Unbroken (Loki x Reader)

Chapter 35 - Through The Roots

"Better?" he asks.

You nod, grimacing as another wave of pain racks your lower body. Loki takes your hand, and you squeeze it as you breathe through the horrible, sharp cramping feeling.

"You're so strong, my love. I envy your courage," Loki says softly, placing a hand on your forehead, stroking it with his thumb.

You let out a small whimper as yet another set of painful cramps causes your stomach to feel as if it's about to explode. You can feel the skin on your belly stretching. It burns, and itches uncomfortably.

Loki sits with you until the episode ends. You're not sure how long it's been by the time that you no longer find yourself fighting back tears. But this one had been bad.

"We need to hurry," you say, your voice weak from exhaustion.

"I know, darling. I'm almost there. I've almost got it," he says.

"Walk me through it?" you ask him. "Distract me. Please?"

Loki sighs, and climbs into the bed. He sits with his back to the headboard, and pulls you up and into him, your back to his chest. You fidget for a moment, getting comfortable. But Loki waits patiently until you find a position that feels good.

There is more than one way into Asgard, Loki says in your mind, as he wraps his arms around you. The two of you aren't shielded in the bedroom - Loki only protects the small area of his workspace in the living room so as not to arouse suspicion by watchful eyes. So you're not surprised that Loki has chosen to speak telepathically. Can you name them? he quizzes. You know he's only asking to try and help take your mind off the pain like you asked. So you play along.

The Bifrost, you answer.

Yes. The Bifrost is one way to travel between Midgard and Asgard. And it happens to be the only legal method of doing so. Can you name another? Loki asks. He enjoys testing your knowledge.

Dark magic, you respond. The whole reason we're in this mess.

I'll ignore the implication, kærasta. But yes, dark magic is another way.

So, is that our way in?

No. You can't be subjected to the cost that traveling by dark magic exacts.

You think for a moment before recalling your conversation with Loki several weeks ago. Life, you answer. I remember you telling me that it costs lifeforce to use dark magic.

Correct, darling. And I don't know what that would do to you, or our child.

So, if we can't travel using the Bifrost, and dark magic is out of the question, you're saying there's another way? A third way?

Yes. But it is dangerous. And very, very difficult.

Explain.

Yggdrasil.

The tree of life? You mean...her roots? I thought they were unpredictable? You question, recalling your conversation with Thor back in Asgard. And you vaguely remember Loki mentioning something about portals and roots.

You know of her roots? Even in his projected thoughts, Loki can't contain his tone of pleasant surprise. He had told you about the portals he had traveled through to try and get back to you after you had left Asgard, but he hadn't related her roots explicitly to the portals themselves. You made that connection all on your own.

Well, with a little help.

Thor told me about how the realms are connected by Yggdrasil, you think back. That's about all I know.