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"You stand before me, Loki Odinson, a traitor to Asgard."
Loki burned with the desire to speak. He was not an Odinson. He was not the only traitor to Asgard. The other stood by Odin's side, in a disgustingly royal scarlet cape, holding the hammer he didn't deserve. Thor had tried to destroy Jotunheim. Why was he not hauled before Odin in a humiliating trial?
"Your crimes are great. Your punishment must be equally so."
A murmur of assent rippled through the courtroom. Loki glanced at the scornful faces, all so condemning of him. They were arrayed in a vast semicircle, Odin and Thor in the center, all bearing down on Loki with their conceited disdain, turning up their noses at the disgraced prince who stood, muzzled and chained, in the center of the courtroom. Hatred coursed through his blood like poison, his fingers itching to strangle each and every one of them.
What would Odin decree? What punishment would the great and wise Allfather find fitting for his undeserving son? Eternal solitude, perhaps. That was likely. Hide Loki out of sight so that he could never tarnish Asgard's golden halls again. Or maybe he would be made a servant to Thor, or worse, the Midgardians. Perhaps, if Odin felt especially vicious, he might sentence Loki to eternal torture. Odin was known for rather... creative punishments. Loki was vaguely curious as to what he might concoct this time.
"Though you deserve great pain for your actions, you are a former prince of this realm, and therefore your sentence will not be carried out in Asgard."
Loki tensed. What did this mean? Were they sending him to Midgard?
"You will be returned to your allies, the Chitauri, who will decide your fate."
Loki's scream was muffled against the metal of the muzzle, his wide eyes fixing on Odin with terrified urgency. They couldn't send him back there, not to them, they hated him, death from them would be a sweet mercy-
He was shaking, sweating, Thor was walking towards him, this couldn't be happening, they couldn't be offering him to those monsters-
Thor stood before him, maintaining a sickening air of wisdom. "This is for the best, brother. Someday you will return."
Return? The Chitauri would only return him when there was nothing of him left to be returned, when he was an empty shell alive only because they denied him death. Loki desperately tried to speak, to make Thor understand what he was doing, but he could not, his mouth was blocked.
Odin stood, raising his spear, pointing it at Loki. "Loki Odinson-"
Loki screamed again and fell to his knees before Thor, clutching his scarlet cape with deathly pale hands, green eyes burning with a plea, a plea for mercy, to be able to speak and tell them what they were condemning him to.
"Convincing as always, brother, but I am no longer fooled by your tricks. Father is just, and I trust his judgment."
Tears streamed from Loki's eyes. He tugged desperately at Thor, trying so hard to make him see that he wasn't lying, but he already knew that no one would believe him.
Two guards strode forward, roughly grabbing Loki's arms to pull him away. He gripped Thor's cape harder, trying to shout through the muzzle, but Thor's face was blank. The guards pulled harder, and Loki was torn away from Thor, hands still clutching shreds of scarlet fabric. Loki writhed, screaming against the muzzle, until one of the guards struck him in the side, and he fell to the ground, winded. His blurred eyes saw Odin extending the spear once again, heard the echoing words "-and I cast you out-" before he was thrown from Asgard to the realm of the Chitauri.
They were waiting for him.
"Loki? Are you all right? Loki?"
The face of Pepper Potts burst into Loki's vision as he jolted awake, the nightmare suddenly replaced by a large, dimly lit room and a very concerned woman.
"You were crying," she said anxiously, feeling Loki's forehead. He instinctively drew back from her touch. Pepper gently took one of his hands, searching for the pulse in his wrist. It was far too rapid. "Are you okay?"
Loki didn't respond, staring at her with wide eyes, still seized with the terror of the memory. Pepper grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and wiped the tears form his eyes, her face full of pity.
"Whatever it was you were dreaming about, Loki, it can't find you here," she said softly. He regarded her warily, though her kindness seemed to dispel a little of his fear. Pepper still worried at his lack of speech. An idea suddenly occured to her, and she left Loki's side, crossing the room and rummaging in a large cabinet. Several seconds later, she returned with a spiral-bound notebook and a pen. "Can you write?" she asked Loki, holding the notebook and pen before him.
Loki's eyes narrowed at the objects, but he tentatively reached for the pen, glancing nervously at Pepper before taking it. He pushed himself up a little with his less injured arm, taking the offered notebook, and looking at Pepper with unspoken question in his hollow face.
"I'll ask you something simple. Do you know who we all are?"
Loki held the pen in his slightly trembling hand as though it were foreign, taking at least a minute to trace his answer. His writing was shaky and uneven, but Pepper was able to discern the words.
I remember everything
"That's good," Pepper said encouragingly. "How are you feeling?"
Loki tensed and looked at Pepper with fear and suspicion. Seeing nothing but sympathetic anxiety on her face, he answered.
I do not know why this should concern you, but if you must know, I have healed somewhat since last night
"Does anything hurt?" Pepper said with trepidation. Loki again seemed suspicious of her question.
Yes. Not too badly. Why do you wish to know this?
Pepper didn't like his answer. "Because we're trying to help you."
I attacked your planet and murdered your people. I am rejected by both Jotunheim and Asgard. What does my welfare matter to you?
Pepper didn't know how to answer. So this was why Loki was so afraid of them? He didn't think he deserved help? His fear made sense, now - if he thought himself worthless, then any care they gave him must have some ulterior motive.
"What happened a year ago wasn't okay. But what they did to you in Asgard is far, far worse than anything you could possibly have deserved. Nothing justifies torture. We're helping you because you need it, because your family abandoned you. Everyone deserves a second chance."
Loki stared at the ground, sharp green eyes glistening a little. His slender fingers held the sheets in an iron grip, and he was trembling slightly - but not from fear this time. There was a spark of something in his eyes, only for a moment, but undeniably there - a spark of hope.
"Loki," she asked quietly, after several minutes of silence, "you did say all these injuries came from Asgard?"
Loki tensed, nodded briefly and then cringed, looking fearfully around the room.
"Is this what Odin-"
The effect upon saying the Allfather's name was immediate. Loki scrambled off the bed, falling heavily to the floor and curling into a tight ball, shaking and clutching his hair as he sobbed into his knees.
"Loki!" Pepper cried, kneeling on the ground a few feet from the terrified god. "I didn't mean to scare you..."
He didn't acknowledge her words. Pepper thought uncomfortably that so far, both times they'd mentioned Thor and Odin had produced a violently fearful reaction. Had Odin and Thor been the ones torturing him? Surely Thor couldn't be that cruel.
"I'm sorry," Pepper whispered. "I don't want you to be scared, Loki. They don't know you're here. We won't let them take you back, if that's what you think is going to happen."
Something in her words seemed to startle Loki, because he looked up sharply, regarding her with tear-streaked eyes. He loosened his grip on his inky hair, holding out one of his hands as though asking for something. Pepper understood, quickly retrieving the notebook.
You will not send me back?
"No, of course not," Pepper answered.
You will allow me to serve my sentence here?
"You're not serving a sentence."
Loki furrowed his eyebrows, not completely reassured, but not as frightened either.
The door to the infirmary opened, and Loki tensed as Tony walked in, carrying a bagel, a cup of coffe, and a bowl of dry Cheerios. Pepper brightened, walking over and gratefully taking the coffee as Tony kissed her cheek.
"How's it going with Reindeer Games?" he whispered, setting the bagel and Cheerios on the nightstand. "Is he in love with you yet?"
"Tony!" Pepper remonstrated, glancing at Loki. He'd lifted himself back onto the bed and was watching the pair warily.
"What got him all worked up a few minutes ago?"
"I mentioned..." Pepper lowered her voice, speaking right into Tony's ear, "his adoptive father."
"That's what freaked him out?" Tony said, surprised. "I thought you'd suggested a haircut."
Pepper punched him in the arm, though she was smiling. "I assume the Cheerios are for him?"
"Didn't know if Rock of Ages was hungry yet," Tony replied, shrugging. "Have you asked him?"
Pepper shook her head, then turned to Loki. "Are you hungry at all?"
Loki froze, breath quickening. He involuntarily raised his bandaged hands to cover his mouth, shrinking back against the bed.
"Does it want to eat? Is the little prince hungry?"
The Chitauri crowded around Loki, prodding him with their twisted fingers, jeering when he winced. He was chained against a jagged rock wall, unable to defend himself as they tormented him. He knew the worst was yet to come; they were only testing his resilience now.
"Come, Jotun runt, surely you miss the great royal feasts!"
The others joined in the cruel laughter, and a great shout arose as several hulking warriors approached, carrying a barrel of something Loki didn't want to see. The Chitauri reached in, pulling out handfuls of spiny, writhing worms, shrieking with delight as the threw handfuls of the creatures at the bound god. The worms latched onto his skin, crawling up his body and trying to burrow under the muzzle. He screamed, thrashing against the wall, eliciting fresh jeers from the Chitauri as he tried in vain to rid himself on the worms that clustered around his jaw.
"Loki?"
The memory evaporated. Loki slowly withdrew his hands from his mouth, flushing slightly in embarrassment at his own weakness; Pepper and Tony watched him with concern. Pepper sat down next to his bed.
"It's okay if you don't want to, but if you're hungry, you can eat. I didn't mean to scare you before."
Thankfully, Loki didn't panic this time.
I do not understand why you offer me choices, my preference is insignificant. But if you wish to know, I do not need food.
Pepper knew that wasn't true - Loki did need food - his bones jutted alarmingly from his emaciated frame. She was about to say so when Tony pulled her aside.
"I know he looks like a Halloween decoration right now, but he can probably last a little longer. If he's going to trust us, we need to let him make decisions," Tony whispered. Pepper finally relented, though not completely. She approached Loki again.
"It's okay if you don't want to eat right now... But are you thirsty? I don't think you've had anything to drink yet."
A strange look crossed Loki's face at her words. He seemed to be battling himself for several seconds, before writing an answer and nervously giving her the notebook.
If I am allowed water I will take it
Pepper looked elatedly at Loki, who flinched, expecting displeasure. His reaction hardly dimmed Pepper's joy at his response, though. Loki was giving her an opportunity to prove her words.
"You aren't 'allowed' or 'not allowed' anything, Loki. Of course you can have water. All you have to do is ask." Pepper walked over to a table with a pitcher and two glasses. She filled one, then, on second thought, filled the other. Loki might be reassured if she drank as well, to show that there was no poison. She sat across from his bed, handing Loki a glass, then drinking from her own. Loki watched it empty into her mouth, waiting perhaps for her to seize up suddenly or cry in pain. Nothing of the sort happened, however, and he tentatively raised the glass to his lips, tilting it infinitesimally so that a few drops ran through his lips. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he swallowed, waiting for the inevitable agony, for Pepper to laugh and call him a fool for trusting her. The water, however, proved harmless. Pepper smiled at her victory as he drank a little more, glad that he had trusted her just this little bit, and also that he had the presence of mind not to drain the entire glass. Loki set the cup down, then took the notebook.
What must I do in return
Not quite a victory, then. But close enough.
"Nothing, Loki. You don't have to do anything."
Frigga waited patiently outside the throne room for Odin to emerge. She could have gone in, but he was speaking with several particularly important diplomats at the moment, and she didn't want to interrupt or have her conversation heard.
Some time later, Odin and several men finally appeared, Odin accompanying them to the palace doors to bid them farewell. He returned, looking tired but pleased.
"How was it?" Frigga asked as she walked with her husband back to their chambers. "Was it about the treaty?"
"It was. All is well." Odin replied. "I should have had Thor with me. He is less skilled in political matters than some, and the experience would be of great benefit."
Frigga smiled. "He is with his friends. I think they have gone on a hunt." She lowered her voice. "Tell me, how is Loki?"
The mention of his wayward son did not please Odin. "He is well."
"I worry for him," Frigga said, keeping the anger from her voice so that she seemed only a concerned mother. "I know he never liked much company, but to be alone so far below us... I shall be glad when he is released."
Odin laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I wish to teach him the value of family. Sometimes these lessons can be learned best through deprivation. You need not fear for him. He is safe, here in Asgard."
Frigga's blood was boiling. Odin was lying, she knew it. But she kept her anger in check. Tomorrow she would search for her son.