Thanatos and Loki sat, exhausted, in Death's office. Both men leaned back in their chairs on either side of the desk, staring up at the ceiling.
"Damien has run away to the vampire circus," Thanatos said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The Fates have returned, and my portal project's soft opening is in three days."
Loki made a tired and non-committal sort of groan.
Death continued, "Your kin, weapons at my disposal, are sitting around collecting dust because... I do not know what to do!" Death sat up and slammed his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers in front of his lips. "What do I do, Loki?"
"I told you... planning ahead at this juncture is counter-productive. We need to wait for them to make a move."
"Waiting for them to make a move gives them the upper hand. We need to be prepared for any move they might make. We need to think like them. What could they do to thwart us?"
"Literally anything," Loki said, aggravated. "I mean, honestly, you keep asking for my advice, not listening to it, and then I end up being right, and you end up looking like a dunce. At least the Norsemen would listen to my advice, and just... blame me when it went wrong." He sat up in the chair to face Thanatos. "Well, now I don't know which is worse."
"You're right, Loki. The Fates set the board the moment they returned. We have prepared for this day. Now we wait."
Loki counted the seconds tick by. "You're still over-thinking this aren't you?"
Thanatos stood. "Of course I am. They're using my son as a pawn, and," he swallowed, "...and I can't save him."
Loki had to turn away from his friend's face to stop from welling up. "I've been there... I was away at the time. They tricked my son, chained him up so he couldn't move, couldn't run, and then drove a sword through his muzzle, and... there was nothing I could do. Nothing I could have said would have prevented it, and nothing I could have said after could reverse the damage done. There are just things that," Loki cleared his throat, "...you can't protect your children from."
The intercom buzzed, and both men jumped to attention. Patrice's bored voice said, "Thanatos?"
Death and Loki were still clearing their throats, loosening their ties, and sniffing and rubbing their noses. "Yes? Ahem. What?"
"Devereaux is here to see you, sir." The sound of her chewing gum with her mouth open crackled through the phone's speakers.
The two men looked at each other with curiosity.
"Send him in," Death ordered. Both men repositioned their ties, straightened their suits, and sat properly in their chairs. They stood upon his entrance and bowed at the neck.
"King Devereaux," Death gestured with his long pale fingers, "please, have a seat."
"Actually, Thanatos, this will be rather quick." He neatly folded his hands before him and remained standing.
"Ah," Thanatos said and sat back down.
"Yes. Where is your son?"
Thanatos was quiet for a moment before responding. "My son? As far as I know he has been out fraternizing with your son."
"You haven't heard, then? They had a... falling out."
"What do you mean?" asked Loki in a grave voice. Both he and Thanatos became concerned.
"They had a disagreement, and he stole my daughter away from me and Alec. He is now keeping her hidden somewhere."
Death smiled and said, "You must have my son confused with a dragon, my Liege."
Loki put out a hand. "Stop. Let me get this right. You're upset that your daughter is with Damien, but she is with him because you lied about who tortured who. And it was you who tortured her, and you who tortured Alec, who has now become you whilst at the same time despising you. So, now, let's reexamine. Who are you really mad at afterall?"
"When did I miss all this?" Thanatos asked.
"You were too preoccupied with your portal," Loki quipped.
"Portal? Alec made a portal to the Mortalworld, but-" began Victor.
"You said Alec is trying to make a portal?" Thanatos snarled.
Victor corrected, "No, he had successfully made one. I was told that Damien didn't like what Alec was doing and shut the portal down."
"Hence their disagreement." Loki smiled a fox's grin at Death.
Victor said, "Apparently, he ran away and took Josanna with him. I just want to find her, to talk to her. That is all."
Loki said, "I have come to notice that you have a habit of pointing at Alec and crying wolf so no one notices the blood on your hands..."
Thanatos gave an interested Hmph and sat back in his chair. "I'll look into it."
"You don't know where he is?" asked Victor.
Death cocked an eyebrow. "No. I'll see what I can do." He gave the vampire a curt bow.
Devereaux turned and walked out. Once the door closed behind him, Loki pointed at Death with excitement. "There it is!"
"There it is," Thanatos confirmed.
"It's far too coincidental- Alec creating a portal at the same time as you, and Damien to be caught in the middle, as he usually is when the Fates are involved... Well, there's the cherry on top," said Loki.
"Yes, this is the work of the Fates. They have made their move. You know, this makes me wonder," Thanatos pondered, "The Fates did threaten to replace me... Loki, I have an idea. I believe Damien called it a gravity assist maneuver, and you're going to love it."
