Fear.

Disbelief.

Horror, sorrow and more passed through those sky blue eyes. Those damnable, judging, haunting and caring blue eyes that had been his companion through child hood, that had slowly moved on to better things whilst he was left behind to mourn those days that are now long gone.

Oh how he wished he could go back.

To when all was right with his world.

To when this poisonous knowledge was not bearing down upon his shoulders.

Monster.

Help!

The words wouldn't come from his mouth even now, though he knew he pleaded with his eyes.

Help me. Understand.

Know why I have done the things I have, even if I can't fully acknowledge it myself yet.

Past those youthful eyes, are the piercing blue of another generation. The eye that watched him grow from a babe, to a young boy and into the man they can see now.

Broken. Vulnerable.

Begging.

"I could have done it, Father! I could have done it!"

I could have.

I swear.

Understand.

Please.

"For you! For all of us!"

I could have protected us from the monsters!

Saved us all.

Please, understand. I need you to understand.

"No, Loki."

No?

It's then that he realises.

He could never have truly protected them; not properly, not fully.

Even if the icy planet harbouring nightmares is destroyed, taking the blue beasts with it, they could never fully be safe.

His family.

But they aren't his, are they?

He is a monster. One of them.

How could they ever be truly safe when they live with the nightmare himself?

He sees what he has to do. To protect them.

As he sees it within himself, the blue eyes see it too. They see his decision in his tear filled, emerald orbs.

"Loki, no!"

His fingers loosen on the staff.

The rightful King's staff.

Not his.

It slips away from him as he falls, hurtling towards the darkness.

His eyes close.

This shall be his end.

Now they can be truly safe.

He never heard the whispered 'No', never heard the sadness nor the desperation in it.

Never saw his father forgive him or understand him.

Never.