Video; thunderer [Thor 3 Spoilers]

[worldsaway]

[You can tell from the moment Thor's face appears on camera, he's been through hell and back. His hair is almost entirely buzzed down, save for the tufts on top, with markings shaved into the sides. His eye is covered by a black patch, indicating an injury that he isn't happy to talk about.]

I've made some changes. [Bluntly, as if he consented to any of this.]

What else.. Some things have happened at home that may be of interest to some of you. [He hums, considering.] Odin is dead. I have another sister? Her name is Hela. Mjolnir is destroyed. Banner is alive. [He feels a little guilty revealing that one, but he thinks someone deserves to know.] I fought the Hulk. I won. I met a real, live Valkyrie- And Asgard is.. [A people, not a place, but..] The realm has been destroyed. My people are seeking refuge, I suppose I understand now what displacement feels like.

I have the remains of Asgard in a ship, floating through space. If a portal could open for them, that would be extremely useful to me right now. I'm a king with no land or people, now. Very poetic. [Does he seem terse? He's kind of tense.


And then Loki comes barging in, looking very much the same and carrying a large parchment. He glances at the recording with a frown. He places the map of Earth on the wall, pinning it with a single dagger.]

Must you reveal everything? Put that away, I have work for you.

Comments

[livingsymbol]

Mm. Well, if you want some cookies to go with them, I have some.

[dothelokimotion]

We'll keep it in mind.

[ He sobers up a little. ]

Most of our passengers are women and children after all.

[livingsymbol]

If anyone can bring them to safety, you two can.

You'll find a way.

[dothelokimotion]

I'm only assisting matters for now.

[ Loki still isn't sure if this is where he wants to be in the long term. ]

[livingsymbol]

And I'm sure you're doing a great job.

[ It's what should be. Steve knows that and is prepared to back Loki up even if Loki himself is unsure. ]

They'll be okay.

[dothelokimotion]

On Earth?

[ Loki bites back a snippy reply. ]

Thor is fixated on living there.

[livingsymbol]

You really think that little of us, huh?

[dothelokimotion]

[ He has the grace to wince. ]

Let me rephrase that. Thor is taking me back to Earth.

[livingsymbol]

[ There's a pause as Steve seems to weigh out his answer. Then he sighs, giving Loki a serious look. ]

You are who you are no matter where you end up. You could be Loki of Asgard, drifting, or you could be Loki of Earth, someone that helped bring people to a new start. You're still Loki, and you can't change that part, but you can always decide who that is.

No matter what happens, I believe you'll be you. Some people might have a problem with that, but you can only go so far. Maybe it's better to turn around.

[dothelokimotion]

[ He looks stung. ]

You don't mean that.

[livingsymbol]

[ Steve remains unmoved, meeting Loki's gaze. ]

I like who you are.

[dothelokimotion]

[ At that, he relaxes slightly. Maybe he is also a little strung out, albeit not as much as Thor. ]

I know.

[livingsymbol]

Go back to them. Face them. As you want to be, and I'm sure it'll work out.

You don't have to run. The Loki I met here is worth knowing.

[dothelokimotion]

[ And he was doing so well without thinking about it, damnit Steve. ]

Worth or not, I don't think the people of Earth will be keen to receive their failed dictator.

[livingsymbol]

Maybe not.

What about a prince that has learned to value his own people?

[ Steve is an immovable object. ]

[dothelokimotion]

I think you're valuing me a little too high there.

[ Granted, Loki no longer is frustrated with his people. They had Good Times when he was king. ]

[livingsymbol]

I wish you wouldn't say that.

[ Steve is very serious for once instead of teasing. ]

I do value you a lot. You're important to me. You're also a person that has his faults, but that doesn't make you any less of a person. Love isn't easy. It's not based on a lack of trouble.

[ private ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Okay, he's gonna lock this for the sake of his reputation and nothing else. He scrubs his face briefly. ]

I don't — You know I don't doubt that. Doubt you.

[ private ]

[livingsymbol]

[ Steve sees the privacy filter go up and frowns. Loki's response at least makes him feel a little better since the god doesn't seem immediately angry, but he holds back. ]

Does it bother you that I want to believe in you?

[dothelokimotion]

No.

[ Yes. A little. Thor, after all, had grown tired of believing. And everything became so finite, even Thor. Now, literally nothing was left. He exhales quietly, amending his answer. Loki promised Steve he wouldn't lie. ]

Sometimes. You know I struggle with that. And it feels undeserved right now.

[livingsymbol]

[ His expression falls, but Steve doesn't let that show too much. After all, he's just grateful Loki was honest with him. He can't really expect more than that. He forces himself not to tighten up and nods slowly. ]

All right. If you need anything from me, I'll be here.

[dothelokimotion]

Steve.

[ His voice is quiet. ]

Your belief got me here. It matters. I still need you.

[livingsymbol]

[ He does smile at that. It's nice to hear, even if he's starting to wonder how true it really is. Loki has gotten this far because of his own decision to move forward. Eventually he'll see that for himself, and Steve feels a selfish twinge of resentment, but it fades quickly. ]

You'll do all right. It's hard to see the light at the end of things sometimes, but it always comes. It'll just take some work to get there.

[dothelokimotion]

Why are you saying that? I don't understand.

[ What is happening? Had Loki said something wrong? Was the ring a mistake? His voice goes an octave higher despite himself. ]

It sounds like you're stepping away.

[livingsymbol]

I-

[ Steve hesitates, because he is stepping back, but it's not really away. Not as far as he sees it. It's not as if he's planning on leaving Loki, so he doesn't want to agree with him, but he feels an awkward sense of intrusion, the way he felt after Bucky and Tony both reacted by retreating from him. ]

If it bothers you, I don't want to make things worse. I know it's hard. And maybe there's not much I can do. I don't really like to think that. I've always been able to do something.

Talking about it seems like it's upsetting you.