disclaimer: not mine, Marvel's; no money made

A/N: written for a prompt on Norsekink LJ

suggested music: 'Perfect Strangers' by Deep Purple

Leaving the Loveless Land

„Father, may I speak with you?"

Odin looked up from Bragi's draft for Thor's upcoming coronation feast. „Make it quick, then. I am busy."

„Oh." Loki looked disappointed, but gathered himself quickly and attempted to bow out. „Apologies. It's not a matter to discuss in haste, but then not that urgent either. Will you have some time after dinner, perhaps, to hear me out?"

The Allfather was growing a headache. Could the boy not for once come straight to the point? As if he didn't have enough to do already with the upcoming change in leadership. „Out with it, boy!" he growled.

Loki swallowed. „I'm sorry for disturbing you. If we could just a little later ..."

„Loki. Now. Speak!" Judging by how the boy squirmed, some prank had gone awry again.

„If my king insists." Loki straightened. „Father, please reconsider. Thor is not ready. He couldn't tell the annual grain harvest report from the magic dry cleaners' bill. All he thinks about are feasts and questing. He hasn't sat through any hearing for six months, and back then only because I told him Amora would attend. He ..."

„Silence!" Odin slammed his fist on the desk. His beard bristled. „Jealousy is unbecoming, Loki. The eldest son inherits, that has always been so, from the throne of Asgard to the lowliest farmstead. You've known this for centuries; spare me your complaints!"

„But, father, that is not what I meant. I don't want the throne! All I'm saying is Thor needs more time, at least a century or two. You can't crown him now – he would ruin the kingdom. You need to push him so that he'll really learn and pay attention to everything important!"

Odin could not believe what had become of his well-bred, polite adopted son, babbling now, grasping for his last chance at power. If possible, his resolve to install Thor securely on the throne soon strengthened. He and Frigga could calm Loki after that at leisure, planning a gainful marriage or scholarly career for the boy, whatever would sooth him. But now, the Allfather's time was scarce. „Loki? I won't listen to such nonsense. Now leave me; I have work to do."

„Father, one moment please? I could give you some examples to illustrate ..."

„Know your place, Loki." The boy looked close to tears. „Out! NOW!"

Loki fled.

„Do you swear to guard the nine realms?"

„I swear!"

„And do you swear to preserve the peace?"

„I swear!"

„Do you swear to cast aside your selfish ambition and to pledge yourself only to the good of the realms?"

„I swear!"

„Then on this day I, Odin Allfather, proclaim you king of Asgard. Let everyone step forth and swear fealty. All hail the king!"

The hall cheered.

Odin stepped down from the throne, handed Gungnir to Thor, pulled him up and hugged him. Then he handed his helmet to a servant and stepped aside whereas his son ascended. The Allfather – former, former allfather – beamed with pride. His eye swept to his younger son. First in line while Thor was childless, he was first to swear allegiance.

Instead, the lady Sif stepped forth and took the oath. What was that? They were not even betrothed.

To the former king's bewilderment, next came Volstagg, Fandral, and even Hogun who hailed from Vanaheim. Only then, Thor called for his own brother. By now, the court was muttering. The new king was publicly shaming his brother. The courtiers could expect a spectacle, and they were proven right.

Loki looked miserable when standing (not kneeling) before the throne, but gathered himself and spoke, his well-trained voice echoing through the hall. Only, it was not the oath.

„Thor Allfather, my brother. You are king of Asgard, but not my king. I've had it with you. This was one insult too many. From this day, you have all Asgard to make miserable, so you don't need me to push around any more. I refuse to obey your doubtlessly inane commands. On this day, I wash my hands of all the folly of this court. Let the fools who cheered you suffer under your reign, but I will not. Hereby I renounce my title as a prince. This is farewell, brother. I would wish you all the best if I didn't know it to be futile." He half-turned and walked up some of the stairs to embrace Frigga, who broke out in tears.

Volstagg's laughter bellowed. „Hahaa! Loki's latest silly prank!"

How dare the imbecile speak up before the king had spoken? 'Do something, Thor!' Odin willed his eldest. He couldn't bear to see Frigga crying.

Instead, Sif hissed: „Shut up, Volstagg, this is not funny! Can't you see the queen is crying? Loki never knew where to draw the line."

At the same time, Thor finally found his voice. „Know your place, brother!" he growled.

„My place is not as your doormat!" Loki shouted, letting go of Frigga, stalking angrily towards the throne.

„Kneel and swear now, or I'll make you." Thor rose and shouted. Electricity buzzed around Mjölnir. „Stop being difficult! And stop ruining my great day!"

„Difficult, am I? Oh yes, I'm aways difficult: when I delay your departure for some quest, because I need to find a map or pack provisions, which true warriors of course don't need? When I insist we can't ride out before the monthly petitions have been heard, or the tax refunds are taken care of? You never listen to a word of reason. Remember when we attended lord Thrym's wedding? You would not wear furs because Jotunheim's cold can't harm the mighty Thor. Had not the lady of the house given you her wedding dress, you would have frozen to your death. But I am difficult?"

So that was how Thor had come by a Jotun wedding garment and some frostbite? So far, Odin had assumed some silly stag night prank, probably Loki's idea. He'd never known his son had been in mortal danger.

King Thor was unfazed. „Trifles, Loki. Housewives' concerns, like your magic. Swear now!"

„My magic was good enough for you when I re-attached your foot last month! And you wouldn't even have lost it in the first place had you checked the ground for traps as I instructed, like any other dimwit would when trying to arrest a smith called 'Beartrap-Brokkr'!"

Thor laughed it off. „Stop boasting with your little tricks. A healing stone would have sufficed well."

„But you didn't pack one, stupid!" Loki screeched.

„Don't call me stupid or I'll throw you in the dungeons! I should do that anyway for this scene."

„If you think so you are worse than stupid, you're a tyrant. By the laws of Asgard, and the precedents set by uncles Vé and Vili, no-one can be forced to swear fealty. And as long as I am not sworn in, all you can do is throw me out or challenge me to holmgang. You have no jurisdiction over me. A fine king you are, Thor Law-Throttler."

No! The boy invoking Odin's brothers' deeds? The three of them had been young, cross and foolish when their father died. Thor, don't make the same mistake!

„Harrrgr! Leave then! Dou you hear me? You are banished. Banished from my hall and all of Asgard. Guards, throw him out!" Thor, in his barely contained rage, slammed Mjölnir down on the throne's armrest, breaking it off. A shockwave ran through the hall, all the assembled warriors and nobles gasping.

Frigga carefully approached Thor, and even Sif was sidling closer from the other side, whispering words of caution. Guards approached tentativley.

Loki stalled them with a gesture. „Don't bother, I'll go willingly. King Thor." He gave a curt nod, not a bow. „It may have escaped your notice, but by banning me from your hall you also renounced me as family. Or maybe that was your intention. As if I'd care. Bye-bye, not-brother. I shall be Loki Skywalker henceforth."

While speaking, Loki shed all insignia of his princely status, dropping them to the floor: horned helmet, gold-embroidered clothing, even the sword he so rarely wore, which Odin had given him on his manhood ceremony. The old god knew he should intervene, but was rooted to the spot. Thor had destroyed his own throne and their family. Was that what the boy had wanted to tell him days ago? Was Loki gifted with the sight now?

The god of mischief glanced at Frigga one last time, apologetically. His father's gaze he avoided. Then with a handwave, Loki opened a shimmering portal in the air right where he stood, stepped through it and was gone. Asgard's former prince left with nothing more than boots, leather pants and undershirt. The portal collapsed behind him with a quiet 'fupp' and some green smoke.

Odin's legs gave out; guards rushed to support him. A skywalker! A true skywalker who did not even need dark energy to phase into the world tree's branches. Old Mimir, Odin's magics teacher, had proposed a theory this should be possible, but it hadn't yet been done. Had Loki somehow dechiphered the late wizard's cryptic runes?

Only dimly in the background did the old god hear the uproar in the hall – right they were – and Frigga trying to calm Thor, urging him to restore order and get on with the ceremony. Then the leaden weight of sleep crushed down on him.