“Grand-O—”
“Don’t you fucking say he protected me,” Loki said, cutting him off. “You and all the rest of them worship the ground Odin walks on, but he betrayed me.”
“What do you mean he betrayed you?”
“I doubt you’d believe me if I told you. But the man you see as the greatest is not as wonderful as you might believe.”
“I get that sometimes parents and their kids don’t see eye to eye on every damn issue, but I can’t forgive you for trying to kill the people I love. Your actions are not justifiable.”
"Yes, they are!" Loki started pacing the room, running his fingers through his hair, looking more agitated than Scott had ever seen him. "He gave you what should have been mine. No matter how many times I prove to him I am worthy of his grace, he chooses you. Even when you weren't a twinkle in your self-centered, egotistical bearer's eyes.”
Scott couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Even after he and Baldur fought for so long, Odin forgave him and gave his blessing to mate with a lesser god. Do you know what Odin said to me when I asked him why he’d bestowed such power and honor unto an unborn child?”
Scott shook his head, but Loki wasn’t looking in his direction.
"’The child to be born will be more than worthy of taking my place. He will be powerful and uphold our bloodline.’" Loki stopped pacing and looked at Scott. "His words are a constant reminder that he had never considered me his son. He should have killed me the day he killed my bearer.”
“So, you want him to hand you the crown for killing your bearer?”
“Yes,” Loki shouted. “You took what should rightfully be mine. It was promised to me. And for that, I despise you.”
“Even Thor?” Scott knew how much Loki idolized his uncle Thor.
“Thor broke my heart when he sided with Odin. I guess blood is thicker than water, and I owe no allegiance to him or Odin.”
Scott had read the situation wrong in many ways. For years he’d labeled Loki for his actions as the god of mischief and was trying to get grand-Odin to notice his worth, but it wasn't so simple. It was something more profound.
Revenge, maybe?
Scott wasn't sure he was going to get an answer from Loki, not in the state he was in and acknowledge that he would need to consult his bearer.
"What do you want from me, Loki?" Scott sat back down in his chair. "I'm not sure I know how to help you. Your heart is so filled with hate and anger that you don't want to let go of. You treat those who once cared for you like shit and expect to be forgiven, as if it is your right to their forgiveness. How am I supposed to help someone who doesn't want my help?”
"It's not that you don't know how, it's that you don't want to," Loki spat. "You need to keep finding a way to hate me.”
Once again, Scott couldn't respond or defend what Loki said was wrong. He had a deep-seated hate for the man who’d done more than play a few tricks.
“I…” Scott started, but Loki stopped him by holding up a hand.
"I just realized you spoke your truth. Now it's time for me to say mine. Contrary to what Odin and all the other gods might think, you are not worthy of taking his place. You're weak-willed and weak-minded. You couldn't handle the death of a human lover, yet you are expected to handle the sorrows of humans who will be looking for hope.”
Anger boiled like a volcano inside of Scott. Before he could stop himself, he was out of his chair, grabbing Loki by his shirt collar, and then slamming him to the ground—growling in his face. With the kind of force Scott had wielded, the room and probably the entire building shook. Scott expected Marlow to burst into the room asking what was going on. He had to have heard them yelling at each other.
“Is this what you call weak,” he snarled.
Loki smirked. “You didn’t even scratch me.”
He elbowed Scott in the face, sending him across the room. Scott was a bit slower to get up, but Loki had no problem and was already on his feet.
“I’ve changed my mind. It seems you can’t help me after all, young demi. I have no cause to change who I am. Prepare for a fight, nephew of mine. Because I will do everything in my power to make sure you do not sit on Odin’s throne. That honor rightfully belongs to me.”
Loki was out the door before Scott could stop him. Marlow rushed into his office as Scott was getting to his feet.
“Boss, are you all right? Did you feel the entire building shake? Do you think it was a mini-earthquake?” He asked frantically, running around the room.
“Yeah,” Scott answered, not clarifying his response to Marlow’s questions.
