"Go, brother!" I hear Thor say, and at the same time I start forward, Veers is moving, too. We cross toward each other, now on camera for the entire galaxy to see, including Thanos, and so I take Veers into my arms and kiss her.

She's surprised, I can tell, but she recovers in record time, returning my kiss like we're in love. Even if she doesn't know Thanos threatened me, she knows we played a couple last year, and it wouldn't look good for anyone if we are seen six months later, broken up.

The cameras follow us all the way to the Statesman, where we wave at them as we start up the ramp. I glance down toward the Bifrost observatory and see Heimdall standing in the entrance, leaning on his staff. I wave at him, hoping he can see it somehow, despite his ruined sight.

We finish boarding, the cameras vanish, and we lift off. I sigh and release Veers' hand, watching as everyone seems to head to their own place: Valkyrie to the liquor cabinet, Thor and Jane to the hold that serves as a hangout area, Minn-Erva and Korath anywhere the Asgardians aren't, and Hela and Ronan down toward the cockpit. Selvig, Darcy, and their prep teams must already be settled.

Veers heads directly for her chambers, which used to be Sif's, but I follow my sister. I need to speak to her. Then I stop, suddenly uncertain. I don't particularly want to talk to Ronan about Thanos' visit and that's who Hela is with right now. Besides, what do I want to tell Hela about Thanos for? I'm not even sure whose side she's really on. Yes, she helped me in the Contest of Champions and yes, she warned me about Thanos' displeasure afterwards, but in the end, Hela still works for Thanos.

Resolutely, I set off through the Statesman, deciding to just look around the ship. Since I'll be practically living on this ship for the next couple weeks, I might as well get to know the layout.

I spend an hour wandering through the ship, accustoming myself to all the rooms. The living quarters are all clustered together in the center of the Statesman, the eating and general space fore of that. In the rear of the ship is a room I've never had use for before and that's where I end my exploring.

The room is vast, taking up the entire width of the ship. It's empty except for a large chair at the end of the room, sitting before a large floor-to-ceiling window that gazes out on empty, dark space.

It's some sort of throne room.

I gaze around the empty space for a long moment before stepping into the chamber, crossing toward the throne. Halting to one side of it, I gaze out at space, the vastness of it a bit frightening.

But what is more frightening is my upcoming task. Tomorrow we arrive in Vanaheim and I'll be expected to play up my romance with Veers, as well as remind the people that they owe their allegiance to Thanos. How shall I do that?

Relax, I order myself. You have a silvertongue. This will be no problem for you. Just mention something at the end, about Thanos' reign being eternal or beneficial or necessary or something....

I shake my head and glance at the throne. It's tempting me, for I want to take a seat, gaze out at space from the secondary throne of Asgard. It may never be mine but I can dream for a moment, I can yearn for it for a moment before I face reality again.

The only way to get the throne of Asgard from my father would be to get rid of Thor, somehow.

I would at last be equal to him.

I shake my head again, more violently this time. What am I thinking? Get rid of Thor? My brother? I would never do that; I love my brother.

Is he really fit to rule Asgard, though?

The thought creeps in unbidden, curling around my brain. Angrily, I turn away from the throne. No. Odin chose Thor to rule, not me. It was always to be his choice, and he chose not me. I must live with that now.

Maybe you didn't have to, the voice insists.

"Brother!"

I swear I jump a foot off the ground at the sound of Thor's voice. Almost guiltily, I turn to face him as he strides across the chamber toward me, no sign in his face that he suspects my traitorous thoughts.

He's my brother.

But I am also Odin's son.

"Hello, brother," I greet, and look out the window again.

"Your tour has finally begun," Thor says, looking out the window with me. "Are you ready for this?"

"Of course I am," I retort. "Why wouldn't I be ready?"

Thor lays his hand on my shoulder. "Relax, Loki! I imply nothing ill. I just want to make sure you are prepared."

I look at him, forcing myself to relax. "I am, Thor. There is nothing to worry about." I give him a slight smile, guilt plucking at my heart. How can I have such thoughts against him when all he does is look out for me?

He thinks he's better than you.

"Are you ready to take the throne?" I ask.

"I believe so," Thor asserts. "Father's been teaching me the intricacies of ruling. I still have more to learn before the coronation, but I think I will be ready."

Partly motivated by guilt, I tell him, "I know you will be, brother. Nobody would make a better king of Asgard than you. We both await the day you take the throne eagerly."

Thor smiles at me. "Thank you, Loki. It means much to hear you say that." He pauses for a moment before adding, "It feels sometimes like we don't speak much anymore."

"That's because we don't," I say wryly. I cast a look at him and see the thoughtful expression on his face.

"I wish it wasn't so."

So do I, Thor. So do I.

But I can't bring myself to say that. Thor pats my shoulder and turns to the throne. "Is it wrong if I sit here?"

I turn, casting my eyes over the throne. It beckons to me, calling to me. "No, Thor, it isn't."

Thor laughs and walks over to the throne, sinking into it like it already belongs to him. He looks at me and laughs again and I force myself to laugh as well, although there is no humor inside me. All I remember is the people of Asgard kneeling to me when I volunteered to take Heimdall's place in the Contest of Champions, showing me the reverence due a king.

But I am not a king and never will be.

You should be king, the voice cajoles, and I hate how much I like hearing that. King Loki of Asgard.

"King Thor," Thor is saying, interrupting my thoughts. "King Thor of Asgard. How does it sound, brother?"

"It sounds majestic," I tell him, stepping toward the throne. I'm standing in front of him, my back now to the window. "It sounds fitting of an Asgardian ruler."

Thor grins at me and I return the grin, the expression coming as easily as a lie these days. I feel I am accomplishing what Hela told me all those years ago, when she said I must learn to lie so easily it simply glides off the tongue, no flicker of expression to betray the truth.

"Hello, brothers."

Speaking of my sister.

Hela glides into the room, moving across the floor toward us. Thor continues to sit on the throne confidently as our sister reaches us and glances down at him. She lifts an eyebrow.

"It's a bit early for that, isn't it?"

"It's not the actual throne," Thor objects. "Besides, I had to keep you from sitting here, didn't I?"

"Oh, aren't you a laugh?" Hela says as Thor smiles to himself. "What are you boys doing here?"

"Talking," I answer, glancing at my sister.

"No?" Hela replies, widening her eyes in fake astonishment. "Talking? The two of you?"

Thor frowns. "What, you think we don't talk? We're brothers!"

Hela snorts in amusement and we both frown and look at her quizzically. "Well, we are," I say, lifting an eyebrow at her.

"So what are you talking about?" she asks and Thor and I exchange a look.

"About the future," I answer vaguely and Thor nods. Hela arches her eyebrow at us.

"The future? Then let's talk." She sits herself down on the arm of the throne, lounging back as Thor scoots uncomfortably away, shooting a glare at her from the corner of his eye. Hela ignores him, though, and fixes her eyes on me.

I don't say anything and neither does Thor. Several moments of tense silence pass before Hela suddenly snaps her fingers loudly, making both Thor and I jump. "Ah, good, so you haven't gone deaf. So tell me, little brother: how many days have you left to live?"

My eyes widen involuntarily before I compose my expression. "What do you mean, sister?"

"You've gotten better at lying," Hela says, her eyes still riveted on me. Thor looks confusedly from her to me and back again, his eyebrows drawn together. "But you could never lie to me, Loki. Tell me the deadline, literal or otherwise."

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Thor demands, standing and turning to look at Hela. Hela tilts her head back, her black hair cascading down her back, the black eyeliner around her eyes making her look a bit intimidating, despite her relaxed posture.

"Our dear brother has gotten himself into a bit of trouble," Hela says almost lazily, flicking her eyes to Thor. "You see, Thanos visited Asgard today and it wasn't to see his favorite daughter." Her gaze moves back to me, a slight smile playing over her lips. "It was to see Loki."

Thor stares at me, incredulous. "What?"

Trapped, I nod. "Yes, Thanos came to see me."

"What for?" Thor demands.

"That's what I want to know," Hela adds. "Loki, he didn't come for chitchat and he didn't come to tell you he approves of you, so tell me how many days he gave you to live."

I sigh. "Fine, I will tell you. He wasn't happy, about what I did in the Contest."

"Win?" Thor asks skeptically.

"Winning with Veers," I correct. "Two champions instead of the one he demands. He didn't like that."

"Which I had already told you," Hela interjects. "Right after the Contest, if my memory serves me correctly. And we all know it does."

"I don't," Thor counters.

"That's because I didn't tell you," Hela replies, glancing at him. "I told Loki. I believe Valkyrie is aware. It's not hard to be aware of Thanos' displeasure."

Thor scowls at her but Hela pretends not to notice. "So what did he add to that known displeasure?"

"He'll swing the axe if I don't fix it."

Hela snorts. "I could have told you that."

"How are you supposed to fix this?" Thor demands. "Challenge Veers to a duel and whoever wins is the actual champion?"

"Don't give Thanos that idea," I mutter. "He wants me to show the galaxy why I saved her. He wants me to show my love for her."

Thor and Hela exchange a glance. "But you don't," Thor states, and I look at him in surprise.

"What makes you say that?"

"Brother, I have eyes! You don't look at her in the way a lover does. She's just a friend to you."

"He's right," Hela affirms. "But I knew you didn't love her way before he did."

"How do you know?" Thor demands.

"I always knew," Hela says loftily, and Thor glowers at her while she smirks.

"What is this, a competition?" I ask angrily and Hela laughs.

"No, you just can't lie to me. But you'll need to lie to the entire galaxy now, and play the illusion of the couple until...well, until you die."

I furrow my brow. "What?"

"You can't ever break up with Veers," Hela states flatly. "You must play the couple, live the lie, manipulate the illusion, until the end. The galaxy saw you change the rules for her. You can't exactly go back on that now."

"She's right," Thor says grimly. "If this is what Thanos is expecting, in order for you to save yourself, you must be in love with this girl. There's no other option."

I could run.

I must say, though, that it's a rare moment when Thor and Hela agree on something. There should be some sort of monument to mark the occasion. We won't see this again in our lifetimes.

"Is there anything else?" Hela asks.

"I must remind the galaxy that we live under Thanos' rule and owe him loyalty," I answer. "Or else I fix the Balance through my blood."

For the count of a minute, there is silence between the three of us. Then Hela stands. "Well, then. Let's not have you die."