Chapter 4 : Degeneration.
Thor does come back the day after, just like expected. And at the same time, too. Loki knows it thanks to the rare torches that light the hallway. They always smolder at the same pace. And when they are so worn out that the flames can be blown by the faintest draft, they renew themselves in the blink of the eye, just to start smoldering again.
Oh magic is so convenient… Why bother go down in that filthy rat-hole to replace three miserable candles when magic can do it ?
Loki uses their degree of wear to keep track of time. A pastime like any other one. He looks at the flames until his eyes are all burnt by the light. And when his vision totally disappear, Loki curses Asgard and all her inhabitants while swearing that he'll use those torches to set that Kingdom full of hypocrites ablaze.
Here we go again… You're becoming a pyromaniac, not even retained anymore above everything else. A new flaw to add on the list… It's becoming quite a lot, don't you think ?
Flames are burning with the same intensity than yesterday when Thor comes back, his leathered bag in his hands. Again, without saying anything, Thor sits cross-legged in front of the bars and meticulously arranges the pieces on the board (white ones in front of himself, black ones in front of Loki). When he's finished, Thor stares at Loki with insistence. Loki stares back without blinking. Like the day before, he tries to put all his hatred in his eyes and wishes that Thor falls stone dead, right on his spot. While he's at it, he also calls the Odinson fool, idiot and oaf (among other things). Just for the pleasure.
For any answer, Thor smiles and put one of his pawns forward. The same as yesterday. Then he waits. Loki stares at the Thunder God a little longer, then sighs as loudly as he can with the muzzle on and takes place in front of the chessboard.
And the party begins !
Loki wins again, with the same ease as the day before. This time, when the white King is taken, Thor doesn't move, but Loki does see the muscles of his jaw and knuckles twitch.
Oh ! The poor thing ! Look how disappointed he is ! He truly believed he had a chance to win !
Thor picks up the pieces, folds the bag on them and stands.
"I will come back tomorrow."
And Thor leaves, without further ado.
Days turn weeks. Thor's visits are so punctual that Loki wonders how he does. Truly. Thor comes every day, at the same time. Without ever failing. Thor never was that assiduous. It's almost scary.
Scary ? You should be flattered ! The Golden Prince, future King of Asgard, never fail to find time to keep company to his renegade of a brother (who never was his brother, by the way), when it would be soooo easy for him to do like the dungeons were empty…
Loki sighs. The splitting headaches are permanent now. The light is too bright for his eyes and the never-ending whispers of that accursed Voice make his skull explode. Literally. Not so long ago, he would have given anything, everything, to break his chains and rip Asgard to shreds. Now, all he wants is to shut the Voice up.
"It's your turn, Loki."
And to be left in peace by Thor, too. Seriously, does Thor really have nothing else to do than play chess with him in the dungeons ? If he was winning, Loki would understand. But Thor perpetually lose. That's pathetic.
Tss. You say that because it's becoming hard for you to win. No ?
"Loki ?"
Loki looks at Thor and there are daggers in his green eyes. How is he expected to play a game of strategy if Thor doesn't let him time to strategize ?! Just shut up already ! Having to listen the ramblings of a non-existent Voice is exhausting enough without having to deal with a suddenly talkative barbarian who Loki'd love to have stuffed.
Thor return the glare, absolutely not impressed to say the less. As always. He knows who has the upper hand here and even if Loki's thoughts are full of blood and murder and carnage, with the muzzle on and his magic off, he is as harmless as an infant.
Which is also why Loki wonder about Thor's worried look he carries whenever he comes lately. It's bothering him. Almost as much as those golden hairs which grow longer and longer as time passes by. They are ridiculously long now. (Some locks are even decorated with little braids. What kind of fearless warrior decorate his hair like a blushing maiden anyway ?!)
Do you think the Lady Sif braid his hair ? Unless the sweet Frigga does ? Hum… Yes, it must be Frigga. The lady Sif does not possess the subtle delicateness required for that kind of work. Nor the patience. But doesn't he look good with those braids ? A lovely lady that is ! Now, where is the bridal dress ? Isn't it missing ? A memories…
Loki almost strangles himself with laughter when he hears that. The Voice is annoying, but that really was well found. He wouldn't have said better himself. His uncontrollable fits of laughter even dissipate the pain that pulse in his head for sweet, precious seconds (it will come back later though, it's a revengeful thing).
Thor just stares at him, frowning, but somehow perplex.
"What is so funny, brother ? You no longer have your Queen to have your back now."
Loki merely shrugs while trying to calm the fits of cough that came after the laughter. As if the loss of the Queen would cost him Victory. Thor only managed to take her because that was part of the plan. That's all.
Hum, excuse-me, what was the plan again ? Make a succession of poor moves ? If it is the case, maybe you should change said plan. If you still want to win, that is. There, why don't you put the bishop on F5 ? That'll block his rook and knight in one move.
Irritated, Loki makes his move more savagely than necessary.
… Or you also can sacrifices a rook to take his Queen.
Loki viciously grabs the white Queen and throws it on Thor's face. The God of Thunder easily dodge it, his eyes never leaving Loki's and the latter immediately regret his angered gesture when the pawns hit the stones of the wall. The noise that comes from this move, as futile as puerile, rings in his entire skull with such violence that his eyes turn blind and that Loki finds himself huddle up on the floor, hands pressed tight on his temples, nails digging deep into his scalp, fighting a wave a nausea that almost make him gag.
…Well done…
"…Well done…"
After that, Thor stays silent until his King is taken too. He lost. Again. But Loki draws no satisfaction from it. The Voice (which is much less resentful that he thought it would be) had to guide him through the rest of the game, his own mind too bogged down in the painful torments of his headaches to think about anything.
Thor is so used to lose against Loki that there is no reaction at all now. It looks like he couldn't care less. But, again, it's just a game of chess. Thor would make such a poor King if he'd let his anger and deception show on his face, just because he lost at a game. However, his gaze lingers on Loki and, in the blue eyes, that mix of pity and disgust which infuriate Loki the most come back. Loki growls under his muzzle and he draws back into the darkest corner of the cell, his back purposely turned toward Thor. He is already nauseous. No need for him to have to look at that nauseating look.
"I will come back tomorrow."
And Thor leaves the room.
… Are you alright ?
He will be alright when he will be left in peace. When the silence will finally soothe his mind and wipe away his headaches like a bad dream. When he won't have to answer a Voice that never existed from the beginning and visibly delights itself by reviving his migraines.
Oh, I see. You're brooding. Alright ! I'll leave you to your bad mood if it's what you want ! Anyway, we both know very well that in one or two hours, you will beg me to talk again. After all, without me, how will you lure the dreadful sleep far from you ? Tss, you ungrateful psychopathic despot !
And just like that, the Voice is gone. Loki is left alone, truly alone. He repeats himself again and again that the Voice is wrong. That he is not crazy and exhausted enough to really need it.
But the Silvertongue is dulled now.
For Loki doesn't believe the lie anymore.
