AN: this is the sequel to my story "Running in Parallels". You might want to read that fic before this one, but you don't have to. This story picks up where RiP left off if you have any questions please PM me or leave it in the Reviews Section.

I hope this one will be just as good, (if not better) as RiP

This is my own plot since I have never read Thor or Loki comics and I (obviously) haven't seen Thor 2 yet. So this is my imagining of what happens after the end of Avengers.

Thank you for reading!

Chapter 1

Punishment

Loki

All of Asgard was rippling with tension. In every home and on every corner, Aesir were stopping to hear the latest gossip; Prince Loki had returned. Crowds of men and women lined the streets, craning their necks and lifting their children atop their shoulders to see the royal procession.

Thor led a cuffed and gagged Loki to the castle, where the Allfather awaited, looking menacing with a stony faced Frigga by his side. Thor and his brother were escorted by warriors armed with an assortment of dangerous weapons; pointed threateningly at Loki's chest, should he try to make a move.

Thor's face was lacking in the usual beaming smile and his eyes were sad. All the same, he did appear to be in good health. The same could not be said of his brother. Loki's emerald eyes gleamed with malice over the steel mask that served the purpose of yielding his Silvertongue. His pale face was blossoming with purple bruises and his body was beaten and battered. All the same, the young prince did not give in to any signs of weakness. His face was an emotionless mask and his upright stride was proud and demanding.

Even when he came into earshot of the horrible things his citizens muttered about him, he did not waver. Instead, his smoldering eyes stared forward, boring into the face of the Allfather.

At last, the procession came to a halt at the marble steps to the palace doors. Thor and the rest of the warriors dropped on one knee in a respectful bow before Odin. Only Loki remained defiantly upright, refusing to acknowledge the man who had for so long pretended to be his father.

"Brother," Thor whispered, pleadingly as he tugged the hem of Loki's tunic, attempting to drag him down. The Aesir watched the scene before them with bated breath. Never before had anyone dared to defy the Allfather in such an outright manner.

Slowly, Odin nodded in approval to the bowing warriors and his gallant son. They got to their feet.

"Allfather, we present you with the traitor, Prince Loki." One of the warriors said, speaking clearly with proud, ringing tone. At those words, the warriors humbly bowed once more before stepping back and retreating into the crowd.

No one had noticed the look of pain that flickered across Thor's face when he'd heard the word 'traitor', or if they had, no one called any attention to the fact.

"Bring him in, my son." Odin ordered Thor.

"As you wish, Allfather." Thor replied, stepping forward with Loki at his side.

Slaves opened the heavy marble doors to the palace. Odin and Frigga entered first, followed by a range of attendants, advisors and judges. Last of all came Thor and Loki. The doors closed behind them, signaling to the Aesir that the show was over.

O o o

Once out of sight of the masses, Loki's countenance of strength dissipated, if only for a brief moment. The change did not go unnoticed by Thor, the ever-watchful guardian. He laid a large, calloused hand over his brother's slumping shoulders in a comforting pat. Loki tensed at the touch and quickly he resumed the cold, heartless aura. Thor sighed sorrowfully, withdrawing his hand.

Loki discreetly took in his surroundings. The gold tiled halls, arching doorways and marble walls brought with them a rush of nostalgia that not even the God of Lies could shake off.

He remembered the days he'd spent inside the palace walls as a young boy, playing games with his older brother as they raced through the halls with their friends. He remembered what a comfort the vast library had offered to him, when he'd grown older and his brother had forsaken him for warrior training. Back then; the only friends Loki had known were the immense volumes of dusty books. Those same books had taught him many wonderful things: magic and tricks and stories of epic battles from ages ago. Now, under entirely different circumstances, Loki longed to loose himself once more in the comfort of those books.

He was snapped into the present by Odin's voice; ringing sharp and clear through the Justice Hall, where they all stood. "Bring the offender forward," he was saying.

Thor gripped Loki's shoulders tightly as he gently urged him to the center of the room, were a straight-backed wooden chair waited for him. Loki shook his brother off and proceeded to the chair by his own accord.

As soon as he sat, enchanted chains snaked around his body like writhing snakes; holding him in place. Loki knew the exact spell to free himself, had he access to his power, but the cold metal cuffs around his slim wrists had efficiently cut him off from the source. He scowled instead around the room, taking in the faces of those who'd come to watch his trial.

His gaze lingered on the faces he knew best; Thor, Frigga, Odin; the people who'd he once believed to be his family.

"I invite you all to take a seat," Odin said, gesturing to the rows of comfortable chairs that were spread out in front of Loki, so he'd be forced to look at them, and they at him.

Odin himself strode silently to the podium that Loki could not see, but knew it was to his back.

"We shall begin," Odin said. He cleared his throat. "Today we have gathered to discuss the fate of my son, Prince Loki the traitor."

At the words, 'my son' Loki's face grew red with suppressed rage. Had he been able to speak, he would have interrupted the Allfather right then and there. He had to content himself with imagining the most painful ways he would make the man suffer.

"Charged with breaching the barriers of our alliance with the Jotuns, murder and attempted murder, disloyalty to family and to Asgard and the attempted take-over of Midgard," Odin began. "he has been brought in for the trial determining his proper punishment. Have you any suggestions, I invite you to speak now."

The silence in the room was deafening. At last, one of the royal advisors, a gaunt, severe man by the name of Salntur got to his feet.

"My lord," he bowed. "It only seems fitting that the weight of Prince Loki's crimes are used against him. If I may be so bold; he deserves none other than the same. I propose a public execution by means of drawing and quartering,," Salntur bowed once again before resuming his seat.

At his words, there was an audible gasp. Loki saw the look of shock on Thor and Frigga's faces. Others in the room seemed equally as appalled. Some were nodding their heads in agreement. What Loki would have done to see Odin's reaction!

Thor cleared his throat and got to his feet. "Father," he dipped his head in a respectful manner. "I repeal that," his voice was calm but forceful. Loki took note of a pulsing vein on his forehead.

He was disgusted by the emotion that shone in his 'brother's' eyes. When would the guy learn that Loki cared not for him? He tried so hard to earn what was not there, much to Loki's distaste.

Those present stirred with tension as the watched Thor speak. "I propose that my brother be given a chance to prove himself."

"Most humbly," Salntur had risen to his feet once more. "It is my belief that the prince has already proven himself. As a traitor."

"MY BROTHER IS NO TRAITOR!" Thor boomed, his biceps tensed. He looked absolutely formidable.

"SILENCE!" roared Odin, pounding his fist on the podium. Thor obeyed, but the fire in his eyes had not died out. "You will remember that this is an official hearing, all present are respectful men and women, and you shall conduct yourself as such," Odin commanded. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Allfather." Thor mumbled, glowering at Salntur.

"Very well. Salntur, you may take your seat," Odin said. The man obliged hastily. "Now, Thor. How do you propose we to carry out your idea?"

Thor tipped his head politely, trying to regain control of his emotions.

"I suggest that Prince Loki remain at my side," Thor intoned.

Loki rolled his eyes. "I'd rather choose Salntur's punishment," he thought, with an internal groan.

"Excuse me, sir," Salntur spoke up. Odin nodded his approval for the man to speak. He got to his feet. "Who's to say that the prince will not attempt the same?"

This time it was Frigga who spoke up. Everyone looked to her in surprise. The queen was not much one for participating in such matters. When she spoke, her voice was steady but pained.

"We shall strip my son of his powers and bind him to the will of his brother. I will not have my youngest killed before all of Asgard."

Towards the end of her words, Frigga's voice had risen several octaves, wavering with suppressed tears.

Thor put a comforting hand to his mother's back as he helped her sit down.

"My lord, what about the Silvertongue?" Salntur persisted, grappling at his last straws.

"My brother cannot manipulate a flea when he is gagged," Thor said, gesturing to the metal device that held Loki's mouth closed.

Several of the Aesir twittered in agreement. Salntur and his followers scowled; it was clear that many in the room wished to see Loki's body be publicly mutilated. Loki thought he'd like to see their poor souls moaning in Hel for all eternity.

Odin cleared his throat.

"We seem to be in favor of either one of these two options. If any other has a third suggestion, I invite you to come forth and speak now," Odin surveyed the room. No one moved. "Very well. We shall take a vote."

Thor caught Loki's eye. 'It will be okay,' he mouthed. Loki scowled and looked away. He didn't care much for either punishment. In fact, he found the whole ordeal to be beneath him entirely.

"All in favor or Salntur's punishment," Odin boomed.

Loki didn't look to see who voted for his death. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The darkness behind his eyelids provided the perfect chance for Loki to think about the only thing he actually cared about: a pretty young mortal girl. Gemma (who preferred the name 'Gem').

He thought back to the last time he'd seen her. It felt like such a long time ago, though in reality it was really only the day before yesterday. She'd come to him where he lay in his prison cell, cuffed with the magic limitations and beaten into submission.

The anger and pain in her voice physically hurt him. When he closed his eyes, he could still see the shock of his betrayal etched on her face. But then, Gemma seemed to have forgotten everything. The memory brought a smile to his lips, remembering when they had been covered with her own.

His relationship with Gemma was a complicated one. She was a soldier of SHEILD, a telepathic Mind Waif and his unwilling ally. He had tricked her into leaving SHEILD to help him fight war and bring peace to the world. He had hurt her deeply in ways he could not begin to understand. But for some reason, she'd grown on him until she was almost a part of him, someone he couldn't shake off. And the truth was, he didn't want to. One thing that Loki knew was that he would be forever in Gemma's debt because he owed her eternal gratitude for showing him another way of life… And he also really wanted to hold her in his arms once more…

"So it is," Odin boomed, jolting Loki into awareness. His sentence had been placed but he'd been too busy thinking of a girl he'd never see again to even hear what his sentence was.

His eyes flickered to Thor. The God of Thunder was beaming like a thousand sons. "So I shall be forced to live by the great brute's side," Loki mused, frowning beneath his gag.

O o o

As punishment for his crimes, Prince Loki shall be stripped of his powers and be bound to the will of Prince Thor. He will learn to change his ways or else be publicly executed by means of drawing and quartering.