Following Our Own Script

Chapter One

How had Loki survived so long with his stoic father? Had the last few years of father-son time completely broken him out of the ability to just sit and be quiet for a few days? He blamed Mimir for making Kratos his personal project of redemption.

Everyone in Loki's life had that in common; trying to redeem each other because they themselves were hopeless. Clinging onto each other's broken pieces, as if holding them together would somehow allow them to be better people. Worthless, the lot of them. Mimir fixed Kratos, Kratos fixed Frigg. The amount of parental figures trying to heal themselves as they mentored Loki lead to no surprises why he felt the need to fix everyone. Exhausting, Heimdall thought. At least his family let each other wallow in their own problems.

And look how well that turned out for them.

Just another thing Heimdall hated about Loki. He was jealous of the relationship Loki and Kratos had. The All-Father dismissed his sons every second they weren't benefiting him. Yet, they all strived for his attention. They lived to get a spec of praise. Heimdall was the worst out of them.

"But really, I'm glad you're here."

"Don't wanna hear it," Heimdall mumbled.

"Especially with Huginn still gone. I would have lost my mind if I was alone."

"So now you owe me for keeping you sane? Wonderful. Tack it onto the list of selfless things I've done for you."

With the boat picking up speed, Loki finally stopped making conversation. Heimdall closed his eyes, listening to the wind rush past. He hadn't experienced true silence for almost all of his years. On the wall was the closest he would get, but even then, the not-so distant thoughts of everyone in Asgard rumbled in his head. Now, the only mind he could hear was Loki's. He'd never trained in turning his foresight off. He had never thought about it even being a possibility.

As the sun was setting, Loki yawned. The two took turns sleeping. At first, they slept for no more than a few hours. The thrill of an adventure, even for Heimdall, was enough to keep them awake. That, and the catastrophe they had both lived through. Neither of them had any time to take the last year in, let alone grieve. Emotions were far from being sorted.

Now, they let each other sleep until they woke naturally. Some nights were endless, others faded until the morning. Their usual routine had Loki sleeping from sunset until the moon centered above them. Heimdall would sleep until the sun rose. Neither were great at sleeping in full daylight.

As Loki started getting comfortable, Heimdall froze. Two events hit him at once.

The first, Huginn. He was approaching, as far as Heimdall could tell, in good spirits.

Second, coming from the opposite direction, was the distant sound of thunder.

Heimdall kicked Loki as soon as his eyes were shut.

"Jeez, I'm still awake. What-" Loki shot up, the stupidest grin spreading across his face at the sight of Huggin. He sprang to his feet, waving down the bird.

"Huginn!" Loki yelled. "You're okay!"

The bird returning was the least important thing right now. Heimdall's blood ran cold. It had been a miracle in itself the weather hadn't killed them yet. After leaving the Nine Realms, the closest they'd come to a storm only consisted of strong winds and mild rainfall. The waves became fast but manageable.

Thunder had become a tool for Heimdall in locating Thor. The sound was as easy to locate as the All-Father's voice. What was coming was no ordinary storm.

Huginn flew onto Loki's arm. He squawked happily.

"Heimdall, Huginn found land! It's a few days out, but it's close," Loki turned, ecstatic. His expression dampened upon seeing Heimdall's grim expression. "Heimdall?"

"Shut it," he shot back. Heimdall continued listening. It wasn't close enough to show clouds yet. They had a good few hours. But it was coming. It would hit them in the dead of night. "We're fucked."

"Uh, Heimdall?" Loki stepped closer, looking up to match Heimdall's gaze. Even the bird seemed on edge.

"Looks like we're about to experience nature at its finest," Heimdall said. Loki cocked his head. He saw nothing. "A storm, moron. One that would make Thor jealous."
"Any chance it could be Thrud for a surprise visit?"

Heimdall didn't humor him. He looked back at Loki and the raven. "Any of your magic friends know how to swim?"

"I can conjure birds again. Have them pull us."

"Not fast enough."

"They can at least help anchor the boat."

Heimdall looked at Huginn. "You said days?" The bird squawked. Heimdall began pacing in the whole four feet he had to spare. "Conjure your stupid birds. Now."

Loki did. Huginn flew first, leading them.

"What exactly did Huginn find?"

"Land, with plants. Big enough that it isn't just some island. He got too excited to check out the whole thing. Came back to at least get us off the boat."

"Getting off the boat has been the goal." Heimdall listened to the wind. With any luck, it would pick up before the storm set in. Push them a little fast in the correct direction and all hope might not be lost.

"No food and no sleep. We're in peak shape."

"We had some food," Loki said. His optimism was held on by Huginn's findings alone. He was nervous. Heimdall stared at the brat, digging into why. He always got a bit restless during the change in the weather, but this time, he was genuinely fearful.

"No," Heimdall gasped. Any other time, this would be a hilarious finding. "I'm staring right at your tiny mind and I refuse to believe what I'm seeing."

Loki didn't face Heimdall. He looked small.

Heimdall grabbed him by the shoulder, spinning him around. "We've been out here for months. Months! How is this the first time you're thinking about not being able to swim?"

Loki wouldn't meet Heimdall's eyes. "I've had a lot on my mind."

"No, no no no," Heimdal barked. "You wanted to take a boat, sail on water, knowing there could be complications, and never thought it good to tell me you never learned how to swim."

"I can swim." Then, sheepishly, "Mostly."

Heimdall realized two more horrible things. First, Loki had been so excited for his journey, he hadn't really proceeded with what being on a boat meant. He had taken a much smaller boat on much smaller waters often with his father, but he barely acknowledged what the actual fucking ocean meant.

Second, Loki had somehow, honest to the Gods, forgotten about the need to swim. He had just assumed any split off the boat and Heimdall would scoop him back in. Heimdall, the God with one arm. Heimdall, the God who hated conjuring the Bifrost any more than he had to. Heimdall, the one who'd be conjuring said Bifrost arm and use it to save his own life while treading hellish waters for who knows how long. Even if he wanted to, there was no way he could swim for them both.

"Three months. Three fucking months of mostly still waters." Heimdall ran his hand through his hair. He began laughing nearly hysterically. "You are just one massive disappointment after another, aren't you, sunshine? Just the smartest little trickster there is. And for your last scheme, you drown us both."

Loki had no response. He understood the situation.

"Call off the birds."

Heimdall walked over to the sail, closing it.

"What are you doing? We're in a rush-"

"No. You shut up and do what I say. Now."

Hesitantly, Loki obeyed.

As their boat slowly, Heimdall, without hesitation, threw the boy overboard.

"Thirty minutes. That's how long you have to learn how to swim. After that, we push forward."