An Honest Conversation

Now that their fight had came to a conclusion, Nevaeh couldn't help but feel relieved; at least Loki had a concrete, iron clad reason that clearly explained his acts, ergo, he wasn't some weirdo who just lies for no reason. 'I can't imagine how it must've been like for you, finding out such a huge truth about yourself, but I think you handled it well.' She leaned on the edge of the terrace.

'Well, I was about to torch my entire planet—'Loki was saying when he was quickly interrupted.

'But you didn't,' she said simply. 'What I saw was a young man offering a lost girl some assistance during a scary time.'

The statement struck as more than odd to Loki, because Nevaeh had appeared less than scared at that time. Loki glanced at her side-ways and was amused to notice that not only had her anger been considerably reduced after finding out about Loki's true parentage and him being a Frost Giant, but also he could literally sense a sudden rise of sympathy and nurture building inside of her, something which he had never perceived around her before. There was a short silence, which was broken by Nevaeh quietly asking, 'Do you know who your real father is?'

Loki sighed. 'Do you remember the Frost Giant who was sitting on the throne of Jotunheim? That – that was Laufey, my biological father,' Loki said with a stony expression.

'The one you were talking to?' she asked. Loki nodded in response. 'Well, he didn't seem that bad! I mean, yes, he ordered to kill you as soon as he saw you, but that may be just because you were uninvited. Maybe he is a sweetheart among his family and friends—'she was interrupted by a sniggering Loki who again swiftly moved her chin by his finger to take a good look at her.

'You really do think that, don't you?' he whispered smilingly. 'Your mind surprises me from time to time.'

'Laufey is Jotunheim's king? And he doesn't know anything about you?' she asked. Loki again nodded in response, choosing to remain silent. She continued, 'I still cannot contemplate the fact that you confronted your father right before you met me.'

'Quite a coincidence, isn't it?' amused Loki. 'When I had just found out about a devastating truth that Odin had been suppressing my whole life, when I was on the verge of snapping, when my entire life was flashing in front of my eyes, when I was about to break,' Loki paused, staring into the sky, beyond the constellation as his eyes turned misty, 'I ran into you.'

'It is indeed quite a coincidence,' hushed Nevaeh barely audible.

Loki shook his head in strong disapproval. 'Nothing this good comes along that easily in life,' said Loki, shaking his head. 'What are the odds of you and I running into each other?' he whispered. 'You live on Earth, I on Asgard. Think about it! I was acting out of emotion. I started a fire in the forest, around my people! My point being, I was acting out of emotion, which I rarely do. I always think rationally before doing anything, especially in front of other people and that day's behavior was a unique occurring. So, what are the odds of us meeting on such a day? At such a moment?'

'Come on, Loki. You must have had rough days before that particular day! I think you are over thinking this,' Nevaeh said.

Loki scoffed indignantly. 'You think of me exaggerating! Well, I am not! I have led quite a peaceful and lavish life on Asgard and I have never suffered such humongous change of emotions in my entire life! Till that day. I wasn't even this hurt when Odin stated his decision of making Thor the King of Asgard!'

'Okay,' Nevaeh raised an apologetic hand. 'You are saying that it was the most traumatic day of your life. And you are concerned because I met you precisely on that day?'

'No because I met you moments after finding out the truth about my parentage. You saw what happened! I departed my bedchambers and landed straight in the forest, where I yelled and screamed, and ran into you,' Loki said in a grave voice. 'Something brought you to me,' Loki whispered. 'You were exactly what I needed to calm the fire burning within me that night; a perfect distraction. That was no coincidence.'

'May be,' she said, 'maybe not. I think you are fixating on this to avoid talking about your father.'

'Which one?' Loki laughed mirthlessly. She didn't respond to that, merely gave him a sympathetic look. He continued, 'You have no idea how frustrating my life is.'

'Then tell me,' she rubbed his shoulder.

'I know now that Odin had already made up his mind about choosing Thor to rule Asgard over me since we were kids. Yet, he pretended for years that it was a fair competition. That one of us would have the throne, but failed to mention who that one was. I dreamt of ruling ever since I learnt the word 'dream', when in reality Odin had far ago crushed that dream the very day he brought me home from that temple in Jotunheim,' Loki hissed, who couldn't keep the words inside of him any longer. My birth name is Laufeyson, Laufey being the King of Jotunheim, which naturally makes me, Loki Laufeyson, the rightful heir of Jotunheim. I was raised and have carried the name Odinson for my entire, tediously long life, making me, Loki Odinson, the rightful heir of Asgard. And yet, my father was on board to make that brainless oaf the King of Asgard! OVER ME!' Loki bellowed with righteous indignation.

'I understand what you mean to say. But Loki, you are The King now! Then why aren't you happy?' Nevaeh asked, although she already knew the answer. She had a vague idea of Loki's bitterness ever since he showed her the memory.

'Isn't it obvious? Odin collapsed! Thor was banished! Mother was depressed! I was the only one left! I became the King because Asgard didn't have any other option!' he finished with resentment.

'I think that your anger stems from your father's disapproval,' she said slowly. 'You are the King now, but you feel that if your father were here then he wouldn't approve of you being the king – even if Thor were banished. You assume he would've began ruling Asgard himself without even considering you. You are bitter because even if you swallow your anger and feel like discussing your troubles with him, you can't, because he – he is asleep.' Loki didn't dignify her statements with a response. He kept gazing outside. She sighed, continuing, 'Do not assume anything, Loki. Your father couldn't explain anything to you that night because of his deteriorating health, but you tell me, other than his decision regarding the throne, have you ever felt unloved by the hands of your father?' Nevaeh asked desperately. 'Has he not provided you with everything? Has he not loved you like his own?' You are his son, Loki, and I know you love him. I saw it in your eyes when he fainted!'

Loki's silence was finally broken by him cackling loudly. 'I do not love him! That was raw pity for an old, weak man!'

Nevaeh flinched a little, but her face cracked a triumphant grin. She showed Loki her wrist, which was erupting with green smoke. 'Gotcha!'

'That is getting increasingly annoying, you know,' Loki snapped. 'This isn't a truth or lie game that we are playing here! You don't understand the magnitude of Odin's lie! Asgardians despise Jotuns. They have been at war for centuries, till Odin and Laufey made a truce, which was broken by Thor's foolishness on his coronation day. They think of Jotuns as monsters, as barbarians, lesser than the almighty Asgardians. The worst part is that I felt the same thing, till I found out that I was one of those low-lives,' Loki paused, his hands turning in fists. Nevaeh wanted to console him, but she had a feeling that Loki wasn't done talking. She felt like he had just begun expressing himself, and after waiting for a weak, she wasn't planning on interrupting him any time soon.

Loki continued, 'See, that's the thing! Odin knew that I was Laufey's son and that's why he took me. Not some ordinary Frost Giant, but the abandoned son of The King himself! If he had the sole purpose of providing the "Abandoned, suffering and left to die" child a home, he could've given me to any Asgardian family who needed one. But, no! Odin felt the need to keep me close so that no puny adoptive parents might interfere with his grand plans for the future of an alliance with Jotunheim! He didn't need to take me from the temple! He didn't need to keep me himself! He could've provided me a different home! Yet, he didn't! He lied to me and raised me, while I lurked in Thor's shadows, since a child, wondering if I would ever rule Asgard and dreaming of defeating the Frost Giants!' Loki finished at the top of his lungs, pausing to take some deep, sharp breaths.

'But Loki, he did! We cannot change what has already happened! But you have to give him the benefit of doubt!' Nevaeh said, raising her voice a little. 'You know he was thinking of a future alliance, but you have to admit that he loves and cares deeply about you! I saw the look on your father's face when he saw you near that blue thing! He was terrified, Loki!' Nevaeh said desperately.

Loki cackled in sheer anger. 'Why, of course, he was terrified! His deep, dark secret had been unleashed! The monster he was raising had—'Loki was interrupted when Nevaeh suddenly clutched his hair tightly, pulling him down so that they were face to face.

'YOU – ARE– NOT – A –MONSTER!' she bellowed at the top of her lungs. Loki slowly straightened himself as he glanced into her threateningly angry eyes, and clutched her in a tight embrace as she let go off the grip on his hair to hold his back. Loki shut his eyes tightly as he felt her tremble under his embrace. 'You are no monster, Loki. You are his son. Be patient and wait for him to wake up. You can ask him all the millions of questions running through your mind, and I am sure he would answer them all. Think about the amount of love your parents had piled up on you ever since you were a child, who loved silver crowns with emerald jewels.'

Loki sharply opened his eyes to questioningly glance down at her. 'Your mother – she showed me a memory of when you were little,' Nevaeh said, answering Loki's questioning look as he loosened his grip.

'How little? And of when?'Loki asked through slightly anxious eyes.

Nevaeh pouted. 'Of the time when you were wearing the bejeweled crown! How often did you wear that to be so confused?'

Loki made a slightly embarrassed face. 'I rarely took it off,' he admitted after a long pause, sniggering a little.