Loki sat in his chambers, looking at a reflection of himself.
Thor had ordered the servants to take care of him. Loki knew they had only done it out of the respect they held for Odin and Thor and their fear of him almost drove them away. He ran his fingers threw his newly shorn black locks. They now reached his shoulders instead of falling down his back. He was back in his usual attire. It felt somewhat pleasant.
On the elaborate vanity lay his horned headpiece. As he looked at himself, it had seemed the wire that was once across his lips were magical, for the waters had not healed them. He fingered the wounds. Why had Odin summoned him? Why now after five long years? Surely this was some form of jest. Odin must have lost his sense in his old age. Why had Odin not killed him? It could not have been out of some stupid sense of love.
Love was nonsensical and unfathomable to Loki. It only brought pain and sorrow. He once believed he had been loved, by Odin, by Frigga and Thor. It was only a matter of time before he realized he was just a pawn to ensure the safety of Asgard.
Loki searched his clothing to see if they had removed the concealed blade in the secret compartment. He smirked when he realized they had not. He pulled it out and placed it on the vanity. Loki looked at himself. His smirk slowly faded from his face as he continued to stare at himself in the mirror.
That person looking back at him was full of anger and had a dangerous look in his eye, something to be feared. That was the only way to get what one desired, through fear. Respect was for the weak, and he would not be the weak link.
Five years ago he almost had it. He had almost had the power, the throne. And all of it slipped from his grasp, all due to the damned "Avengers" as the man of Iron has so eloquently phrased it. It was gone, all of it…gone.
What was the purpose anymore? He had to suffer living in Thor's shadow, suffer proving himself to Odin, suffer getting any "friendship" at all from these damned Asgardians, suffer on that world with the Other, suffer the loss of power he almost had, suffer being abused for five years. And all for what? He had failed himself.
His eyes flickered to the blade lying on the vanity. Agony, pain, hatred and the slightest trickle of fear unforgivingly grabbed him all at once. Loki needed to escape. He picked up the weapon of demise and ran his fingers along the blade. Hesitantly, he raised it to his chest. Perhaps, this was the escape he needed.
"Brother?"
"What is it Thor?" Loki replied gruffly still turned around.
"Father demands your presence in the throne room." Thor said.
Loki sighed and put the blade back into his clothing, concealed it before placing his headpiece on his head. He arose and walked towards the door. He saw Thor smiling profoundly. Loki sneered as he walked right by Thor. Foolish oaf. He walked ahead towards the throne room, this time with Thor trailing behind him.
When they reached the destination, Loki stopped. It was virtually empty. Only the guards, Odin, and Frigga occupied the capacious room. He expected every citizen of Asgard to be there, to watch the fallen prince. What was the old man up to?
Thor placed a hefty hand on his shoulder.
"I do not know what he wishes to speak to you about, but I know it is of great importance. Come brother." Thor patted him on the shoulder and lead him inside the throne room.
Loki shook off Thor's hand and glared at Thor with contempt in his eyes. Why did he insist on still calling him that useless term? He was not his brother.
Loki hesitated a bit before walking into the throne room. It had been so long since he was last here, he had almost forgotten how immense and ornate it was. He stood before the grand steps leading to the throne.
Odin sat on the immaculate chair, Gugnir in hand, with Frigga and Thor on each side. How impeccable. There was never room for a Frost Giant.
"Loki, you have been summoned here today because a decision has been made."
Loki smirked. This ought to be pleasant.
"These past five years, the citizens of Asgard have not been at ease. They fear that you will somehow arise terror amongst them once again. My reassurances have fallen on deaf ears as it seems. They will not rest. I have a duty to be a right and just king of Asgard. That includes listening to the citizens requests. My son, I am sorry to be witness to this day, but I am left with no choice but to banish you to Midgard."
Loki laughed aloud. This was quite the turn of events.
"And just what do you expect for me to accomplish on Thor's precious Earth?" He asked spitefully.
"Your mother and I have come to the conclusion that you will learn just as Thor had during his banishment." Odin replied.
"Learn what exactly? Weakness and incompetence from a Midgardian slut?"
"You will not speak of Jane in that manner!" Thor roared.
Loki scoffed. The Thor he had grown up with would have tossed him out the highest balcony in the palace. The wench had made him soft.
"Loki, please display some piety towards Thor's beloved." Frigga begged.
Loki looked at Frigga. He chose not to retort. The look in her eyes was a sorrowful one. Somewhere deep inside of him, he knew that Frigga was the only one who treated him well. However, he did not need her pity.
He turned back to Odin.
"Out of all the places you could choose to banish me, you choose Midgard. If this is your idea of a jest, I find great mirth in it. Or perhaps you're banishing me there so you can observe and see if I do as well as Thor. That's what you have done all my life anyway."
Odin sighed.
"Loki, you have destroyed the innocent lives of thousands, you have schemed with the Other, a forbidden race of creatures, and you have betrayed the trust of not only myself, but your mother, brother, and all the citizens of Asgard."
"I should care, why? I am not Asgardian. I never was and I never will be." Loki said coldly.
"Are you disappointed Odin? Are you ashamed?" he asked in a mocking voice.
"Well you have no reason to be." He continued. "After all, I am not your son. I am not your responsibility."
"You are wrong Loki." Odin's voice resounded. "You are my son. I have raised you myself along with Frigga, your mother. You played and fought with Thor. We treated you like our own."
"But I am not. I was not expelled out of Frigga's womb. I am not your blood. I am Laufey's."
"He had cast you off to the side, abandoned you!" Odin burst frustrated. Frigga placed a delicate hand on his shoulder to calm him. "Because of your small stature compared to the rest of the Frost Giants, you were a runt in his eyes, unworthy. He left you to die, Loki."
"Perhaps he was right. I would have never survived living in Jotunnheim; I am not grand in stature. Here in Asgard I do not belong. I am a Frost Giant. Either way Odin, I would have been neglected.
"We did not neglect you, Loki. We are your family." Odin pleaded. Loki had never seen Odin expel such raw emotion.
"Is that so? Would a "family" lie to their so-called son for centuries?"
"Loki—" Odin pleaded, but Loki would not have it.
"Have you ever thought that maybe you all hold the fault for everything that has happened?"
Odin frowned and looked upon the deranged man before him that he still called son.
Frigga stepped forward and spoke.
"Loki, I hope that while on Midgard you would see the effects of your destruction. You would see what the mortals had to suffer these past five years and you would change from your wicked ways. Your magical abilities were already significantly diminished since the day you returned from Midgard, so while there you will live equally among the mortals." She explained.
"If you are unaware, the mortals and I are not on agreeing terms." Loki retorted sardonically.
"Thor will not inform them of your arrival, but if you make yourself known to them your punishment will be in their hands." Frigga continued.
Loki looked towards Odin.
"You have got it all figured out, haven't you Odin?" Loki asked scathingly.
"No, I do not. I thought I did raising you and Thor. Loki, what happened to you? Thor would have never—"
Loki burst in outrage.
"Thor! Thor! Is that all you can say? Is that all anyone can say?! Thor is the chosen one, the favorite one! I should have known from the beginning! I was never the same as the rest of these damned Asgardians! I was never strong enough, brute enough. I never looked like you or Frigga or precious Thor!"
Loki paused and calmed down a bit.
The next words he spoke were quiet, but seeping with venom. "You want to know where you went wrong Odin? The moment you decided to take me from that cold world. You should have left me to rot in Jotunheim, it would have never made a difference. "
"I apologized more times than I can count. If I could go back and make things right, I would. But, alas, I cannot. I am sorry Loki." Odin said guiltily.
"Sorry will not fix a damned thing, Odin." Loki spat malevolently.
Frigga descended down the grand stairs toward Loki. The guards raised their weapons, prepared for attack.
"Lower your weapons guards, he is my son." Frigga ordered. The guards obeyed hesitantly.
Frigga approached him. She reached up and placed both delicate hands on his face and looked directly into his steel green eyes that were filled with anguish, despair, and animosity.
"Loki listen to me. I love you, we all love you. But I do not what has become of you. Please, I want my son back." Frigga pleaded, tears in her eyes.
Loki just looked at her with disgust, before he grabbed her wrist tightly and took her hands away from his face.
"You never loved me." He spat.
Frigga's face morphed into pain as Loki's gripped tightened. The guards drew their weapons.
"Loki let go, please, you are hurting me." Frigga pleaded.
Odin stood and the guards drew their weapons.
"Loki, please release mother before the guards attack."
Thor had spoken up. He had Mjolnir in his hands. Loki looked around and knew that no one was on his side. Not even Thor.
All he had was himself and that is who he will ever have.
In a moment of quick decision, he threw Frigga to the ground causing Odin and Thor to rush towards her. In their moment of concern, he made an escape. He ran out of the throne room and towards the exit of the palace, he could already hear the guards' heavy footsteps. He made several turns through the halls of the great palace. Loki knew his former home well, and eventually lost the guards. He slipped into the kitchen and past the maids and out a secret back entrance only he knew of. He continued running until he reached the rainbow bridge. He looked out and saw that the Bifrost had been fixed. Loki also saw Heimdall, who, like always, was standing still looking out towards the galaxy. He stepped onto the bridge and walked towards the dome.
"Loki!"
Loki stopped and turned around to see Thor standing there. He remembered that Thor also knew that secret path. After all, they had played their as young ones many times.
"Loki, where are you going?"
Loki thought, where was he going? In his escape he only thought of one thing, getting away from Asgard.
"Anywhere but here, Thor."
"Do you really think Heimdall will just let you pass?"
Thor was met with silence.
"What has become of you brother? We grew up together to become men of honor, not the creature that I see before me."
Loki slyly smirked.
"Creature? You finally got it right brother. A creature, a monster never worthy for the throne, never worthy for Asgard."
"Loki-"
Loki turned from Thor and out towards the endless stars.
"See you on the throne."
"Loki NO!"
Loki jumped off the bridge and into the endless void filled with bright stars. Loki closed his eyes and grinned insanely, he finally escaped.
