Loki's Redemption

Chapter 12

Carefully Tony and Loki move Shelia to lie flat on the floor as she grits her teeth with pain. Tony then uses the heads up display in his mask to remove the suit except for the helmet and have it reassemble around Shelia. "Jarvis scan for injuries and display results. And where the hell is fury?"

"He will be on the line momentarily sir, scan results are coming up now."

Tony's Com line clicks and he hears Nick Fury, "This better be good Stark." 

"I need a Cleaner Crew and containment transport at my location now," Tony snaps at him.

"What is the situation?" he asks.

"No time to explain. Send them now," he says breaking contact as he scrolls through the scan results with a sinking feeling.

Loki has been quietly whispering encouragement to Shelia, but looks up when Tony addresses him. "It's not good. The bullet tore through her stomach, hit her hip bone and ripped a hole in her liver. She is bleeding out and I can't stop it. Even if I could, the damage to her organs is extensive and....."

He stops as Thor crashes through the door, "Brother! What is happening?"

Loki is unable to speak and simply looks at him, eyes starting to water. Thor turns to Tony for explanation. "Her injuries are too serious. We can't do anything for her," Tony tells him quietly not wanting to upset Loki anymore.

"Thor please! I can't lose her. She needs help!"  His pleading stops as a portal opens in the kitchen.

"Quickly Loki, let's take her and go!" Thor directs him as he helps Loki pick her up in his arms.

Loki steps through the portal with Shelia as Thor looks to Tony. "Just go, I'll take care of this," Tony insists. Thor nods in appreciation and steps into the portal. On the other side he finds Loki, on his knees, cradling a now unconscious Shelia in his arms. Standing in front of him are Frigga and Odin.

"Please," Loki begs, "help her. I can't let her die. I'll go back to Midgard. I'll remain human for the rest of my life. Even death if that is your judgement. Anything. Just please...." the panic clear on his face as Frigga looks from him to Odin.

"Loki, I cannot restore her human body," Odin tells him.

Loki sobs, "please father, I can’t lose her," as his swipes a stray tear from his face.

Frigga and Thor both look to Odin, imploring him to help, to find a way. Odin takes in the sight before he approaches and he remembers. He remembers Loki, as a young boy, being so affectionate. He remembers how sensitive Loki was to other people's emotions, how he doted after his mother. Mostly he remembers how his son had such passion in life, before the dark times, before Freyr and his ilk began meddling with him.  He once loved so much and now he sees that love reborn in this woman.

"Loki, I cannot restore her human body," he repeats. "I can transform her as you were transformed. I can change her form to that of an Asgardian. It will not save her, but it will give her the only chance she has to heal. Now quickly, if she is to have any chance of surviving we must do this now."

Odin gestures for Loki to bring Shelia's body into an antechamber to the throne room. Loki lays her body on a table as Odin approaches with his staff. He points it at the prone woman’s chest , but can only touch her flesh where the Iron Man suit ends at her neck. As the tip begins to glow, Loki is holding his breath waiting for a response, but there is none. Panicked he looks to Odin. "Her body will have to try and heal itself. The accelerated healing factor that she now has is her only chance to survive. There is nothing more I can do my son, but you have violated the conditions of your banishment by bringing her here. This is a serious matter that must be dealt with. However, I will withhold judgement regarding this violation until she is awake and cleared to return to Midgard or she succumbs to her injuries."

"Yes father," Loki says inclining his head as Odin takes his leave. Frigga stays behind to make arrangements to have Shelia's body moved to a private room then she approaches Loki and pulls him into an embrace.

"My son. You love her."  It was a statement, not really a question. Loki doesn't answer. He is afraid to give voice to his feelings. Especially now. Frigga watches his expression as he locks away his emotions. His features go from being soft and fearful to rigid and scowling in a moment.

"She helped me when I needed it," he replies flatly, channeling all his fear and anger into the facade of cool aloofness that Frigga had grown accustomed to.

Looking into his eyes she asks, "Does she love you?"

Loki looks at the ground and answers quietly, "no, she does not. It has not been easy for her of late and I am not sure she is able to."

"Have you asked her?" Frigga presses.

"No, I have not," Loki answers, just a little too shortly for Frigga's taste.

"So you don't know what her feelings for you are," she states matter of factly. "And yet you willingly offer up your life and your birth right to save her. Interesting," she continues as she exits the antechamber, leaving her son to contemplate her words.