, you must wield power, but you must also understand how to use it."
After imparting this wisdom to Thor, Odin's gaze turned to Loki with a mixture of affection and complexity. Loki, sensing his father's intense look, met his eyes. At that moment, the connection between them seemed thick with unspoken words.
"Go now, my children. A celebration awaits. Don't forget to attend."
Triumph? A celebration?
Thor raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, as if about to smile. Loki discreetly nudged him.
Thor shot Loki an innocent look, as if to ask, "What are you doing?"
Loki sighed. "It's not for us. It's for Master Russell."
Odin gave a sharp glance at Loki, nodding in affirmation.
For Thor, Loki, and their companions, their journey to Jotunheim was a resounding failure. Without Russell's intervention, it was likely that Odin, the Allfather, would have had to intervene personally. However, despite their failure, the Frost Giants of Jotunheim were relentless. Conflict loomed on the horizon, and the fragile peace between the realms was threatened.
Russell, however, had singlehandedly turned the tide, forcing Laufey, the King of Jotunheim, to surrender and preserving peace between their worlds. The celebration that awaited was for him alone.
Thor and Loki, however, would quietly allow others to think it was for them, masking their own shortcomings.
"Let's go, brother. Time to clean up."
Loki led the way, with Thor following.
As they left, Odin watched them, his gaze distant.
Kamataj. Master Russell.
Perhaps he could truly bring about the changes needed. He'd proven his worth, from his character to his connection to Mjolnir itself.
However, what others possess isn't always enough. It's what you do with it that matters. Odin hoped that Thor would grow from this experience and broaden his horizons.
"Loki, come out."
"Father."
The air shifted, and Loki appeared before Odin. The illusion he had conjured to lead Thor away vanished.
Father and son stood in silence for what felt like an eternity, a deep tension filling the air. Finally, Loki spoke, breaking the quiet:
"Am I cursed?"
"No."
Loki's voice cut through the air, his tone sharp. "Who am I?"
"You are my son," Odin answered.
Loki stared at his hand, his voice tinged with bitterness. "I came into contact with the Frost Giants in Jotunheim. After that, my hands became like theirs. The Casket of Ancient Winters wasn't the only thing you brought back from Jotunheim, was it?"
Odin hesitated before answering. "You're right. After the war, I found a baby in the ruins, abandoned and vulnerable. A descendant of the Frost Giants. It was Laufey's son."
"Laufey's son?"
"Yes."
Loki recoiled, his expression one of disbelief. "Why? You killed countless Jotunheim giants, and yet you took me?"
"You were just a child. Innocent."
Loki approached Odin, his voice growing more insistent. "No. You didn't just take me out of kindness. What was your real reason?"
Odin remained silent.
"Tell me!" Loki demanded.
"I hoped one day the two races could unite to form an alliance and bring peace through you."
Loki's composure cracked, his voice full of disbelief and pain. "So... I'm just another token? A thing to be used?"
Odin flinched, his voice softer. "Why do you misunderstand my intentions?"
Loki shouted, his emotions spilling out. "You could've told me the truth. Why did you hide it from me?"
Odin's voice was laden with regret. "I wanted to protect you from the truth."
Loki's face twisted in anger. "Protect me? From what? Am I the monster parents use to scare their children before bedtime?"
"No," Odin protested.
Loki ignored his father's denial, his voice rising in fury. "It all makes sense now. You've always favored Thor. Because no matter how much you claim to love me, I will never sit on the throne of Asgard."
Under Loki's intense scrutiny, Odin faltered and fell to his knees.
In that moment, he was no longer the mighty Allfather, but a father facing the consequences of his actions, questioned by his own son.
Loki froze, panic flashing across his face. He moved instinctively to help Odin up.
"I've long abandoned those plans, Loki," Odin whispered, grabbing Loki's hand. "Over the years, I've come to regard you as my true son. Maybe I was biased, but I need you to understand: I love you both. Everything I've done was for you both."
For a moment, neither spoke. The air was thick with unspoken words.
Odin's bias toward Thor was rooted in Asgard's deep-seated traditions. Asgardians revered warriors strong, brave, proud, and noble. Thor, as a fighter, embodied that ideal. Loki, on the other hand, was a magician, a practitioner of illusion and control. Magic was regarded with suspicion in Asgard. Wizards were seen as second-class citizens.
Odin had internalized this prejudice, even as he acknowledged it was wrong. But it wasn't just Odin. Aside from Frigga, nearly every other Asgardian had harbored similar feelings Thor, his warriors, Sif, Heimdall, even Russell, who saw Loki's magical abilities as a spectacle, a trick.
But now, things were changing. With Russell's presence, Asgard would no longer look down on those with magical powers. The tides were turning.
"So," Loki spoke again, his voice soft, "my entire childhood was spent in contests I could never win. You tested my strength, my endurance, my speed. But never my intelligence or my magic."
Odin remained silent. Asgardians revered warriors, but Loki was different. A wizard in the heart of their royal family, something that could never be accepted fully.
Only now, with the intervention of the Ancient One and the rise of Russell, had Odin begun to question those old biases. But it was too late the damage had already been done.
Loki nodded, his mind coming to terms with the harsh truths.
From this moment on, Asgard would change.
And Loki, no longer seen as a mere sorcerer, would stand side by side with Russell as a true force to be reckoned with.
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