Chapter 1
The shackles hung from his wrists the muzzle gripped his face. His brother coxed him to keep walking as they made their way up the rainbow bridge. It seemed like a walk that took forever. In Loki's mind he knew no one would believe him, no one would see what he had gone through the past year. Loki had the nick name of silvertongue, but since he had been caught in New York. He had only spoken 7 words -I Think I'll have that drink now-.
Thor thought something was off with his brother. He had never seen him so quiet in all his life. While they walked into the throne room Thor couldn't help but think that he had wronged Loki somehow. Even after everything that he had done to him, he felt that he owed his brother more than this. Four guards walked behind Thor and Loki as they got closer to the Throne. Odin stood up glaring down at Loki with a sneer in his lip. Thor couldn't help but look just as ashamed as Loki as they approached Odin. Stopping short of the steps Thor bowed his head to Odin.
"Father" Thor said with a shaky voice.
Odin glanced at Thor who was still holding Loki's arm watching the guard's space themselves around the brothers. Odin stayed quiet for a few more moments, trying to choose his words wisely.
"Remove the bindings" Odin demanded.
Thor stepped away from his brother as the guards removed the shackles and muzzle from him. Loki rubbed his wrists and sighed softly. Keeping his eyes low he waited for Odin to speak again.
"Loki, you've brought shame upon our house and realm. You've taken innocent lives and declared war on a world in the name of a warlord. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Loki stood there, as if he was frozen in time not even sure what to say or how he should respond. Anything he said would be met with anger. He knew if he said nothing Odin would get even more upset. He looked up with a blank expression.
"I won't make any excuses for what I've done, but in my defense I was not myself. My mind was under the control of General Thanos. I…. " Loki was cut off by Odin
"I will not listen to these lies, Loki. Take him to the prison cell."
Loki was stunned as the guards grabbed his arms taking him to the prison. He didn't even try to fight them, there was no reason to. Thor was almost too shocked to speak.
"Father, why won't you listen to him?" Thor moved closer to Odin trying to get him to look at him.
"I will not listen to his lies and silvertongue stories. You should know your brother. He makes things up to get himself out of trouble. He's most likely told you this story many times since his capture."
"Loki, has not spoken but a few words since his capture. Father, we could do well to listen to him."
Odin sighed and turned away from his son. He was too aggravated and upset to listen to Loki. He knew Thor still loved his brother, just knowing that would make it much harder to sentence Loki to any punishment. Odin always tried to choose his words carefully. Turning back to Thor he nodded with a sadness that seemed to wash over his face.
"I'll take that into consideration, my son. For now, I need to think of how to approach this. Loki can be…. Tricky. After what he did here on Asgard, one can never be too careful."
Thor nodded his head, not ready to give up on Loki but not willing to argue with his father. Walking off to his chambers he couldn't think of anything but his brother. He knew the prison was not a friendly place to be for much longer then a moment. Thor entered his chambers to a surprise from Sif and the warriors three. Seeing a small banquet in front of him of cakes and pies. It put a smile on his face and soon helped him forget about Loki pain.
"My friends, how I have missed you." Thor embraced his friends one by one.
"You think we would allow you to come back without us knowing?" Sif pointed out with a question
"Yes, no sneaking on to Asgard. Any reason to hold a party with sweets like these."
Volstagg couldn't contain himself as he dug into one of the cakes.
"I hope that cake was meant for him." Thor said with a smile.
They all laugh and started to eat. Trying to enjoy the time they have together.
The guards pushed Loki into the cell locking the door behind him. It wasn't pretty or clean, this cell was dark and dirty. The walls were damp from the water running next to it, the glass around the cell had mold growing around the edges. With one small stone slab for Loki to sleep on he knew he was truly in hell. Standing in the middle of the cell he looked around and sighed.
"This is what I've been lowered down to. The most royal filth of Asgard."
He looked over at the small stack of books from the last prisoner that resided in the cell. Picking on of the books up he looked at the spine to see the name. With a smirk he tossed it back in the pile.
"Great a hopeful shmuck was last here. My joy will come from counting the days to my execution."
Loki lazily slumped down on the stone slab. Exchanging one cell for another he rubbed his face trying to rid himself of any emotions he once had for his so called family. At that moment he heard someone enter the prison. Looking around the corner he saw Odin walk up with two guards on his heels. Loki backed away from the glass keeping his eyes low. Watching as Odin entered the cell leaving the guards outside, Loki stepped back even more.
"Loki, I will give you one chance to tell me what happened without judgment or interruptions from myself or anyone else. Please tell me."
Loki thought about it for a moment and nodded to Odin. Taking a seat against the wall, he knew this was going to be a long story. Where was he going to start? When he feel from Asgard? Or when he arrived on Midgard? Finally Loki spoke.
"When I feel from Asgard, The bifrost took me to a world I had never seen before. I saw vast armies …. I was too cocky and stuck up. Thinking my powers would protect me. They captured me before I could find a way off their world. Their leader General Thanos has the power to control minds. After he took control of mine, I was at his mercy. I could see what I was doing but had no control over it. I and everyone on Midgard was lucky he didn't know of my true powers. The outcome would have been much worse."
Loki sighed softly not sure if Odin even believed him. At this point it didn't matter he was in prison awaiting his execution. What more could Odin possibly do to him. After what seemed like hours of waiting for a response from Odin. Loki finally looked up at him to see his face the almost quizzical expression he was giving Loki made him wonder what he was thinking. Odin lifted his chin and smiled at Loki.
"I will take one day to think all this over. Tomorrow I will come back and give you my decision on your sentence."
Odin turned to leave as Loki jumped to his feet.
"Wait, I thought I was to be executed for my actions."
Odin turned his head slightly just too barely see over his shoulder.
"I would never execute my son, Loki"
Odin walked out of the cell glancing back at Loki with a tear forming in his eye. Once the door shut to his cell Odin walked out of the prison back to the palace.
Making his way to his chambers Odin had much to think about that night. Frigga wanted to comfort her husband in this time of hard choices, but Odin wanted none of it.
"I am the All Father, they all look up to me to make the hard choices no one else can. I cannot show weakness just because he is our son."
Frigga tried to stand tall at the demanding sound of her husband's voice. It was hard for her to hear those words, knowing her son Loki was at the other end of his thoughts.
"My loving husband, the people of Asgard know you are a great leader. And to show your own son mercy is not weakness, my love. It shows the purity of your leadership. No matter the choice you make we will all respect it."
Frigga kindly gave her husband a kiss and walked over to the bed. Odin watched the sunset over Asgard, knowing his decision had to be made by the next day.
The next morning the royal family ate in silence. Odin was still pondering the punishment of Loki, while taking a bite of a melon. A guard had brought in the overnight report of the goings on in Asgard while he slept. Finally Thor couldn't handle the silence he had to speak up for his brother.
"Did you talk to him? Did you listen to him at all, father?"
Odin didn't even glance up from the report as he moved another piece of melon to his lips. Thor waited for a response, he knew his father was never fast to react and he had gotten worse over the years.
"I did."
Was all Thor heard, Friggas sat across from Thor shaking her head in worry trying to get him not to push his father. Thor wanted more from him, not just two words.
"Well? What did he tell you?"
Odin still kept his eyes on the report as he spook in a more demanding tone then just the moment before.
"Thor! I have yet to have my morning coffee and you demand to know what Loki said? Why don't you go down there and ask him?"
Frigga jumped at Odin's harsh tone towards their son. Thor lowered his eyes, he knew he shouldn't have been persistent about it but he just wanted to know what was going to happen to his brother.
"I'm sorry father. I'm just concerned for Loki."
The coffee came to the table as Odin smiled with excitement taking the cup in his hands sipping gleefully.
"Ahhh yes, the best thing to come from Midgard. … Now back to the business at hand. Loki did tell me what happened. I'm inclined to believe him as I have never heard or seen him make up a story of this nature. His punishment for his actions on Asgard however will be …. …. Equal."
Odin sipped his coffee again with a childlike smile on his face. Thor was surprised that Odin believed him but he didn't know what Loki had told him either. Thor was still confused to what the punishment would be.
"Father, equal to what?"
Odin set down the coffee cup that was now empty and stood up to walk away. Leaving Frigga and Thor to wonder.
"You'll see."
Thor looked over to his mother with his jaw dropped in shock from the behavior of his father.
"I don't understand it's like he doesn't want to tell us anything."
Frigga stood up to walk over to her son to rub his shoulder softly.
"Thor, do not take it personally. He is ashamed of what Loki has done and doesn't want to punish him at all. He feels as if everything that happened to Loki is his fault."
Thor lowered his head again thinking of what Odin told him after they thought they lost Loki last year. Telling him how Loki reacted when he told him of his Jotun heritage and giving him the truth. Thor knew he could do nothing to sway his father from any decision he made for Loki's punishment.
"Why must father do this? He gave me another chance, why not Loki?"
Frigga rubbed Thor's shoulder trying to comfort him, thinking of the right words to give him.
"Thor, this might not be easy to hear… but… your father.. he needs therapy."
Thor quickly looked up at Frigga with a shocked look.
Loki had just finished his breakfast of toast and water. He pushed the empty plate away, still hungry for more but not willing to complain for anything else. He rolled over on his side to only hear a moment later the prison door opening. But it was only morning; Odin couldn't have made his decision yet. Loki could only think the worst as the footsteps moved closers to his cell. Loki doesn't move as the sound of the steps stop.
"Loki!"
The voice startled him as he sat up. It was Thor! He was the last person Loki thought to come to his cell. Loki didn't say anything to his brother. Not even sure if he was allowed to be in the prison.
"Loki, I want to know what you told father last night."
Loki got to his feet and turned away walking over to the slab he had to sleep on. He turned to sit with almost a proud posture still not talking.
"Why won't you say anything to me?"
Thor barked out in anger. He was upset that Loki wouldn't talk to him, his own brother claiming up for no reason. Loki knew it was upsetting Thor, but for everything he did to him he knew words couldn't express anything. Thor had finally had enough of Loki's silence.
"Fine, you will not talk to me. Then I cannot help you. The guards will be here shortly to bring you to the hall for your punishment."
Loki's eyes flew open. He thought the punishment was going to be in the cell not public. Thor started to walk away as Loki's mind and heart started to race. He jumped up moving quickly to the glass.
"Thor, Wait!"
He stopped in his tracks and turned back to Loki. His eyes softened as he looked as his brother behind the glass. He couldn't forget this was a man that had killed many people and tried to kill him twice. Thor stood there waiting for Loki to talk.
"I wanted to prove to father I was just as good."
Loki put his back to the glass resting on it. Thor thought for a moment not understanding what Loki meant.
"Just as good? As what?"
"As you Thor, I never got that chance. When you got in trouble I was to blame for not watching out for you. If I watched out for you, you got me in trouble. Only when we got older did father see that you were just as much of a trouble maker as I was. "
Loki smirked thinking back on their childhood.
"Loki, we were children. Brothers even… I think we were meant to get each other in trouble. I am sorry you feel like that. I may have been too proud of a child to notice your pain. That was my own fault for not opening my eyes to others feelings."
Loki laughed out as he glanced at Thor who had now turned to look at him.
"Thor you were never a touchy feely type of child. It made me resentful for many things in our past. What I did to you here on Asgard was uncalled for. All the pain had built up inside me. At that moment I just wanted you gone, I wanted father to myself for once."
"What about the people of Midgard?"
"That wasn't me. I was being controlled by Thanos. I would have never done those things to a race I didn't know. You know me better than that Thor. "
Thor nodded; he did know Loki better than that. He knew he would never try to kill someone that had nothing to do with his life.
"I must leave now, but I will see you again. I am sorry brother."
Thor turned, leaving Loki there in his cell. It hurt him seeing him like that. He hopped the punishment Odin had was not something that would harm Loki too much. He would find out later that afternoon.