Chapter Text
He's still amazed at the trick he pulled on Thanos, and not only that, but Thanos himself fell for this carefully orchestrated illusion. However, it's too early to rejoice; he still had to make an emergency landing, and on a planet teeming with a presence—not something intelligent, though perhaps there are intelligent beings there, but something maternal and just, completely enveloping the planet. Loki isn't sure if he's the only one hearing the whispers, but he hopes not. He's already known among his people (and others) as a madman; he doesn't want to convince them that something is seriously wrong with his mind. Incidentally, this planet was similar to Midgard, only with excessively high carbon dioxide levels due to frequent volcanic eruptions, and obviously smaller, though not by much. In any case, this won't be a problem for the Asgardians, since they can breathe in Muspelheim, and the oxygen situation there is even worse. However, Banner and perhaps some Saakarians won't be able to spend even a minute on the planet, so it's worth reporting this and, if possible, getting oxygen masks.
Loki spent the entire time it took to approach and land on Pandora, the planet's planet, studying the planet. Apparently, that's what the moon of Polyphemus, orbiting the star A in the Alpha Centauri system, was christened (though he always thought the moon had no name in the planetary system). The planet is also being harassed by people who look very much like the Midgardians, but they clearly haven't reached the necessary development to be here. "Sky People"—that's what they're listed as in most databases—are not the nicest of people. They destroyed their own planet and are now coming to destroy another. Apparently, many neighboring planets with sufficiently developed inhabitants are constantly at war with the Sky People, trying to prevent them from landing on other planets, except for trade.
Loki traveled to this moon once, but he didn't stay there very long. Besides, it was very small and had never been anywhere except the vast ocean. And apparently, there are many such trees, all connected to one another by a soul-teeming tree. Its structure resembles Yggdrasil. However, the entire planet is somehow connected to them, suggesting that it is relatively intelligent. Pandora harbors intelligent beings reminiscent of the Jotun, just as large and blue, except with tails and flexible bodies.
- My prince? – Heimdall approached the control panel where Loki had been compiling all the necessary data for a long time. The gatekeeper placed a hand on the trickster's shoulder, distracting him from the various glaring holograms.
Loki turned to look at him, and then, looking over his shoulder, noticed the others gathered in the control room (which he had rightfully dubbed his room). Banner was thoughtfully examining holograms of the Na'vi and several other living beings. Valkyrie and Thor stood before a hologram of the surface on which we were about to land. Trickster decided to make camp by the sea, well away from the locals and non-locals, and also far from Pandora's dangerous jungles. After all, according to all the data he'd gathered, it was easier to survive near water, and besides, the planet's oceans, for some unknown reason, weren't salty.
- We'll be landing soon, don't worry. It would be great if someone checked for oxygen masks, enough for those who can't breathe on Pandora. – Loki rose from his chair and walked into the captain's cabin to join their small royal council.
- So, you're small and not blue, what did you find? – Valkyrie leaned on the table, stretching her legs behind her, smiling as she regarded the youngest prince. The God of Mischief sighed heavily. – Who told Thor that telling Dr. Banner and Val that he was a Jotun was a good idea? – Banner didn't care, but Valkyrie was now laughing at him.
- I found us a fairly good landing spot. There are no 'sky people' or Na'vi there, there's plenty of fresh water, and it's relatively safe. The planet has extremely high carbon dioxide levels; someone like Banner won't be able to breathe without a special mask, but that shouldn't be a problem for us. The main challenge will be the wild and unpredictable nature, especially the intelligent part, but the easiest way is to simply avoid it. The planet has a fairly large number of open sources of unobtainium, which can be processed into fuel, but given the lack of proper processing technology, this will take much longer than we'd like. The planet is relatively intelligent, and all creatures on it are considered its children. Hunting in our forests was accompanied by prayer at the end of the kill, and so I hope this planet will accept our words; after all, we mean no harm. – Loki paused and turned his gaze to the hologram of Pandora's shores. - There's a Metkaina tribe nearby; they're very unfriendly to the 'sky people,' and I don't think they'll ask us if we're one of them. So be careful.
- Thank you, and Loki, I think you've earned a rest. You've been very helpful all this time we've been in space. – Thor smiled slightly, then gestured to the gatekeeper. – Heimdal will finish landing the ship, so you don't have to worry about someone incompetent taking the helm.
- For example, you, my dear brother? – Loki beamed. It had been a while since he'd teased anyone; he'd practically isolated himself in the captain's cabin, completely focused on piloting the Statesman.
Thor's expression immediately took on a sour expression, but then gave way to a faint grin and a nostalgic glance in his direction. After such an inspiring conversation, Trickster decided to head towards the ramp, eager to leave the stuffy spaces and the people who likely harbored nothing but hostility toward him. And anyway, as his brother had said, he deserved a rest, so he would definitely transform and live for a while like a sea creature with no worries.
All the sick was cured (hopefully), and none of the inhabitants needed his help, although he very much doubted it. But since Thor had decided to send him away, he certainly wouldn't change his mind and refuse, not since they had more or less strengthened their relationship, and his brother had finally stopped suspecting him at every step. So, taking a deep breath, the prince continued to wait for landing.
The trees slowly gave way to a small sandbank, and a clearing nearby large enough to land the ship and then set up deterrent spells to protect the small settlement. There are a couple of seidmans on board the Statesman, and some hunters learn these spells for long expeditions, ensuring proper protection. Loki chuckled as the ship shook slightly from its impact with the ground, then moved to open the airlock to go outside.
It was rather hot outside, so his shirt flew into a pocket dimension with the rest of his leather armor. However, Loki preferred to transform into animals wearing minimal clothing, as his clothing quickly deteriorated. Incidentally, while he spent these four years as the Allfather, he nevertheless decided to learn something about his original race. It turned out that many Jotuns are born shapeshifters, but rarely master the forms of other inhabitants of the Nine. More often, they transform into animals to be closer to the planet, which has intelligence, but is rather small, as Jotunheim and its inhabitants emerged from Ymir, and consciousness transferred to the Jotuns themselves. However, this doesn't stop the ice giants from honoring and loving the land they inhabit. And it was precisely their proximity to the planet (along with the inability to freeze) that led to the creation of the kilt and the wearing of mostly only it and small ornaments made of either bone or ice.
And considering he'd established relations with Jotunheim so he could enlist help against the titan if necessary, buying a couple of interesting items wasn't a problem for him. Moreover, Queen Farbounty, like most great mages from other worlds (or at least observant people), noticed something was wrong with the Allfather, so he quickly revealed his disguise to her and her sons, and, as it turned out, to Laufey, who merely chuckled at his misunderstanding and said that a small toothpick wouldn't kill him. Queen Farbounty, surprisingly, wasn't angry with him for the attempted murder, apparently deciding that her vengeful husband had long needed a kick in the pants.
However, she then demanded that he remove the disguise completely, which left the prince perplexed. His second skin —As, which he always considered his first—has long been considered his own, despite all the evidence to the contrary. So, forgetting about his blue skin, he said he stood as he was. Well, in truth, he truly hadn't known himself any other way; all his life he'd believed he was an Asgardian and simply Thor's somewhat unsuccessful younger brother.
At that moment, the negotiations turned into an interrogation, as his feet froze to the floor, preventing any chance of escape. Loki felt like a little child again, unable to sleep after hearing the warriors' stories, haunted by nightmares of blue giants freezing everything around him. Farbounty loomed heavily over him, peering into his panicked eyes. "I will not negotiate with you until I stand with you, the you you were born with. There is no room for deception in this hall." The Queen placed her hand on the prince's chest, interfering with the magic of his body.
A faint glow enveloped the hall, and with a soft crack, the spell broke. Loki had clearly gained a higher level of vision, meaning he'd never fully transformed. Even then, with the chest in hand, it only revealed his true form, not completely shattering his other form. However, even then, he wouldn't have been large enough to match his biological parents; he was still small and thin. Surprised gasps came from the royal family. The younger jotun seemed startled, because he then pressed himself tightly against the leg of Laufey, who was no less surprised than he.
Farbounty traced his forehead, clearly tracing his family line. The queen's hand trembled slightly as she moved it across his face, as if trying to reassure herself that he was real. Her expression softened, and her teeth chattered gently until her mouth froze in a gentle smile.
- Loptr, my son. – A trembling hand moved to her lips, and she sobbed softly, continuing to look at him through tears. The last time Frigga had looked at him like that, her gaze filled with tears every time he tried to distance himself from her, pretending to have completely renounced his family. It made him feel a little uncomfortable around his biological parents, whom he had already made cry; well, it was nice to know that at least someone still cared about him.
- That damn old man! - Laufey's scream seemed to shake the walls of the snow palace. His face was once again filled with the same fury he'd felt when Odin had tried to persuade the King to let them go, after invading and slaughtering at least several hundred giants. – As if the casket and the countless lives of our people weren't enough for him, he's set his sights on the children too. – Loki spent at least a few days while his "new" parents clucked over him, claiming he was underfed, undertreated, and generally not cared for properly. Then he met his brothers, Helblindi and Byleistr. The elder, Helblindi, along with Laufey and Farbounty, often hung around him, while the younger, Byleistr, was either afraid of him or shy of him, but he really enjoyed braiding Loki's hair when he wasn't hiding from the trickster.
Considering he had nowhere else to return to, Loki planned to escape to Jotunheim after passing the throne, if not to Thor, then to someone else, and continue getting to know his family. After all, he couldn't pretend to be the Allfather forever, and Asgard wouldn't be happy to see his true face.
And then Ragnarok happened and Asgard was destroyed.
The Trickster regretted not having been able to send word of his survival since then, and several times considered staying on Sakaar instead of returning to the one truly waiting for him. He had hinted to Thor many times that he wouldn't be welcome on Earth and that he should leave before the government noticed the presence of a megalomaniacal terrorist on their planet. But Thor, of course, didn't listen, perhaps believing that if Loki left, it would be forever.
His thoughts about the kilt he'd bought at the Jotun market, the loot of which held a whole story about a found family, were interrupted by Valkyrie, who was busily stretching her legs.
- You're not bad looking, tall and handsome, though a bit thin. Haven't they fed you at all, eh, Lackey? – Brunnhilde whistled, eyeing her now blue friend.
- Val, stop it, or I'll tell Thor you're stealing booze from his room and hiding it with Heimdall, claiming he's your drinking buddy. – Loki sighed in irritation and stepped off the metal and onto the ground.
- Hey! You can't do that. – Valkyrie muttered a disgruntled curse under her breath and then disappeared into the depths of the ship, returning shortly with a few boxes and Heimdall carrying a couple of folded tents.
Loki sniffled slightly and, after a quick glance around the ship, headed for the water. Watching animals always brought him a sense of peace; Helblindi said it was because he was a werewolf. Fish seemed perfect for sitting until evening, watching these multi-scaled creatures dart back and forth. Pandora may seem unwelcoming and dangerous, but it's undeniably a beautiful world, alive not only in its diverse content but also in its intelligence. Every creature here is connected to a companion, a connection that flows and pulsates throughout; he literally feels it with his entire body. And frankly, he desperately longs to connect with her, to hear her whisper louder, to understand the words Pandora is trying to convey. After all, he hasn't heard her in a long time.
The Trickster exhaled, letting out a soft whistle, the sound he used to convey his disarmament and reluctance to attack, then sank to the ground, kneeling in the sand. His hands rested beside him, and he let the magic flow, his body slowly rocking, his mind falling into a trance. The other side greeted him with an equally bright light and enveloped him in welcoming warmth.
"Hello, my child, we haven't seen each other for so many years. I feared I would never hear from you again."
- Eywa. – Loki exhaled reverently. – Greetings, Great Mother.
"So many songs were sung at your passing, and so many stories were told. Sometimes I forget that there are beings who live as long as the stars burn."
- Over time, I forgot the ways here, but it seems the Norns have woven our destinies more tightly. I am glad to see you again. – Eywa enveloped him in warmth again, not hiding her joy.
"I remember you as a child, so youthful and inquisitive. Has your body still retained the ability to assume different forms at will? I would be glad to see that again."
The silence stretched on...
"My child, I think you should meet someone. The fate of this family is strong, but even my desire for balance could shake it."
- You accepted a human, one of those who destroyed this planet? – Loki stared ahead in surprise, as if he could see Eywa there.
"Just as she once accepted you."
The prince winced at the reproach; he had nothing to say, but he could do something. Spending time with new acquaintances and even helping them wouldn't be difficult; after all, he always enjoyed watching stories, and enjoyed participating in them even more.
"Call, and I will answer, child."
The light began to fade before his eyes, and soon the bright view gave way to the muted colors of the sunset, the connection between them restored. Loki noticed Thor, Brunnhilde, and Heimdall sitting nearby, quietly conversing by the fire. Thor turned toward him first, smiling slightly as he looked at his brother. The Valkyrie laughed and patted the sand beside her, urging him to join her. How could he refuse, especially with the wonderful smell of fish beckoning him?
Loki chuckled under his breath and sat down on the sand, reaching for one of the untouched plates.
- Where's Bruce? - The Trickster raised his eyebrows questioningly.
- The big guy and Eir went to deal with the fact that he can't breathe, and subsequently, they had to eat outside. – Brunnhilde chuckled, then continued drinking, ranting about the gatekeeper's undesirable tastes in alcohol.
Fortunately, their argument about which alcohol of the time was best was interrupted by a green scientist, who jumped out onto the sand in a mask and quickly reached them. Bruce plopped down next to Thor and looked at his plate with a slightly offended expression, then enthusiastically began talking about the planet's flora and fauna, which he had been fortunate enough not only to learn about but also to see with his own eyes. Together with Air Banner, I conducted a fair amount of research on what Trickster had collected and what they were able to extract from the RDA system, whose servers he had kindly hacked.
The information was enormous, Creatures, nature, minerals. Such diversity plunged the scientist into a euphoria of study, so Thor mentally dismissed Bruce from any matters related to Banner's already lacking survival skills. Because, unlike the Aesir, who have millennia of hunting experience under their belts, Bruce was clearly becoming a minimal expert. Nobody, however, demanded anything of him.
A conversation about the connection between all plants here and the incredible number of living plants led to Banner's problem: He is the only one who cannot breathe Pandora's air without risking suffocation.
The air here is toxic to humans, however, on Asgard, carbon dioxide and radiation were elevated, even on Sakaar. However, only the Hulk was outside, and in the buildings of the trash planet, the levels are significantly lower, remaining within the normal range for Midgardians. But the scientist had already spent two years in the form of his alter ego, so this option is out of the question. The next option was to suggest magical intervention, which could very well create an immunity to the poisonous gas in Bruce by allowing oxygen to enter his lungs. Frigga and Eir had done something similar for Jane a few years ago; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to breathe Asgardian air. Had Banner been told about this? He wasn't sure, but probably not. In fact, it's truly impossible right now, since they don't have a cradle, but another mage could support the patient's condition during the healing process. And for Thor's sake, he might well volunteer to help.
- Banner. Did Eir tell you we could make you breathe without a mask? – Loki interrupted the scientist's description of another plant, causing him to jump and turn in his direction.
- Well, let's just say she mentioned it... – Bruce winced slightly and looked away at Thor. – But it's not possible. She said that of all the competent serdars,
- The Seidmans. – Loki snapped.
- Uh, yeah, right. – Bruce pressed his lips into a line. – Only you.
At this question, the god of deception frowned, clasping his hands across his chest.
- Well, man, the big guy shies away from you like fire. What more did you want? – Valkyrie chuckled into her mug. – He's the only one as afraid of you as he is of Heimdall.
The gatekeeper sighed heavily, took a sip of alcohol, and patted Bruce on the back.
- Actually, the youngest prince loves to help, and I think you should stop being afraid of us for as long as we're here. No one here wishes you harm. – The gatekeeper, having finished his short speech for the evening, lay down on his back on the sand. Brunnhilde followed him, pinning his arm.
- I can help, and I won't go back on my word. – Loki sighed and glanced at Thor, who had been suspiciously silent all evening. The king caught his brother's eye and grinned.
- I'm glad your virtue is returning. Looks like you'll start playing with the children again.
Loki blushed slightly (or rather, purple, which is blue) and frowned, muttering something to the side. Thor grinned even more at this, then grabbed his younger brother and began to thrash his head with his fist, you know, the way all older brothers do.
- Thor! Stop it! – Loki tried to break free, causing them to knock him to the ground and begin tickling him. The younger prince burst into laughter and tears, trying to get out from under the older man. - This isn't funny!
The hysterical laughter soon died down, and Thor, with a joyful smile, buried his face in his brother's chest, which was heaving and heaving.
- Glad you're here.
- Me too. – Loki said, his breath stumbling. After some time, the remaining inhabitants returned to the ship and went to their cabins; tomorrow was a big day.
Loki's journey to the captain's cabin was stopped by Bruce, who had finally decided he'd rather breathe on his own than wear the exo-pack. So, after extracting Trickster's promise that he definitely wasn't going to kill him, they agreed to go see Eir, as she'd be in sickbay for a while.
- What should I do?
- Just lie down. – Loki patted the bunk, standing to the left of her so as not to disturb the healer. – You can leave your clothes on, we can handle it.
- Wait, you're going to change something inside me at the cellular level, without opening my chest? – Bruce stared at the two Asgardians in confusion, waiting for an explanation.
- Doctor Banner, our kingdom has been around for a very long time, and in many ways we've learned to manage without unnecessary scars and incisions. I've trained as a healer for many years, and I've treated people even more. Wars are when innovation comes, and Asgard has seen its share. - Eir continued stirring, not paying much attention to the man's hesitation.
- Get settled.
Bruce settled down on the bunk, staring nervously at the ceiling. The woman made him drink the contents of the strange flasks one by one, not allowing him to harbor any doubts about the possibility of future poisoning.
- You'll be out for about fifteen minutes, then you'll have to remain in the state of mind for a while, but one of the potions will alleviate the sensation. As soon as we're done, you'll go to your cabin, drink some water, and go straight to sleep, preferably for about twenty hours. – Loki loomed over the scientist and snapped his fingers. He waved his hand over his eyes, frowning slightly. – Eir, he's shutting down, we can begin.
Bruce awoke toward the end of the process to the same clicking sounds, this time from Eir. Loki was thoughtfully twirling circles of green magic with his hands.
- Almost finished, Doctor Banner. – The woman patted the scientist's cheeks, finally waking him, and then held another flask to his lips.
The foul taste of the aqueous solution finally made him wake up and choke on the infused substance, which, however, was successfully countered by holding his nose and throwing his head back. The sensation, as Loki had promised, was not pleasant. His body twitched slightly, and the air was heavy, as if it couldn't pass through the filter, getting stuck somewhere before his lungs. His head was buzzing, either from a lack or an overabundance of oxygen. The healer departed, leaving him standing next to Loki, who had finally lowered his arms.
- Can you get up and walk on your own? – Bruce merely shook his head weakly.
Loki muttered something and disappeared, but soon returned with a glass of water. Thor soon entered the medbay, looking slightly battered but cheerful. Upon seeing his friend, he immediately smiled and nodded to Loki, who then blinked slowly and soon left the room. Banner managed to mumble a slurred word of thanks before the younger prince slipped out of the room. The Trickster nodded briefly and advised him to rest and then study something.
The evening, however, was a success.