Valkyrie

by Raythe Reign

  “We, Blakes, haven’t had the best luck, you know? Tragedy follows us like a cloak or so Mom says,” Cameron got out of a tight throat. “But I want to end that streak. I want Liam and I to have a happy ending.”

  “Personally, I would like you to be happy and forget any endings.”

  “I second that.” Cameron grinned.

  Loki started leading him back towards the bar, the sun rising behind them, as he said, “Now, let’s go make an even more dramatic entrance together.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: SONS OF THE HEART

  Liam stared at the bar’s door, the door that Cameron had disappeared through. He stared so hard that he almost felt that he could see through it. Cameron was out there, in pain, and he was standing here like an idiot, but Cameron wanted space.

  He understood what was causing Cameron’s distress. To go back to the place where they were separated a decade ago and face the same creature?

  But I can’t be killed!

  Yet that didn’t mean the Gash could not hurt him. He’d heard tales of Valkyrie being consumed by the Gash’s blackness and never returning. There was a blankness where the person had last been as if a piece of reality was no longer there along with the missing Valkyrie. Elda had seen it happen. She was not here right now though to ask about it. After Cameron had left, Elda and Nafari had asked to take Lihua upstairs to rest in Cameron’s apartment. Liam had agreed, especially after he had seen Lihua put her arm around Elda’s neck and hobbled up the stairs.

  As Nafari passed him, the big black man had clapped him on the shoulder and met his eyes. “Do you need me, my friend?”

  Liam had wavered, but finally shook his head. “There’s nothing you can do. The Gash has chosen the battlefield. It only has power if I let it.”

  “Indeed. It is doing this to gain the psychological advantage.” The other Valkyrie nodded sagely.

  “It’s foolish to bring Cam and I back there. Both of us will fight all the harder,” Liam responded. The more Cameron was upset, the more strength his little brother seemed to have magically. He just didn’t want Cameron to hurt himself with it.

  Nafari squeezed his shoulder and nodded. “I can see that is true. Anything you need, let me know.”

  Liam hugged his best friend. “Thank you, Nafari.”

  He was unable to get out any more words to express how much the other Valkyrie’s friendship meant to him at that moment. One more squeeze and Nafari took the stairs up to Cameron’s apartment two at a time.

  After the other Valkyrie had vacated the bar, that left him with the Aesir. Every time he looked over at Loki and Thor, the Thunder God would smile at him widely and gesture for him to join them, but Liam would not interrupt their romantic time together. They were clearly making up for being apart. There was no kissing, but many whispered words and warm looks. And Loki appeared suction-cupped to Thor’s lap. Liam doubted that even a violent earthquake could dislodge the Trickster God. Seeing the Aesir together had him aching to hold Cameron. They hadn’t been apart as long, but those ten years had been a misery.

  And Cam is hurting now. So what am I doing here? I need to be with him.

  He stepped towards the door and there was sigh from Loki, before the Trickster God said, “No, Liam, let me.”

  “I can take care of my brother. Thanks,” Liam’s voice was cold.

  “Yes, of course, but this is not an affair of the heart that worries Cameron. He needs to know that his powers can change what’s to come,” Loki said patiently, but there was a touch of eye rolling as if he was still reluctant to leave the warmth of Thor’s arms.

  “I can help him with that!” Liam winced even as he said that as Loki gave him a raised eyebrow.

  “Loki, you are sounding put out about it when we both know that you are as eager to comfort Cameron as Liam is,” Thor scolded lightly as the Trickster God reluctantly slid from his lap for the second time that evening.

  “That is true. But you must understand that I am not used to being …” Loki pursed his lips as if words escaped him. “Being responsible. A heart to heart twice in one cycle is more than I’m used to. I’m stretching myself quite a bit.”

  “You aren’t responsible for us,” Liam said, still sounding growly.

  “I am, Liam. In more ways that you know,” Loki replied softly and Thor got that look on his face that made it seem like he had been given the greatest gift from the Trickster God.

  “Because we’re family?” Liam guessed.

  “Yes.”

  He waited for Loki to say more, but the Trickster God remained silent, just running a hand through Thor’s hair absently.

  “Aren’t you ever going to explain?” Liam finally demanded.

  “Not me, no. At least not at first, but I have a feeling you’ll know sooner than I planned.” Loki cast an affectionate, if exasperated, look at Thor.

  The Thunder God raised his eyebrows and then realization seemed to strike. “Ah! I see. Now?”

  “You can hardly contain yourself,” Loki sighed with amusement. “Besides, there are certain things you might wish to tell Liam before we go into battle. You warriors bond in such peculiar ways.”

  Thor snorted. “You only pretend we are a different species than you mages. But we are not.”

  Loki raised an elegant shoulder in a shrug. “I shall return with Cameron and then … then we need to go.”

  Thor and Liam both watched Loki saunter out of the room with two very different expressions on their faces though there was longing underneath both of them. Thor, of course, felt longing for Loki to return and Liam felt longing to be the one going to Cameron instead of the Trickster God.

  Thor began, “I know I am your second choice to be with right now, but I hope –”

  “I am always glad of your presence, Thor,” Liam interrupted him. “I’m just worried about Cameron. And I wish I could be the one to fix everything.”

  Liam held out his hands in front of him as he said this. Both of them looked down at them and he saw Thor nod out of the corner of his eye.

  “We act, you and me. We must do something when another is in pain or trouble. We feel helpless if we are forced to stay still.”

  Thor went over to the bar and drew out two glasses and a bottle of the golden mead. From underneath the bar, Thor somehow also found a loaf of crusty bread and a platter of cut meats and cheese along with a scattering of nuts, berries and dried fruit.

  “Where did you get that?” Liam asked. “And isn’t it a little early for mead?”

  Thor gave out a lusty laugh. “It is never too early for mead. You are thinking that your reaction to the mead will be like that of a mortal to alcohol.” As he poured out the softly glowing liquid evenly into both glasses, he said, “It will refresh our spirits, give us energy and lighten our hearts!” He raised a glass and Liam raised the other one. “To victory!”

  Liam toasted to that as well and took a large sip of the mead. The mead was both sparkling and warm as it rushed down his throat. He did feel refreshed just as the Thunder God had said, but there was none of the haziness that liquor brought. He took another swallow. Thor drained his glass in one go and quickly poured another. Liam raised an eyebrow as Thor seemed to be nervous and using the mead to give him courage even though it wasn’t supposed to have an intoxicating effect. Liam put a hand over Thor’s.

  “Hey, what’s going on? Is this about the Gash? Loki? Your father?” Liam asked, feeling totally normal asking for the Thunder God’s thoughts as if they were old friends.

  Thor smiled at their hands. “Oh, Liam, nothing is wrong at all. I have dreamed of this moment for all your life. Going into battle against the Gash with you by my side. Us defeating evil together! Guarding one another’s backs! Feasting afterwards! It will be glorious!”

  “And yet you’re nervous. So you must be worried that we won’t be feasting afterwards, at least not in victor.” Liam was a little worried about that.

  But Thor shook his head. “No, we will succeed. I can feel
it.”

  “I’m glad you do. To stop the Gash … it would be incredible and long overdue.” Liam took another long sip of mead. He wasn’t sure if he had Thor’s certainty, but it didn’t hurt having a god tell him that everything was going to be all right. After a few moments of quiet drinking, he asked, “But what will happen after?”

  Thor cocked his head to the side as if the question had little meaning to him. His words confirmed that. “What do you mean?”

  “After the Gash is gone … what will become of the Valkyrie? Will they be sent to Valhalla? Never allowed to return to Midgard?” He was careful to use the word “they” instead of “we”. He would not be going no matter what the others were doing. He would stay with Cameron.

  “Oh, no! There will always be evil to fight, Liam. Nature abhors a vacuum.” Thor proceeded to rip off a piece of the loaf of bread and make a sandwich with meat and cheese and mustard that just seemed to appear. He then handed the rather delicious looking sandwich to Liam.

  Liam took it, though he did not feel hungry at that moment. “Do you mean that something evil will replace the Gash?”

  Thor’s head bobbed its assent and Liam felt a sense of despair. The Thunder God saw this and paused in his sandwich making.

  “The Nine Realms are never forever safe, Liam. There will be a lull for sure. But there are always challenges. There must be a balance, but know that your work has not been in vain simply because the Gash is defeated and another comes. Your struggle is to return the realm to balance and that is the ultimate good,” Thor explained.

  “I – I guess I see your point. And I’m glad that the Valkyrie will not be sent away,” Liam answered awkwardly.

  Understanding dawned in Thor’s eyes. “You fear that you and Cameron will be parted!”

  Liam nodded even as bitter bile filled his mouth. He couldn’t speak the assent for fear that it would give the words power and make the sentiment true.

  “That will not happen,” Thor said with a furious shake of his head. “You and Cameron will be with Loki and me. The four of us will not be parted.”

  Liam’s eyebrows rose. It wasn’t that he objected to the idea of being with the Aesir, it was just a little unexpected. The way Thor spoke made it seem like they would all be living together. “W-where will we be … together? On Earth or … Asgard?”

  Thor considered this with pursed lips. “I do so wish to show you and Cameron all the joys of the Eternal Realm. My parents are already so fond of you. Cameron’s art could be honed there. He could learn from masters. And it would give him time to truly relax. You and I would hunt together. I would train you more in the use of lightning. We would have endless tales to tell at the feasts!”

  Liam contemplated being in Asgard. He imagined him and Cameron sharing one of those towers that jutted out over the falls. There would be a large terrace where Cameron would paint or sculpt. Liam could almost see his little brother’s face smeared with bright paint and his hands sticky with wet clay. He could almost smell the utterly clean air as he walked out onto that terrace and took his beloved, messy brother in his arms and kissed him breathless while twirling him around.

  “Asgard would be good for Cam,” Liam admitted, a smile stretching his lips wide. He narrowed his eyes though as he asked, “But what about Loki? Would the other Aesir accept him? Would your father?”

  From Thor’s pained look, Liam immediately imagined that scene in Asgard again, but his and Cameron’s kiss was broken as fireballs started sailing through the air as Loki and Odin began a fight. He winced.

  “That’ll be a problem, I take it?” Liam guessed.

  Thor flashed a suddenly bright grin. “I will not let it be. My father is quite fond of me. I believe that he will be civil for my sake, especially when I make it clear to him that his civility is the price for my return.”

  “You were Loki’s price to stop the Gash and be freed from Asgard and he wouldn’t pay it. But you think he will now?” Liam asked, uncertainly.

  “Only because I let him make up my mind for me.” Thor thrust his chin out defiantly. He cut a hand through the air. “I am his son, not his property, not a thing he can keep or give away. I am my own.”

  But Liam had already seen Thor’s good, easy-going nature. He wasn’t one to keep a grudge. Like a passing storm, his anger came strong and overwhelming and then dissipated into sunny skies and calm breezes. He doubted that Thor could be angry with his father for long.

  “I’m glad, Thor,” Liam though said.

  Thor chuckled. “You do not believe me, but I assure you that unlike other times I have two very good reasons for remaining strong against Odin. They are also two more reasons for him to do as I ask.”

  “Two reasons?” Liam’s brow furrowed. “What are they?”

  “Yes, two very, precious reasons.” Thor let out a shaky laugh. “This is why Loki wished me to tell you the truth so that the future would not seem so uncertain or bleak. Far from bleak, I hope! Filled with promise and family and goodness, I truly hope.”

  “Tell me what?” Liam tried not to let his frustration break through. He was only partially successful. All this vague talk had him on edge.

  “You and Cameron are special, Liam.” Thor’s expression was serious and full of hidden meaning.

  “Because we’re related to you? Yes, I understand that.”

  “It’s how closely you are related to us,” Thor said.

  Liam blinked in confusion. “Well, we can’t be that close. I mean Mom and Dad would be closer to your undiluted blood than Cam and me.”

  “Heredity does not work that way with Aesir,” Thor interrupted him. He clasped his hands together as if in prayer and brought his hands to his lips as he strained to find the right words. “Loki and I … you know that we care for one another deeply, but our course together has never been straight or easy. There have been many twists and turns. Many setbacks. But though we have, at times, been at odds, our love … our love has remained constant.”

  Liam raised an eyebrow in amusement. “The way you’ve been practically surgically attached to one another since you arrived told me that.”

  Thor nodded, still looking a little miserable at his inability to express what he meant. “Loki has always been a little … obsessive.”

  “Cam gets like that, too,” Liam said, smiling fondly at a memory of how Cameron had memorized every single one of his favorite songs and made a playlist for him of all of them. And that had been when Cameron was ten.

  “Yes, well, imagine that times a million. Loki has had more years than Cameron to truly build his obsessions and, truthfully, I have given him far more heartbreak than you ever would Cameron.” Thor looked down at the food, unseeing. “I’ve hurt him terribly.”

  Carefully, Liam asked, “Hasn’t it been mutual? He’s hurt you, too.”

  “In reaction mostly to what I have done or, in many cases, not done.” Thor began making a sandwich for himself again. “But that is, hopefully, mostly in the past.”

  Liam took a bite of the food Thor made for him and was surprised by the spicy mustard and the pleasant umami taste of the meat and cheese. He would swear that he’d never had a better sandwich. He was sure that there was some magic at work in this.

  “This is really awesome. Thank you,” he said around a mouthful of food.

  “You are more than welcome, Liam.” Again, one of those bright as the sun smiles crossed Thor’s beautiful face.

  “So.” Liam rubbed the back of his hand against his mouth to get rid of the crumbs from the bread. “What do Loki’s obsessions and Cameron and I have in common?”

  Thor’s sky blue eyes fixed on his and there was this hopefulness mixed with worry in that gaze. “Loki always wanted us to have children.”

  “But you’re both … men. Though Loki was said to be able to get pregnant in the tales,” Liam babbled out.

  “Sometimes the children of our loins are not the children of our hearts,” Thor said, again with that meaningful look. “But m
agic can accomplish what biology cannot.”

  Liam blinked. Stared at Thor. Looked over at the door where Loki and Cameron had disappeared. Blinked some more and looked back at Thor. He couldn’t have said what was on his mind during that moment. His brain seemed strangely empty. Maybe it was shock. He just wasn’t able to completely accept what Thor was saying or what he was intuiting from what Thor was saying.

  “What are you saying exactly?” Liam asked.

  “You and Cameron are Loki and my sons. The sons of our hearts. The best expression of the children we could have together.” As Thor had spoken he’d shredded his sandwich. The crumbs littered the bar’s top.

  “We’re your children? Your sons? Yours and Loki’s? Together?” Liam breathed.

  “Yes.” That hopeful smile wanted to break out, but Thor was too nervous. “And I am so pleased. I could not be a prouder father. I –”

  “You didn’t know before, did you?” Liam stated rather than asked.

  Thor shook his head. “Loki only told me when I arrived. Yet I felt such a connection to you both from the first. I would not dream of taking an equal place to Mary and Kurt, but know that you are, to me, a full son. The son I’ve always wanted, always wished for. I could not have asked for better.”

  Liam put down the sandwich he was still holding and rubbed his hands over his face. “Loki arranged all of this, didn’t he?”

  “When you say ‘all of –”

  “If Cameron and I are the children of your hearts, Loki meant for you to come back during our lifetimes. He meant for you to meet us. He meant for you to watch us. He meant for us to battle the Gash together.” He lowered his hands. “Did he mean for the rest of it? For Cameron and I to fall in love? For our dad to die? For our mother to suffer –”

  “He may have,” Thor interrupted, looking wretched. “The good with the bad. The sweet with the sour. Our characters are created not just by our heritage, but from our experiences.”