Chapter 1
Loki stood, muzzled and glowering in front of his family, surrounded by guards. His "family", he scornfully corrected himself. There was a bitter, acidic taste in his mouth. It wasn't from the muzzle. Rather, it was from his sour mood.
As soon as Thor had returned them to Asgard, Loki had been put in a prison cell isolated in one of the far wings of the palace. It surprised him that he had not been taken to see Odin when he had first arrived, but Loki knew that he would be summoned eventually. For four days, he had waited. And now, here he was.
When Loki had been led into the great hall, it was nearly empty. This intrigued him. He'd been expecting a crowd, or at least some of his father's advisors. Instead, it was just the Allfather, Queen Frigga, and Thor. Not even Sif and the Warriors Three were permitted. Loki wasn't sure what this meant. He was grateful to be spared the humiliation of being punished in front of an audience, but the familial intimacy suggested by the lack of others angered him. This was not his family.
The guards who had escorted him into the hall shoved him to his knees. They bowed to the Allfather, and then retreated. Loki waited, shifting uncomfortably on the floor. He refused to look at Thor or the Queen, and was having difficulty forcing himself to look at Odin. He settled for a spot just to the left of Odin's head. His muzzle had not been removed; his hands were still shackled. He assumed this was to prevent him from using his magic or famed "silver tongue" to escape, and it pleased him to know they recognized his power as a threat.
The silence stretched on. Thor seemed uneasy and Frigga looked concerned, yet Odin continued to stare at Loki impassively. I hope they aren't expecting me to start the conversation, Loki thought wryly. Finally, Odin stood, walked down the few steps that led to the throne, and stood in front of him. Up close, Loki could see that Odin had aged. There were more wrinkles, his hair was thinner, and his eyes looked tired. Loki briefly wondered if he himself looked any older, but was distracted when the Allfather began to speak. "Loki Odinson," he began.
Loki growled with irritation deep in his throat, audibly.
Odin ignored him, continuing on. "You know why you are here. You know what you have done. While some of us may not understand the reasons for your actions, we understand that you will not divulge them. But we are not here to discuss that. Your punishment has been decided." He paused, and to the surprise of everyone, dropped his formal demeanor. "Loki, my son, we are your family. Your anger is acceptable. Your actions are not. We have loved you throughout your past pranks and plots, and we will love you through this one, but you have gone too far. You must change. You often point out the things that make you a more qualified ruler than Thor, and you are right on nearly all counts, but there is one vital thing you lack. You have no compassion, no care for anyone but yourself. Thor, who is not yet King, has twice now put the well being of his people before his own. If this alone was his only trait, it would still make him a greater ruler than you.
"You have made it clear that you will not listen to us, so your punishment will force you to teach yourself. You will follow in the footsteps of your brother, and seek to gain the knowledge of sympathy, empathy, and love. As of today, you will be stripped of your powers and your title. You are banished to Midgard. And you will not be allowed to return until you value the life of someone else over your own." Odin pointed his staff at Loki, and as he was consumed in the bright light, he felt his power seep out of him. After Odin had taken his abilities, Loki's shackles and muzzle fell away, and he stiffly rose to his feet.
"Do you understand your task? Are there any questions?" the Allfather asked.
Loki mulled over his punishment. Surely there must be a loophole somewhere. "All I must do is fall in love?" he rasped, his voice hoarse after days without speaking.
Odin sighed. "You must feel love, Loki. You must be willing to put someone's needs before your own. It need not be romantic love to fulfill your task. It would not hurt your cause if the object of your love returned the sentiment, but it is not necessary. And remember this above all: be truthful. If you deceive the mortals you encounter, I will see that your heart is insincere and you will not be allowed to return."
"And that is all that is required of me? Once I understand these things I will be allowed to return, and gain back my powers?"
"Yes. But I think, my son, you will find that is not as trivial as you make it out to be." Odin seemed to be growing exasperated with Loki's questions. "Are you unclear on anything else?"
"No, sir." Loki replied.
"Father" Odin corrected.
"No, father." Loki barely contained a sneer. "But do you really find it necessary that-"
"Your chance to negotiate passed when you refused to return home with your brother when he first had you! You have made your bed, Loki Odinson, and now you will lie in it!" Odin boomed. He was angry. Loki realized he had pushed too far, though honestly he hadn't meant to. He growled again, frustrated to have angered the Allfather so quickly.
"Say your goodbyes here. Heimdall will arrive shortly to assist you through the portal." With that, Odin left the hall.
Thor looked uncomfortable. Frigga was crying softly. When he saw this, Loki felt a pang of… something. Of all his "family", he hated her the least. She approached him, and enveloped him in a hug. Loki remained awkwardly still. He'd not been held like this since he was very little, and the memory angered him. It was all a lie! The acidic taste returned to his mouth.
Frigga pulled back and looked at him, her eyes still watering. "There is a girl I met once, when your father and I would take trips to Midgard. She has probably forgotten, but I have not, for she reminded me of you. Heimdall has been watching over her on my behalf. He will send you close to her. She might not be the one to help you end your banishment, but I'm sure she can help with lesser Midgardian tasks. Please, be kind. I will know if you are not." She gave him one last teary hug and briskly left the way Odin had gone.
Now Thor approached him. "Brother," he said solemnly, "I urge you to take this punishment seriously. I cannot begin to understand your pain, but it is possible to find solace, especially when one has a person they can turn to no matter the situation. Find a woman, for they are the most comfort. Please, choose wisely and go slowly if you think you've found a good soul. Though I can see you doubt me, falling in love is no easy matter. These Midgardian women are different than ours, and you will not get many second chances. Good luck. I look forward to your return." Thor hugged him briefly, and then left.
Loki still remained standing in front of the throne. As he waited for Heimdall, he processed the farewell speeches of the Queen and Thor. He was irritated by both, but in different ways. He knew the type of mortals his "mother" favored, and to be compared to a quiet, weak, female one was an insult. And to think that the Queen had so little faith in his ability to independently complete his task that she felt the need to arrange someone for him- that was clearly her intention, thought Loki, the "lesser Midgardian tasks" being a weak excuse. For all you know, she is old, piped up the part of his mind that still recognized the Queen as the loving mother Loki had thought she was. This was true, he conceded. The time passed differently between the two realms, so there was a chance she would be of middle age. But Loki dismissed this idea quickly, choosing instead to focus on his wounded ego.
Thor's advice had just made him angry. What did he know of his pain? No one would understand. It would take more than a stupid girl to fix the damage. And what did Thor know about the difficulties of love or women? All he had to do was give a smile here, a compliment there, and women were falling over themselves for him. He ignored Thor's idiotic advice. Loki might not have been as brutishly handsome as Thor, but knew he was attractive. He also knew how to charm- he wasn't called "Silvertongue" without reason.
Loki smiled to himself. Yes, this punishment was an easy one. Oh, he had no intention of actually falling in love. He found it to be a stupid emotion; one that caused more trouble than it was worth. He never understood why women were so desperate to find it, but he was going to use that to his advantage. His plan was simple: he would go to Midgard and find a weak-minded female, court her, and then when she asked if he loved her, he would say yes and return home. Simple. Though he knew he would be watched, Loki was a fantastic liar. If he acted the part of a loving suitor well enough, no one would know the difference. Loki figured he'd be back in Asgard within a fortnight… about 3 months on Midgard.
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Heimdall. The gatekeeper walked up to Loki and stood next to him, facing the throne. "Your mother has told you of the girl. You will be staying in the same place as her, one of these Midgardian apartments. She has been told her new neighbor is from Europe. Your location is in the city they call Pittsburgh, in America. Supplies have been provided for you in your living space. If there is anything you are missing, and you cannot acquire it through her, you may ask me. I will be watching you, Laufeyson." The gatekeeper finished, still looking at the throne.
Loki clenched his jaw in anger. He hated Heimdall. "Might it be possible, Gatekeeper, that I could see what this mortal looks like as I am being transported to my apartment? I would like to know who is to be aiding me."
Heimdall was silent for a few moments, then ever so slightly inclined his head in what Loki assumed was a "yes".
Odin re-entered the throne room the way he had exited. He came to stand in front of Heimdall. "Are you ready, Gatekeeper?" Again, Hemidall nodded his head. Together, the two men opened a portal. Loki was unsure how they could do that, seeing as the Bifrost was still broken, and resolved to research it upon his return home.
Odin turned to face Loki once Heimdall had secured the portal. "My son" he said, "I am sorry to have to do this to you, but you leave me no choice. I do not know how to handle you anymore. Your mother and I will miss you greatly, as will Thor. We hope that when you return, your heart has healed." Loki was taken by surprise when the Allfather pulled him into a rare hug, and noticed the sadness in his eyes when he broke away. Loki was confused, but before he could recognize the emotion he was feeling, he stepped forward into the portal and was whisked away.