"Why are you here, brother?"
"Our father…"
"Your father."
"….Our father thought it best not to put any others at risk with this duty."
"He thought to sway me with my supposed affection for you."
"Supposed?"
Loki smiled as he chewed and swallowed. Thor offered him another mouthful, eyeing the chains that held his hands — weapons even empty for a master magician — motionless against the wall.
"Why, Loki?"
"You would not understand."
"You could at least try to explain it to me."
The clear eyes looked upwards and his head shook, minutely. "You will hear everything at the trial."
"Are you still determined not to speak with an advocate?"
A hint of a smile then. "Who better to speak for myself than myself?" he said. The final mouthful was consumed and Thor reached down. Loki's eyebrow twitched.
"You still believe that is necessary."
Thor's strong fingers hesitated, and turned the gag over once… twice… Loki's tongue darted out and touched his lips, watching those fingers move.
"I am not the fool you think I am, Loki."
There was a brief silence, then Loki grinned. "That remains to be seen."
Thor's face was troubled as he fastened the gag back in place. Loki's eyes never left his brother's face. He could feel them on his back as he turned from the cell.
"Be certain the locks are secure," he said to the guards outside.
"Yes sir!"
He glanced back once, through the bars, to see his brother was still watching him, unblinking, motionless and unreadable