The infernal chatter seemed to be endless. Tales of boring female oddities, an infernal ruckus that he had no care for. Definitely not one he wanted. No, what he wanted was for the mortal brunette to shut her mouth. He didn't move, but his green eyes flicked down to the brunette where she chatted with his brother and lover.

It was She, not he—Loki—who in that moment deserved the Silencing Thread to be sewn through her lips.

Ye Gods, what was this damned Ipod she spoke of continuously?

Loki's lips would have twisted in a menacing snarl if not for his sewn lips. Menacing, perhaps, but not completely threatening. Well, hearing her constant chatter, perhaps threatening. He'd never heard a female utter so much in a single breath.

What was her name? He couldn't remember.

Was it really fair that he was sentenced to this punishment when he'd willingly given himself over to the Odin-Father? He would have snickered if possible. He had realized the wrong of his ways. Perhaps he shouldn't have taken the lives that he had. Perhaps he shouldn't have tried to destroy an entire race while trying to enslave another. So many "perhaps" and "what ifs" that couldn't be done over.

All he could do was repent.

He would never be fully trusted again, he knew that. He expected that. Trust was something gained. But he would never be the same soft Asgardian that he had been before. He still held a grudge for Thor, though not in a death wish as before.

So he'd offered himself up to their Father in Punishment for his crimes. Everyday for a year he would stand on this pedestal, facing the Gardens, his lips sewn shut and his hands clasped behind his back. Everyday for a year and freed one hour before nightfall and the night was his.

A fitting Punishment, the Odin-Father had said. No one would fully understand the Odin-Father's methods.

He could understand why Thor would bring his mortal to Asgard, but why the chattering imbecile?

His eyes narrowed when—ah, yes, Darcy—turned those wayward eyes his way. His hands clenched behind his back. Do not. He thought to himself mentally. Hearing her mundane chatter from across the small distance was enough. He couldn't even summon up the magic to do a weak mirage of himself, or a single spell to shut that pretty trap of hers.

He looked up and over the approaching Midgardian, hoping against all hopes that she would walk past him or turn around. He closed his eyes and his senses to everything around him. If anything, he could ignore the chattering Darcy.

"Geez, if we had punishments like that, the crime rate would be a lot less, I bet."

His eyes snapped open, narrowed, staring down at the Midgard female staring up at him.

"So you're the God that nearly took out New York City. Huh." She had to hand it to Thor. He and his mischievous brother looked nothing alike. Well, duh, she thought. Loki was 'adopted'. The people here in this weird but amazing place sure forgave easily. She was surprised that they'd even let Loki live after what he'd done.

Maybe he'd proven he wasn't himself or something.

"That's gotta hurt, dude."

He wasn't familiar with the term 'dude'. Was she insulting him? He felt a moments pride that he had almost indeed wiped out this New York City.

"So you just, uh, stand there with your lips sewn shut all day?" Oh, man! She had a song that was so befitting of his situation!

But her damn Ipod did not work here. How messed up was that? Asgard had something against her and her music or something? She knew Jane was having a ball. This was all impossible scientific stuff to Jane. She just happened to have been invited along and HELL YEA, a trip to another world, Darcy was so up for it. After meeting a few God's and things like that, why not throw in an out of this world experience?

"If my Ipod was working, I so have a song that you'd probably like. All dark and crap. Jane said it had something to do with the atmosphere and going through the Bi-Frost. Hellooo, she could have mentioned this before I agreed to go?"

Loki peered over her head. Why weren't Thor and his beloved mortal dragging Darcy off to some statue? And why was she talking to him? From her non-stop chatter to her strange clothing, already he knew he didn't like her.

"Oh, yea, kinda stupid of me to like, ask you a question. Not like you can answer. Oh...oops, don't take offense to that because I'm totally not trying to offend you or anything." She tugged her scarf to the side. Loki, the God of Mischief, standing so regal before her. "I don't see how you could just like, stand there and let them do that to you...gotta be painful."

He almost chortled. If he'd had to stand there while they actually pushed the needle through, he wasn't so sure he would have been up for the punishment. No, the thread was weaved through by magic and quickly. It hurt, but not for overly long.

"Did it hurt?"

Really, was the chit dense? Of course it hurt.

"Can you even hear me, or is that part of the punishment?" Darcy couldn't help herself. This was just so unreal! Not to mention she couldn't stand to be around Thor and Jane much longer. All the lovey dovey crap was way out of her league.

Loki rolled his eyes, staring ahead and didn't even acknowledge her. If only the punishment were so just!

"Ah! You can hear me!" She'd so caught the eye movement.

Loki ignored her, waiting patiently for that certain hour when he would be free. Yes, he could hear her. Unfortunately.

"When I asked Jane if Thor had a brother, I so didn't mean a psychotic one that liked to take over other worlds, though it's good to know you're over that now." Too bad Thor didn't have another brother. Darcy would have so loved to get her hands on some Thor likeness.

"You're the only other person out here, you know?" She pointed over her shoulder at Thor and Jane. "He's over there spouting poetry and doing his He-Man thing and she's over there falling for it..." Darcy trailed off when Loki's arms moved suddenly, his hands coming to rest at his sides. The black thread at his lips pulled tight over his lips and she saw a visible grimace before it literally vanished, leaving his lips unmarred.

"So cool—"

Loki's hand covered her mouth. "Cease your endless chatter, woman." He muttered before jumping down from the pedestal and disappearing.