A/N Hello Readers, In my last story Snow Days Siibi, a faithful reader of the work requested a chapter where Thor and Loki have a talk in the present. Well Siibi this is that story! Dedicated to you. This story could kinda be seen as a sequel to Snow Days but doesn't necessarily have to be I think the story stands well enough on its own so whether you've read Snow Days or not I think you'll be ok. Well God bless and happy reads! Without further ado...
Visitation
"You have a visitor" a gruff and guttural voice rang out through the abyss of quiet that he had been surrounded by. Other noises followed such as the harsh thud of the iron door crashing against the rock and granite of the wall. He was kept in a separate hold from the rest of criminals and villains. He was held in a secret compartment away from those who had committed high treason and other felonies. He smirked. He was so vile, so despicable that even the scoundrels left to rot should not be exposed to the likes of him.
He listened on and heard footsteps approach with hesitation and keys jingle and clank ever so faintly. The sound of words tickled his ears. It had been a few days since he'd heard intelligible noises. He heard the heavy boots of the guards kept just outside his old patrolling. He had hear a whip or two crack against some prisoners back and he'd heard the poor soul cry out for mercy. But honestly he hadn't heard even those disturbing sounds in a few days...at least he thought it had been a few days. He He was beginning to lose track of time. The utter silence of the room was maddening, deafening. It took all the strength with in him to keep from banging his head against the slime slick walls of his confinement in order just to hear something. Perhaps the pounding of his head would have been away to keep track of time. He knew not for certain how much time had elapsed since he'd been escorted to his new room…a few days…a week? Sometime less than one moon cycle he was sure.
"Escorted" he sneered to himself as the word tumbled through his head, that was putting it graciously. He had not been escorted by some gentle hand. He had not been ushered politely to his seat. "Right this way Prince Loki," No, no, no, he shook his head still scoffing, it was more like wrangled, dragged and thrown in to these chambers.
"Chambers" was a sugar-coating it at best. This was no chamber, this was no bedroom or place to rest the head after an arduous journey. This was a cell. It was a lowly prison hold, kept deep within the underbelly of the palace. It was a dungeon so submerged that even the superlative glistening golden splendor that saturated through every nook and cranny of the royal household could not be found to permeate the bleak and dreary atmosphere of this penitentiary. The cell was bleak with no windows. The lighting was so poor and dismal that at first his eyes burned trying to adjust to the flickering lanterns. The floor was nothing but mud and straw. It was disgusting squalor. It was drafty and the air was polluted and unclean being that there was no ventilation. The sickening smell of bile and blood and every other noxious odor that could be produced by bodies left to rot in jail filled the place. It was nearly death to breathe it in, not that he could breathe well, not with the hideous contraption strapped around his face. Still what little breathing he could do was through his nose forcing him to constantly inhale the stench of the filthy varmint who though kept separate from him managed to allow their foul odors to waft to him.
Despite his pathetic existence in this prison stories above him 20 or 30 if he could recall correctly they were living quite lavishly. He need not see it now. He'd lived through it enough times to know what to expect. He knew exactly what was going on. The festivities were legendary for after his brother had vanquished the later foe. There would be great celebration throughout all of Asgard. A new holiday would be proclaimed. The palace would fly the great prince's colors, trumpets would blast, wine would be overflowing and abundant (they'd empty the fountains of water and pump grog and ale through the street and all the peasants would be drunk in revelry for days on end), minstrels would singing songs of glory, heralds would proclaiming the events riding to even the smallest provinces of Asgard (No one should be kept from knowing the exploits of the Might Thunderer) and inside the palace oh they'd feast and they'd feast. Light and decorations would be hung. They'd dance and party until they had no strength left to make merry.
He gagged now that his holds door had been opened only momentarily and his dwelling was flood with the putrid smells. He constantly felt like retching, only, he had nothing to retch. He hadn't been fed since he'd been carted back to the golden realm. Above his head they dined sumptuously. They stuffed themselves with lamb and boar, fine filets of pheasant, honey cakes, potatoes and squash, dumplings thick with all the fixings. His hand clutched at his flat abdomen. It was the first time he'd noticed his stomach growling since he'd returned, but how long had that been? A few days? A week? Sometime less than one full moon cycle.
Beneath the thick muzzle, that guarded his silver-tongue, he smirked. Was this Odin's plan? It was a such a childish punishment. Did he really think sending him to his room without any supper was enough to get him to capitulate? As if he was some naughty schoolboy who'd come down the stairs the next morning broken and contrite after a night of a rumbling belly. As if he'd sit at the table head bowed, eyes lowered, hands neatly folded in his lap and say "Yes Papa, you were right...may I eat now?" Oh yes it was laughable indeed. It lacked imagination. He was hungry, but Odin would be surprised to find how long he could go without food by the aid of his magic. If he would have had the ability he would have broke into the merriest of laughter. Was that all the better that weary old man could do?
"Did you hear?" The rough sounding voice bellowed. It was closer to his cell now. His cell was blocked by a glassy looking, glowing, green force field. It kept him in and it kept others out. If he tried to use his magic on it, it was instantly repelled. His powers would backfire and be released on him. He tried twice the first night he was locked away only to have his hands singed miserably, after that he hadn't tried again. He'd not be a lab rat who keeps taking the same exit only to get shocked at every turn. No he was shrewd and he observed that there was some combination lock placed on the side long the wall on the outside of the cell. That was the only way the magic repellent force field could be lifted. It had yet to be used. " You have a visitor!" the deep voice of a husky palace guard screamed at the former prince and slammed his meaty fist on the outer wall of the cell. . Loki kept his back to the guard. He sat on a slim stone slate that came out of the wall. His shoulders were straight like rigid planks, but it hurt so to keep them that way, the chains on his wrist were heavy. He kept his glance fixated on nothing but the wall. He knew who was speaking with him and it was no one of consequence. It was Ingvar Shelkson. Ingvar was a muscular dark-skinned man he was bald, but a stately and respected figure throughout the realm. He was the warden of the dungeon and all the maximum security prisons in Asgard. It was the family occupation even one of his sisters served the Valkyrie as their jailkeeper. Loki chuckled to himself as the over awarded guard continued to shout obscenities at him. Ingvar was a dog with no teeth. Shelkson was a simple subject who had forgotten his place. When he was out of these shackles (He would be in due time) he would remind this peasant how to address his King. He wouldn't kill him, but he'd break him, break him publically, shamefully, he'd learn how to speak to him and all would it would be a memory burned into the minds of all Asgard. " You don't even deserve for him to grace you with his presence" Shelkson spat as he stood a few feet away. He paced angrily like a furious animal. One of the ones that was kept on hold in the coliseum just before an event. "His majesty shouldn't even have to come into this disgusting dungeon. He should never see the likes of this place! Let alone give the time of day to monster like you," he continued to explode. "I would have opposed him," Ingvar growled, "Save that I owe him all duty and obedience," He added quickly. "To think, I was to give you the same loyalty," His lip snarled as he contemplated the thought. "To think once I bowed when you treaded through these halls and called you my prince," the guard was fuming with anger over the years he had given this madman any honor. Loki never deserved it. He was never an honorable person. He was always deceitful and conniving, always a weasel. He always treated those who served him with contempt exacting cruel remarks and punishments for minor slip ups and sometimes he would play malicious pranks just out of spite. Still he had been shown reverence because he was a Prince of Asgard, Odin's son. He had heard Odin may disown him. He hoped his king would. Loki was a disgrace to the royal family. "You make me sick !" Ingvar continued to rant. "You're lower than any of the filth I have ever had the privilege of hosting here," he said with a sneer. "You're a murderer and a traitor!" he spat. He literally did spit only his saliva couldn't break through the shield that contained Loki. It enraged the hulking warden all the more. He was a tough as nails man and he showed no mercy to those terrible animals who committed crimes of treason and murder and anarchy. He concocted all manner of torture for those who fell into his good graces, but he had been held off. He'd been given strict orders not to touch the son of Odin until his trial. He had already concocted a rigorous torture regime that he was sure would have Loki's spirit broken in a few months, but his hands were tied ... for now. It was the only thing that kept him from snapping Loki's neck for the monstrous acts he'd committed. "You don't deserve a trial. You deserve nothing save death!" the warden continued. Loki didn't respond to Ingvar ranting. He merely mused that when he did once again rise as rightful king of Asgard, Ingvar would be made an example of. He'd execute with his own hand before all and that would be a lesson to all the Aesir of the fate that would await those that spoke out of term to their king.. "If I was your father," He began clenching his massive fist together so tight his warm brown knuckles started to turn white. "I would have seen that you gotten the chop soon as you returned." He growled. 'if you were my father,' Loki thought as he sat ignoring the provocative words of the warden, 'you would have abandoned me in an ice temple many centuries ago,' he concluded. 'and you would have died by my hand," he confirmed to himself for good measure and he smiled beneath his bridle.
"Ingvar," a new voice entered the room. It contrasted greatly with the warden. Both voices were strong and deep, but this voice had an air of kingliness to it. It was booming and big commanding attention. Ingvar's voice was plebian...easy to block out.
"My liege," The chocolate skinned warden dropped on his knee groveling before the majestic man before him he placed his hand over his heart and then kissed the signet ring, showing all duty and respect to the honored guest. He hoped that his highness had not heard the things he said to the prisoner.
"How is he?" this stately tone continued once Ingvar had risen to his feet.
"How can I say, sire," The chief of prisons began. He turned his head pityingly toward the young man sitting inside the cell. "he sits and stares or paces around. He's obviously mad." he reported. "I am ready to enact your orders on this creature," The guard shot his head back and glared at Loki he couldn't help the growl that rolled from his throat... how dare he not bow at his majesty.
"I see," The masculine voice confirmed. "Leave us," The order was gentle, but no less the an order and as any good soldier of Asgard Ingvar jumped at the command.
The newcomers' footfalls fell quickly until they were right upon the cell. The prisoner listened intently to the clicking sound as the combination dial was turned. It was the first time he'd heard it, but he was quickly able to lodge the nuances of the sequence in his memory. He heard the faint fizzing sound as the shield dissipated and allowed his visitor to enter. The boots were heavy as lead as they walked across the mud floor and left their imprint there.
"Loki!" The voice boomed like a raging tempest. The new voice was not unfamiliar. He knew it so well that he need not look in the direction from whence it came. He could almost picture the expression etched on this person's face. He did not want to see him. Why was he here? He'd almost thought he'd forgotten him and he was glad of it. If he was forgotten if he was simply left to rot in this forsaken dungeon it would make things so much simpler. It would make his detestation of the man so much more understandable even in his own eye, but of course he came.
Loki kept his eyes transfixed on the wall. The visitor came closer. The footsteps strutted over so that the legs and chest belonging to the feet came and blocked the dirty prisoner's view of the nasty wall. "Loki look at me," soldier clad in regalia commanded. Loki let a growl of annoyance escape his throat from behind the muzzle. He thought it was the first audible sound he had made since his wrongful defeat. Loki held his blank stare at the pair of thick legs in front of him. "Loki?" the tone was gentler now, fragile with affection. The visitor obviously didn't get the hint that their presence was not welcomed for they merely stooped down to eye level with Loki. Loki was seated. His shackles were heavy and they exhausted him. He would pace about, but soon became weary of the chains making his once graceful, stealthy, soundless movements lumbering, obvious, and full of rattling noises. So he sat. He was seated on the stone slate that came out of the mold covered wall.
The guest's fleshly lips pursed with worry at the lack of response. Loki didn't bat an eyelash at his presence. Without hesitation this uninvited guest rubbed the back of his knuckles against the exposed part of Loki's cheek. The touch almost felt good. The hands were warm in contrast with the cool temperatures of the were big and rough, masculine and calloused byt the were tender. Maybe for a split second he leaned in. The visitor took this time to examine Loki. The wounds had healed relatively well. Loki's skin looked and his unscathed, but Loki was dirty and unkempt looking. He supposed it couldn't be helped this place wasn't clean and it wasn't as if Loki had been offered a bath and it had been a few days…a week…less than one full moon cycle. He also looked haggard. He had large dark circles under his eyes and his skin was taking on a sickly pallor. He knew good and well that he hadn't been fed. "Oh Loki," the familiar voice beckoned him from his visions in a sweet whisper. Even the whisper exuded power…power that he had been on the cusp of knowing power that he still longed for deeply, power that he was denied. But the power of the voice was betrayed by the way it reverberated with emotion. Emotion leaked and oozed from every fiber of this person. Loki could sense them all. There was Pity, anger, disbelief, hurt and sorrow, but they were undercurrent. The most prominent feelings being displayed, were warmth, relief and…amazingly enough….love. Dreadful sentiments they were the only weakness of one who possessed such matchless strength. "Brother," Thor uttered with a sigh as his big hands continued to stroke Loki's cool flesh in every attempt to wake him from the blank look that he wore on his face. There was some success the empty-eyed expression faded, Loki blinked. Thor smiled, slightly, his eyes dampening. Loki's eyes met his and quickly his green eyes cast a piercing glare at Thor as he yanked himself away from the tender hands.
Loki's green eyes flashed up keeping contact with Thor's pupils. They were laced with resentment and boiling to the brim with anger as he beheld Thor and all his radiance. If it wasn't for the chains that held him captive and made his body practically a dead weight he would have lunged at the blonde-haired prince. If it wasn't for the contraption that held his silver-tongue under lock and key he would have unleashed the most vicious poisonous words upon the golden son of Asgard.
Loki glared at Thor like a viper in the grass. He was coiled and ready to strike. His sinister green eyes casting piercing daggers of hate as they stared at the man who had once been his brother. But their brotherhood no longer existed as far as Loki was concerned and he loathed Thor using the term. "I'M NOT YOUR BROTHER!" He attempted to yell, but the bridle drowned out the words making it only sound like grunts and groans.
Even though Loki pulled away enraged by the affectionate moniker that Thor dare had allowed to roll off his tongue so easily, Prince Thor still kept physical contact with his brother. Loki flinched the more as Thor's hands fumbled to keep contact with Loki's ice-cold skin. Loki was always cool to the touch, but this frigid feeling was almost unnatural he wondered if it came from him being in this freezing prison and not his normally cold body temperature. Still as Loki tried to resist the physical contact, Thor managed to slip his fingers up to the hinges on the side of the muzzle.
Thor large fingers gingerly pressed one of the sides of the straps of the mask in. The contraption made a snapping sound as its airtight clamp on Loki's mouth was broken. Finally, the device was loose enough so that Loki could take a much-needed breath out of his mouth. It was just a raspy wheeze for air, but it still it provided some relief. He had grown so tired of breathing through his nose without end. His nostrils were sore from excessive use. Soon Thor repeated what he had done on the strap on the other side of the muzzle and then the contraption completely released its grip on Loki's mouth and jaw. It fell like a dead weight down his slender, white neck and rested with thud on his thin collarbone and heaving shoulders.
Loki sucked in the air greedily with a loud gasp as he tried to take as much into his lungs as possible. The air in the cell was repugnant and tasted like bile , but it was good to be able to breathe freely of his own accord out of whichever airway he pleased. He smacked his dry lips together and ran his tongue over them. It stung to do so, they were so cracked and chafed from being pressed against the metal muzzle. "Brother," Thor began taking Loki by his thin shoulder.
"Why have you come, Odinson?" Loki asked voice was coarse and gravelly, it actually hurt…he hadn't spoken in a while. A few days? A week? Less than 1 full moon cycle. His voice sounded out-of-place in his own ears. It was grating and breathy from disuse. His whole mouth felt like jelly. He wiggled his jaw back and forth slightly after the phrase had come forth from his ashy, cracked and lips. His jaw creaked and cracked with the subtle movements as those muscles got use to working again. They had been held in that stiff and unchanging position for far too long.
"I had to see you," Thor remarked smartly. He smiled. Thor had a droll sense of humor and he never knew when to use sarcasm or irony.
"Does Odin know you are here?" Loki asked his voice was still strained. "Surely he wouldn't want his little prince keeping such bad company," Loki sneered.
Thor did his best to ignore Loki's digs, "Brother…" he began.
"I was never your brother, you fool,"The bound man retorted bitingly.
Thor shook his head, "Loki," he then tried to rephrase while he reached his hand out to touch Loki's shoulder, "I have spoken with Father,"
Loki's head turned sharply and he glared at the pristine bronzed fingers that held his shoulder. His green eyes quickly scanned his own hands that were bound at the wrist... they were dingy and begrimed, it was unfit for a king to have such dirty hands. "If you reference Odin," Loki's voice came out smooth now. "He is not my father," Loki said coldly his sharp green eyes looking defiantly into the elder young man's sea blue pupils. The trickster nearly smirked as he said the words. Ahh, it was so refreshing to have the power of his tongue back. He watched Thor's wide blue eyes blink dully batting back hurt as they processed what had just been said and he relished in it.
Thor rose to his feet and immediately gripped Loki by his emerald collar and forced him off the seat. "STOP IT LOKI!" He yelled. "Stop it, you hear!" the crown prince screamed in his brother's face while shaking him violently as his boots barely skimmed the ground. "Stop it," Thor's voice dropped and cracked. He shook his head shuddering as he managed to lower the dark-haired prisoner so that he was standing on his own. "The council is convening right now" Thor began. His blue orbs shifted around nervously. "Your sentencing is a fortnight from now," Thor said with a sense of urgency.
"And here I thought you had forgotten about me." Loki let a bitter chuckle came forth. " Even my crimes fall on the back-burner to your applause. It is the same as always I suppose…nobody can get to me until they are done lavishing you," He let out a croaky, humorless laugh. "Did the mighty Thor enjoy his week long war celebration and victory banquet?" Loki mocked. Thor's eyes gazed perplexedly back at the wild glow in Loki's green orbs. "Or was it two weeks? Was it three? Maybe it has even been a month. Such a wonderful battle such a glorious triumph of good over evil. Surely you needed much time to regale them with your feats."
"Loki," Thor shook his head and his brother rambled on.
"Now that you have dined, drank and danced sufficiently you have taken time to tell me of how others will decide my fate, how gracious sire," Loki sneered and he began slow clapping tauntingly in his brothers face.
Thor snarled. His lip twisted at his brother's nonchalance at the seriousness of the situation. "They want you dead! DEAD! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" he demanded, he clamped his strong hands around Loki's slender forearms and gave him of rattle if only to jar some sense back into him. Thor finally controlled himself to keep from shaking Loki senseless. He composed himself. Took a deep breath and held Loki still. His ocean colored eyes stared into Loki's jade pupils. Those green eyes had once been filled with a playful mischievous glint. But that had had been replaced by a malicious gleam. His jade pools had once shown his fierce intelligence and shrewdness now they only reflected an individual who teetered of the fringes of madness. Once those emerald orbs would light up a flicker with good emotions from a sensitive, loyal and kind person. A person who had been a respected prince, a friend, a good son…a brother. As the blonde Viking looked deep into those tainted windows he wondered was there any trace of his brother still left? The more he frantically searched the more he was starting to believe what everyone was saying:
"He's scum" he heard some kitchen hand remark.
"Loki's venomous, treacherous snake!" One of his father's advisors railed at a meeting
"He has no heart!" some noble woman screeched
"He's no Prince of Asgard…He's not one of us!" Sif yelled out after a night of drinking
"He is unworthy of a hearing!" a mob of angry protesters shouted out side the palace walls
"He's a traitor!" spit a guard in random conversation
"He's dangerous!" a foreign delegate professed
"Loki doesn't deserve to live!" One of Odin's officials raged.
"He's mad!" cried Volstagg after word of what Loki was doing had spread to them when he was discovered alive.
"He is a disgrace!" Frandal told.
"He's a monster!" some child whispered to another.
Thor shook himself from such thoughts. No. That wasn't true. That wasn't what Loki was. He wasn't…he wasn't a soulless wretch. Thor had seen something when he'd talked to Loki on the mountain top before he'd unleashed the Chitari. He'd seen the confusion and sorrow and hurt that swirled around in his brother's eyes. There was so much hurt and…and something else…fear. "The council wants you dead, " Thor began again steadying himself and regulating his breathing once more. "They think that you have no remorse…they say there is no hope for you. "But…I…father…Loki if you are repentant, Father will show you mercy," Thor proclaimed with a glimmer of infuriating childish hope.
"Loki," Thor began tentatively, "Loki, are you…" Thor thought and paused. He wasn't good with words like Loki. He wasn't silver tongued and able to weasel and connive truth out of people effortlessly. He was left to ask blunt questions and get blunt answers. "Are you sorry?" he asked as he let out a pent up breath. His thick, hammer-wielding hands patted down Loki's rumpled and tattered tunics tenderly before his right palm shot up and affectionately strayed to clasp Loki around the neck. He let a small but hopeful smile show through his golden beard and mustache. He was so guileless and trusting it nearly made Loki sick. Thor's sky blue eyes held an expectant gaze like a hopeful child. His eyes brimmed with tears. How long had he dreamt of Loki returning? All the mighty warrior of Asgard truly wanted to do was pull Loki into a tight embrace and tell him how sorry he was. How much he loved him and missed him and just wanted him back. How much he'd cried and wept for him when he'd thought he was dead. How finding out he was alive had been the happiest moment of his life. It had been more grand than Father announcing him heir or than the thrill of the coronation day. Even now… even though he was corrupt and violent…even though he wasn't the same...no it hurt him to the core, but he was nothing of the witty young man he had once been. He was a far cry from that person, but for all the evil things that he was now and for all the lovely things that he was not he was still alive... he was still home... and he could be forgiven.
Loki's eyes flickered as they looked back at Thor's. He batted his creamy pupils over his emerald colored eyes, he was almost made speechless by his brother's childlike naiveté. He continued looking at the blonde warrior prince's puppy like expression. He wanted to slap that dopey, trusting smile right off of the fools face! But for all the anger that Thor's love made him feel, it also kindled something. It brought to life something deep down. It was something that lingered in a crevice in the furthest recesses of his heart. It was so familiar, so warm and squishy. It was an ember, a speck, but it longed to burn full and bright again. It once had glowed so. It was a vulnerable tender feeling. He squirmed ever so mildly in place as he felt it arise in him. It reminded him of when he was a small child (at those times in his youth he had idolized Tho) and he and Thor would fight (They weren't much of fight it would just be Thor pushing him or hitting him...him hitting the ground and getting teary eyed), to ease the tension between them he'd ask "Tor mad?" afraid the answer would be yes and Thor would never wish to speak with him again, but Thor would always shake his head give him a hug and say "Nope, Loki I'm not mad," The memory almost made the fallen prince smile. Then the warm feeling twisted. Sentiment. He scolded himself for allowing such a pathetic emotion to resurface. No wonder he had buried it. He was no longer that sniveling little shadow. He was strong, powerful, ruthless. The tides were turning and soon it would be Thor trying to coddle up to him to appease his ire. Thor would find that his temper was much worse when flared though and there's be no fond embraces or gentle hugs to cool him. He'd rather watch him writhe!
Loki's thin cracked lips twisted downward, he dropped his head. He averted his eyes and looked at the ground that was mad of simple dirt, rock and straw. His shoulders slumped as he felt the heay hand still firmly resting on his pale neck awaiting an answer. He sighed in defeat and pointed his toes in. "Yes," the prisoner mumbled softly.
"Loki," Thor beamed. He patted his brother's neck and then raised his narrow chin so that it was elevated and Loki was able to look him in the eye. "Brother….I knew" Thor started to gush, but his overflowing sentiments were cut off quick. Loki reciprocated the affection only by shoving Thor off of him. Loki infused the blow with magic and it sent Thor hurling at the ground.
The golden prince looked up at his younger brother with his mouth gaping. He wasn't sure what exactly had transpired but he felt like a lightning bolt had coursed through all his veins. He watched in horror as Loki took staggering , menacing steps toward him as the chains rattled behind the him. The almost conquering ruler of Asgard loomed over top of Thor. A sickening smiled splayed across his scratched and dirty face. He hated Thor for his simpleminded sentiments and his naïve faith. It reminded him of when they were boys and Thor kept up his foolish belief in Julenissen for far too many solstices. It was pitiful. Just as he had extinguished that fantasy so he would extinguish this one. He'd snuff out Thor's belief in him and therefore he'd snuff out the pesky remnants of their bond which still sought to entangle him. He's snuff these things out just as easily as he snuffed out the fragile lives of several mortals.
He chuckled a cruel chuckle as his tall, sleek for loomed over Thor. The gorgeous blonde was beneath him, practically cowering. It was glorious. "Yes I am sorry," he sneered as he mercilessly enunciated every syllable of the words on his silvertongue. The sinister grin never left his chapped lips. "Sorry that Midgard isn't under my boot," he hissed.
"You can't really mean that, Loki" Thor uttered in disbelief starting to get up. "I know you can't honestly..."
"But I do," the once prison of Asgard replied an unceasing smile still on his face. "I'm sorry that once again," he nearly yelled, "you," He spat," green eyes burrowing in condemningly at Thor. "You have kept me from my moment of triumph!" he growled.
"Moment of triumph?" Thor echoed with horror. He shook his sunlight locks. His body still burned with some electric pulse, but that was nothing compared to the pain caused by the heartlessness of his brother's tone and words. "is that what you call that tirade of mayhem that you performed? A moment of Triumph? He asked still aghast as he managed to clamber back to his feet. "Loki thousands of people would have died had we not stopped you," Thor tried to explain.
"I know," Loki shot right back eyes never blinking. He lowered his dark eyebrows, "I'm sorry that they didn't," he confessed. "Only then would the humans have feared me and seen me for all that I am," his eyes glowed dancing about wildly with giddy madness.
"And what is that?" Thor demanded. "huh?" he asked abruptly. He grabbed Loki by the arms. "What is that that you wish to be seen for?' He questioned harshly. 'Some savage monster?" Thor demanded with a bellow.
Loki started to laugh. The laugh rolled into a crazed cackle. Thor recognized the insane guffaws. His bright blue eyes got wide. He'd heard these manic cackles once a long time ago, in a terrible dream….a nightmare. But it wasn't a nightmare as he had dismissed it as being then. It was vision. A vision given to him in the sacred temple and it was coming to pass. "Isn't that my role?" Loki asked as his frenzied cackling continued. "Isn't that the role you assigned me? Don't you remember, brother?" The green eyed young man asked with a sneer and Loki said the last word as a dig. He turned away from Thor sharply looking at the thin shield that kept him from escaping this lowly prison. 'I'll play the warrior Loki," He said mocking Thor's voice as a youngster, 'You play the dragon. I'll play the guards…you play the thief," he went on. "I'll play Father…you play Laufey," Loki grumbled as he recalled their games as boys.
Thor's eyes were still wide with guilt. It had all been fun and games. At least it had been to him. But is that what their childhood play had turned Loki into? "Loki," Thor said rushing behind the man clad in dirty green garments and taking him forcefully by the forearm and roughly spinning him around. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I treated you that way when we were younger," he blubbered. "I was a boy, I was thoughtless…I didn't mean to…I never meant to hurt you brother or condemn you to that role…that isn't who you are. You're a good person. No matter what role you played in our make believe time as boys…I…I…You were always my... hero," The older brother stated eyes shinning "I always saw you as brave and strong…You were always the champion in my book…I'm sorry I didn't tell you that…I'm sorry brother… …"
"No Thor," Loki ground out through gritted teeth as he listened to Thor blubber with apologies to long over do. Still he was Thor's hero? Thor looked up to him? "You're not sorry," he said cringing from the weight of the future kings words. He turned on Thor sharply his emerald eyes ablaze with a seemingly unquenchable fire, "Not yet," he stated with a snicker as he forced his firey eyes to stare back at Thor. "But you will be," Loki swore his voice simmering. "You'll wish to the high heavens that I wasn't the villain you made me out to be. The humans will fall, their world will be but a bobble to me, the tesseracts power will be mine to harness and then…."
"Loki please!" Thor screamed. "What is wrong with you? Are you truly mad?"
The dark-haired prisoner threw his head back laughed with intensity, he finally composed himself after a minute or so of unbound cackling, "Is it madness to want revenge on those who oppressed you?" he asked seriously.
"Oppressed? Oppressed!" Thor yelled. "Loki you were a prince of Asgard! You had power and riches...love...everything...I..."
"I had a window with a view!" Loki snapped back his lip quivering with a snarl. "A view of all I could have if you weren't in the way," he went on his voice low and husky.
"You're mind is running away with you, Loki" Thor tried to explained as he watching Loki shake with rage.
"A diamond collar is no less a leash," Loki explained his anger cooled and he spoke calmly and precisely once again. " Beware the animal which has been caged, Thor," Loki warned with a smirk.
"This path…it will only lead to destruction," Thor expressed desperately trying to appeal to any shred of reason that was still left in the bound prince's head.
"I know," Loki said it like a breath fresh air. "If you would have allowed me to rule over them as I had intended your precious little Earthlings would suffer less," he stated licking his sliver tongue over his stinging crusty mouth. "No matter now," he shrugged a devilish smirk on his face that was anything but concealed. "They shall face my wrath, when I return," He flashed his blazing green eyes up at Thor. "Because I will return to that pitiful realm and I will rule and have all that I am entitled to." He snarled.
"You are entitled nothing Loki! You are entitled to be hanged to death for what you've done, do you understand that?" Thor roared and raised his hammer as if ready to strike Loki and send him hurling into another realm. He tired so greatly of hearing the evil intentions spew forth from his brother's lips.
Loki saw Thor rally with anger, he loved it. His dark forest eyes gleamed with the thrill. His breath hitch with excitement. He would push Thor. Push him to hate him. He'd push the future king of Asgard to call him his enemy instead of clinging to the dreadful bond of brotherhood. It was a false brotherhood. It was a lie, a sham, a farce of what true family was meant to be. He had been the brunt of this joke to long. He, Loki, trickster-prince by trade had been conned and doped for his whole life. No More. He would push Thor, and force him to see them as mortal enemies and then there would be no trace of guilt, no fleeting sentiment to crawl back in his heart and keep him from inflicting his fury.
"I was so sorry that I didn't get to meet that little Midgardian whore you met during your banishment. But I will find her. I know where she is," Loki admitted small smirk on his chafed lips as he folded his arms with satisfaction as he watched Thor's eyes grow wide.
"No you don't Loki," Thor said back he tried to remain calm. Loki wanted him to react.
"Why would I lie?" Loki asked as he started to chuckle.
"Because you always do,"
"Not that you could ever tell the difference," Loki reminded him. "I am not one for idle threats Thor. I don't threaten…I simply make you a promise," Loki said and licked his lips. "That I will send her warm regards in due time," Loki went on. His smile sickening straight as he articulated his point into Thor's face. " when I have brought you and the rest of Earth's Mightiest Heroes to your knees… I will come to call on her….Maybe I'll keep her as my little pet," He said with a wink.
"Loki stop," Thor rumbled. "Your issues are with me…leave it at that."
"Perhaps I shall have my way with her," Loki started to pace about smirking as he did so "and you Odinson," Loki turned around sharply and his as he saw Thor muscles bulge ready to attack. "and your friends…" Loki laughed. "Will be the honored guests at the little show. I'll have you bound as I am now. Hmm maybe I'll even recycle this little contraption," Loki growled as his chained hands reached up to push at the muzzle.
"Loki enough," Thor said clenching his fist and barring his straight white teeth.
" So that when you see me beat her, when you are chained to the wall and forced to watch a whip dance across her back and hear her cry and scream and beg at my feet then call your name, imploring her hero to come and save her… you'll be able to do nothing! Not even offer a sound of protest as a make her my play thing." The green eyed war criminal spat. "She is attractive, yes?" His eye brows arched as he looked into Thor's eyes. "Oh yes she'd very fair isn't she…then which would hurt more…seeing her in pain or watching her melt at my touch, call my name with lust," he whispered leaning his pointed nose into Thor's face.
"Loki I'm warning you," Thor raised his large finger.
"Then…when I'm bored with her," He straightened up, "because I will become bored with her weak mortal form...I'll dispose of her like the worthless slut she is!"
Without thought, the elder prince found his mammoth bronzed hand wrapped around Loki's pale and slender neck. He crushed the frail prisoner against the wall lifting him in to the air and growling as he did. He pressed thumb into the side of Loki's neck and felt his pulse trembling under the weight of his hands. Thor's shoulders heaved with horror at the things Loki had just uttered. He loved Jane. The time he spent with her changed his life. He had courted many women in Asgard. They had been beautiful women of charm and grace and noble birth. Princesses and queens whose beauty and youth would be eternal. They had been powerful and gifted. They'd lined his door some begging for a simple one night stand, but with Jane it was different. Maybe it was her mortality. She was a quick fading flower, but yet she was firey and passionate. Perhaps it was her intelligence, she was so very clever. She reminded him a lot of Loki. She was delicate and vulnerable. He knew the words spoken weren't just idle threats, Loki would do something horrible to Jane if he'd be given the chance and although he loved Loki, he couldn't just let him hurt the woman who had captured his heart.
It wasn't until he heard Loki's distorted, raspy cackle that he realized he was choking his brother. Loki's laughter was manic and high pitched as if a child squealing at some game. Thor narrowed his eyes looking furiously into Loki's gleaming green pupils. "Do it!" Loki taunted as Thor's hand remained tight around his throat. His feet dangled in the air as he declared the terrible thing, but Loki did not struggle in the least. "Go on," his silver tongued voice prompted the blonde warrior prince. "Save your precious Midgardian harlot from her gruesome fate at my hand." The dark-haired prince ranted. Thor shuck his head defiantly at Loki's twisted suggestions. His grip instinctively loosening around his little brother's neck. Loki panted gratefully as his breathing eased. "What's this?" Loki questioned his left eyebrow raised in confusion. "Will the Mighty Thor not rise valiantly rescue fair damsel and slay the villainous dragon?" Loki mocked as he annunciated every syllable with cruelty. His emerald eyes never left their piercing glare into Thor's. They were mean and provoking, Thor's gaze faltered he looked down. The way Loki was now sent a shiver down his spine. "No?" Loki whispered back quite amused. "Then when you cradle her lifeless body remember that bleeding heart of your toward your pitiable brother," He sneered.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"Thor gritted his teeth, looked back up in the maniacs eyes and jolted him so that his head once again collided with the wall. "Is this what you want to stay locked away in this cell forever?" the blonde prince roughly asked. "Answer me!" he demanded. "Do you want to never see the light of day?"
"For the rest of my days?" Loki scoffed though his breathing began a shallow cough. "Do you honestly think any pitiful prison could confine me forever? Even you must know more than that. I will escape...and I will bring Ragnorok to your door.'
"PERHAPS ALL ARE RIGHT ABOUT YOU...PERHAPS YOU DESERVE TO DIE!" Thor raged.
"Ahhh, so now we finally have it..." LOki's smile broadened sinisterly, "You admit you want me dead,"
"What?' Thor asked his head reeled and he took a step back allowing Loki's feet to touch the ground once again. "No! No...no Loki...I…I…love you Loki, please…please... I want you alive...I want you well and sane...I want my brother...my little brother...my best friend, my companion, my support...I missed him...I...come back... just come back to us..." Thor choked out anger fading and pure desperate emotion surfacing. The tears bubbled in his eyes and then they spilt hot and fresh down his face. He pressed his forehead down on Loki's slender shoulder and blubbered there. Loki looked down his then mouth twitching with repulsion at the tenderness and the overwhelming feeling of affection that tried to creep its way back inside him. He was reminded of a time so so long ago...he had been hurt trying to help Thor chase down a Bilgeschnipe when they were but youths. He'd been unconscious for a few days after the battle, when he woke up the first face he saw was Thor's. He remembered his older brother being so over come with elation and guilt that he started crying like a baby, muttering about how sorry he was. He remembered his own hand, small in comparison to Thor's muscular body at the young age, gently rubbing Thor's back to calm and comfort him assuring him that everything was alright. He clenched his cuffed hand down by his side to keep it from having the practiced reaction. "please don't have me go through your death again," Thor begged as he gasped trying to gather
"Don't worry Thor," Loki said in a low voice a slight smile on his lips. "I will survive, because I will not lose to you anymore. I will get out of this filthy cell and when I do…dear Thor…you will wish I was dead," Loki swore.
Thor could take his brother's malice filled taunts no longer. He slapped him hard across the face sending him spiraling back into the slick mold infested wall. Loki gasped as his spine collided with the hard surface, his back arched as he slid down into the muddy ground below. The eldest young man's shoulders heaved he was still furious from the horrible things Loki had said.
Loki looked up at Thor from his humbled position. The left side of his face was slick with mud and entangled in the chains like some wild horse that had been roped to be dragged back and be domesticated. It was almost pitiful. Thor clenched his fist closed. Guilt crept up as he watched the slow trail of scarlet liquid trickle from Loki's nostril. He saw his little brother sniffle and tear up after they'd had a fight and he wanted nothing more than to go and say he was sorry that he was wrong. He was his big brother and he should protect him, but when he took a second look he didn't see innocent emerald eyes looking up at him trembling on the verge of leaking, he saw gleaming eyes of with a venomous glare. There was a ruthless look in his eyes like a starved dragon.
Ingvar Shelkson and a few other guards of the prison rushed to where they had heard the brawl. They looked in pass the magic shield and saw mighty prince Thor looming over Loki. They saw Loki, that cowardly traitor, struggle to even get on his knees the chains around his wrist and ankles were so tight and burdensome. He floundered like a new born colt. Thor nodded to the security and they let down the force-field so that they could enter. They roughly yanked their former prince up. Two grabbed him by his trembling shoulders and the warden came behind them and yanked Loki's matted ebony hair forcing him to hold his head up. Loki hissed and wriggled, but he was only met by the massive boot of the head jail keeper on his spine holding him in place. Ingvar and the other officers of the dungeon were practically giddy perhaps Prince Thor would bid them to have their way with the merciless monster before he had his court date. Loki shook his head, but Ingvar held it fast like one holds the head of serpent. Blood spilled down Loki's keen face. He gasped and panted as it threatened to pool inside his mouth. Thor approached tentatively he crouched down beside Loki. He cupped Loki's dirty cheeks in his calloused but ginger hands. Thor went on slowly looking into Loki's eyes. "You bleed… therefore you are not truly heartless," Thor explained rubbing his thumb over Loki's cheek and under Loki's nose to catch the crimson liquid.
Loki raged. "YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE THE SAME NAÏVE FOOL YOU HAVE BEEN SINCE CHILDHOOD! BUT THIS TIME I WON'T BE THERE TO SAVE YOU FROM YOUR INCOMPREHENSIBLE STPUIDITY." Loki hollered at the tips of his raspy lungs as he twisted and struggled to pull away from the hands of the guards. Red hot tears pooled in his eyes and he fought to hold them in place. " I WILL HAVE EVERYTHING THAT I WANT! DO U HEAR, BROTHER!" he taunted "MIDGARD…ASGARD! AND YOU MIGHTY THOR…YOU …YOU… WILL RUE THE DAY..." Loki was unable to finish the sentence instantly the terrible muzzle was wrapped around his lips. Forcing him to breath through his nose that was congested with blood. He thrashed and bucked and the guards subdued him.
Then suddenly Loki felt something cold and sharp slip through his tattered garments and press into his skin near the shoulder. Loki felt his whole body become like a rag doll, where he could control none of his muscles. Even his eyes started rolling about against his will. His head slumped forward, the warden no longer needed to hold him. He dropped him by the hair and the once regal prince dropped face first into the mud.
Loki was conscious though barely so. He felt Thor's large, strong hands tenderly lift him by the shoulders pulling him from the muddy ground. Loki's eyes reopened, but they continued to roll aimlessly about in his head. He was grateful for the muzzle at that moment only because it kept his brother and guards from seeing how he'd lost control of his silver tongue and even it dangled from the side of his mouth like some panting dog. Quickly, Thor picked up the rest of Loki's limp body and carried it gingerly over to the slate. The care was infuriating and Loki wished he had his own body under his control on to punch Thor in the face, but slowly he was becoming less and less lucid. The chemical continued taking its effect and soon Loki found himself succumbing to sedative. His rolling eye fluttered shut as he felt Thor's massive hands stroke his brow and wipe the mud-caked hair back away from his face. Gently he swiped the rich fabric of his cape across Loki's face removing some of the grime.
Loki was drowsy and helplessly so with the serum moving through his system. His own body would not obey the signals that his brain sent giving his mind little other choice than to become lethargic and crave sleep. He had not slept sense he'd been taken back to Asgard and he was unaware of how many days that had been. A few days? A week? Less than one full moon cycle. Random thoughts flittered to his mind as sleep engulfed him. His sleep gave way to a dream.
He was in a dark room and a man…no an animal…a monster had him strapped to a table and he'd been tortured for a long while by then. His torment had stopped momentarily and he caught glimpse of someone, beautiful and tall, and muscular and heroic, blonde hair blowing, armor gleaming. He got excited. "Brother!" He called as the bars flew from the cell and Thor appeared triumphant and splendid. "Thor! Thor! I'm here!" he yelled desperate to get his brother's attention. He was bound hand and foot to the table and his body was weak but he strained calling for help. The cells bars flew off the hinges as Mjolnir swung and destroyed all in its path. Thor entered the dank chamber. He crossed to the table where Loki lied bloodied and beaten, emaciated looking. He took Loki by his thin chin and nudged it up. Loki's eyes were already drooping but he rallied himself as he felt the touch of the calloused hands on his face. "Brother, you came for me! You came!" he panted like an ecstatic child. Thor continued to stare at his pitiable state. He was chained around the neck, blood oozing from his wrist and down the side of his face. And Loki had one eye swollen and black. "B-b-brother help me quick before he comes back," he pleaded desperately. His eyes darted around nervously. "It's been so long…so much pain…I thought…you…weren't going to come," he breathed his eyes watering.
"You are just as he," Thor replied shaking his head. "A monster," Thor dropped Loki's chin and his weak neck was unable to support his head and it flopped on the cold metallic surface. Loki groaned and winced from the pain. His eyes shut for s second as he tried to regulate his breathing. When they opened he saw Thor's red cape flutter out the door.
"Huh? No, Thor please" Loki called in a small voice as he saw Thor turn on his heels to go. "Thor! PLEASE! I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…brother…I'm sorry…" he whimpered in his sleep. "I can be good...I...brother I can...Icanicanican," he panted desperately,"THOR!" he hollered only to note Thor was no longer there, "Don't leave me! I'm frightened," he pleaded audibly to no one.
A/N Well Siibi, hope this was worth the wait. To all others, what do you think? Want to see more visitors for Loki?