Chelsea Grin (4)
Punishment

"People fear death even more than pain. It's strange that they fear death. Life hurts a lot more than death. At the point of death, the pain is over."
~Jim Morrison

Pain. That simple word could not properly define the sheer agony Loki felt. Spikes, needles, swords, spears, daggers...whatever weapons ever crafted in the Nine Realms seemed to pierce through his eyes and lance through every nerve in his body.

Shutting his eyes was futile. The snake venom on his eyelids was like fire through paper. Loki's howl of pain died in his throat so he heard the snake hissing overhead. Groaning, his regenerating eyes caught sight of the serpent, slowly undulating in a slow, hypnotic dance. Between him and the snake was a large bowl. Loki heard the venom dripping and pooling into it. He turned his blistered eyes to his temporary salvation. Frigga. His mind, briefly alleviated from the sheer torture, flitted back to the memory of what Odin last said.

He remembered facing the entire Asgardian court, chained, muzzled and restrained by Thor, who stood by his side as they confronted Odin. It felt good to be home, however much he thought he hated it. After traveling to unknown realms, striking deals with shady beings, and surviving the hell on Midgard, he realized how much he missed Asgard. He just wished that it didn't have to come to this.

The Allfather never looked more grim. And sad. His voice, low, quiet and rough, sounded as if he was mourning.

"Loki Odinson..."

The muzzle muffled Loki's scornful grunt. Son of Odin...that was a lie. Just like his entire life. He was Loki Laufeyson, the man who killed his own true father, who tried to kill his own true race…he was not even a man, but a monster.

"You are accused of theft of the Tesseract and reckless actions of malevolent intent against another realm. Your crimes against Midgard, its people, and your brother are to be paid swiftly with Asgardian justice. I, Odin Allfather of Asgard, hereby sentence you to imprisonment."

At this, the mass of Asgardians erupted with cries of shock and outrage. Everyone expected other words, specifically some sort of death penalty.

Odin instantly silenced them with a raise of his hand. "Loki shall be chained to a rock, laid bare for a serpent to drip venom into his eyes, so that he will pay the price for the madness and delusion that has blinded him."

Cold dread numbed his body as Loki saw nods of agreement and satisfaction from the crowd. Only Frigga and Thor had regarded Odin with looks of horror. Even the Warriors Three and Sif had appeared unsettled.

"Father..." Thor managed to say. "Please reconsider. Is it really necessary to carry out such a cruel punishment?"

Odin's single, sad gray eye did not waver. "Justice must be done. Let the punishment, fit for a fallen prince, be carried forth."

Here he was now. Bound by unbreakable, Dwarf-forged chains. Stripped of his clothes and armor. Left with only the dignity of his lower tunic. Trapped under the mercy of the damnable snake. And worst of all, deprived of his magic. Words were only words. Thor might've spoken in Loki's defense, but where was he now? Off at Midgard, reveling in the glory of being part of "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" while leaving Loki to rot and writhe in pain.

The Trickster God snapped back to the present when he noticed movement from Frigga. Her arms wavered from the weight of the bowl. She could only hold off the venom for so long. The bowl was getting full again. He met her eyes, and her face was tight with sorrow as she was forced to move the bowl away. No matter how many times he endured and survived it, Loki was never prepared for the incoming liquid heat. Between his screams of agony, Loki cursed the snake. Cursed his so-called brother, cursed his so-called father and cursed all of Asgard. He dimly heard Frigga sobbing. His heart wrenched at the sound.

Even in this state of extreme anger and pain, he could never bring himself to curse his mother. Frigga, who offered him warmth, kindness and comfort since he was a babe. Frigga, the only one who regarded Loki's talent in magic and the arts with love and praise. Frigga, who still offered comfort even now with the bowl that caught the snake venom.

She finally emptied the bowl of its viscous, vile contents. She rushed to hold out the bowl and relieve her adopted son of the snake's cruelty. Why Odin made her perform this task, Loki did not know. Holding the bowl could've been left to anyone, some guard or valkyrie. No, Odin gave specific instructions for Frigga to do it. Loki didn't think it was fair at all.

"Mother, I'm sorry," he managed to croak. "I'm so sorry."

More tears welled in her eyes as she continued to hold the bowl. She did not reply. He thought it even more cruel to have Odin forbid her from speaking to Loki. No one dares to defy the Allfather. Not even his own wife. Again, the time came for Frigga to empty the bowl. And again, Loki erupted into a howling, writhing fit.

He didn't know how much longer he could bear this. He struggled against the chains in a useless attempt to free himself from the pain. His muscles were taut from his clenched fists and arching back. The venom that pooled in his destroyed eyes ran farther down his face, searing a path through his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. His screams turned into mangled and contorted cries as the venom entered his mouth. He felt it constricting his throat and burning off his tongue and teeth. Damn it all, he couldn't even grit his teeth in pain. Loki could only cough and gasp for air. He choked on the venom and the stench of his own burning face. With as much effort as he could muster, he laid still. He let the venom attack his eyes so he could restore his mouth and breathe.

'It would be a mercy to just kill me,' Loki thought. 'By Yggdrasil, Hel and all things holy...I just want to die!'

Suddenly the lonely, dark chamber resounded with the bang of an opened door and a flood of light. Loki heard Frigga turn and gasp.

"Thor!"

'Thor?'

Loki was utterly shocked. Next thing he knew, he no longer felt the constant drip of the accursed venom. He stiffened in surprise as he felt the chains shatter under the blow of Mjolnir. Loki slumped on the rock like a dead animal spread out under the sun.

"Father releases you from his command," he heard Thor say to Frigga. "Please tend to Loki."

"Yes, of course," she exclaimed. She set down the bowl, and with immense relief and frantic worry, used the long sleeve of her dress to wipe at Loki's face. He winced as she gently dabbed at his damaged eyes and wiped the venom off his burnt skin.

Meanwhile, Thor promptly killed the snake with a powerful wrench of his hands. He tossed away the sinewy carcass and approached Loki with concern deeply etched in his face.

"Brother, are you all right?"

"I...just need...a few minutes..."

After a short time, Loki felt most of his senses restoring. Thor waited patiently. When Loki felt he was properly intact and recovered, he gently moved Frigga's hands away.

Loki blinked his newly restored eyes slowly, as if reassuring himself this was no dream. He squinted at Thor. "What are you doing here? Why have you returned?"

Thor didn't answer him right away. He turned to Frigga. "Mother, please allow me to talk with Loki in private. This is a very urgent matter."

Frigga nodded in understanding. She gave one last sympathetic glance at her sons before leaving the chamber.

Loki glanced at the dead snake. It looked little more than a coil of greasy, scaly rope. He found it hard to believe that just moments before, he had been completely under its mercy. He turned back to Thor and shook his head in disbelief. "Whatever is so pressing and important to make the Allfather relinquish my sentence?"

Thor eyed him with unusual and intense seriousness. Loki could sense something was very wrong.

"Are you familiar with the woman named Natasha Romanoff, brother?"

"Ah yes…that sharp red-headed spy in your little group. Indeed…I know her well. What about her?"

"She is in a very dire situation. While carrying out a task for S.H.I.E.L.D., the man she was supposed to hunt had captured her…and very brutally took her maidenhead in the process."

Loki was shocked to hear this. 'Agent Romanoff…? Captured and raped…? Impossible.' He hid his reaction and continued to eye Thor with a mask of cool composure and indifference. "How does she fare now?"

"Her injuries were deep. The healers on Midgard had done everything they could. But she is scarred and broken, beyond the help of physical healing."

"Is that why you have come to me? To help your female comrade?"

"Please, brother..." Thor pleaded. "Come back to Midgard with me. I need you. Natasha needs you."

Loki exhaled sharply with disbelief and scorn. "The last time I checked, all of Midgard and you miserable lot wanted me out like a bat out of Hel. And besides...why should I go out of my way to help that miserable, mewling quim-"

Loki's eyes shot open wide as Thor seized him violently by the shoulders. Thor's teeth bared and his eyes flashed so that he looked like a lion.

"Do not speak ill of Natasha! She is a fellow warrior and a good friend!"

For a split second, Thor's burst of anger frightened Loki. He raised his hands defensively. "I apologize. I should've had more care in dealing with a delicate matter such as this."

Thor slackened his grip. "Will you not come, brother?" he asked softly.

"I suppose I'll expect a welcome party waiting for me." Loki replied with sarcasm.

"The rest will understand. We've all agreed to this, even though a few needed some convincing."

"I'm sure that the fact I am deprived of magic really helped make your point."

Thor ignored his adopted brother's bitter remark. "I promise not to let my Midgardian comrades harm you in any way. You have my word. And you will promise not to hurt them in return, brother."

"Of course, of course." Loki drawled. "I am no warrior of brawn and strength like you. Your Midgardian friends have nothing to fear."

Loki didn't like it. He felt like a helpless infant without magic. Nothing felt more devastating than having his magical abilities drained out of him as if it were his own soul being sucked up by the Allfather. He would feel even more like an infant under Thor's protection, vulnerable and prone to the wrath and hostility of the Avengers. Still, when Loki weighed his options, facing the Avengers seemed worlds better than enduring snake venom to the face for what could very well be an eternity.

Loki finally sighed in resignation. "Very well. I'll come with you."

"Good. I'm glad to hear it." Thor put a hand on Loki's shoulder again, this time gently. "To be honest, brother...I truly believe you can help Natasha. You would understand her pain."

Loki's fingers flitted to his lips. It has been ages, but sometimes he swore he could feel the string that had sewn his mouth shut.

He finally sighed and shrugged in resignation. "Very well, brother. I will accompany you to the Bifrost. But first, I am in need of decent cover."

"Yes, of course. I'll accompany you to your chambers. I trust that you still remember where it is?"

Loki nodded wistfully. "I remember…"

He and Thor exited the room, which was part of a dungeon kept separate from the Asgardian palace. They used to play around the dungeon as children whenever they dared each other to play pranks on the guards or put their bravery to the test. Thor and Loki knew ways they could take so they would be unseen by guards or Asgardian citizens who happened to pass by. When they approached the palace and ascended the stairs to the chambers, Loki was flooded with nostalgia when they came upon his own room. He swore it had been the same since he had left it.

Loki wasted no time. He changed in a hurry into a lightweight black tunic. It looked similar to his attire he had worn during his first attempt at conquering Midgard, but without the golden armor that would catch people's attention. It was the closest thing to those Midgardian suits he had a fondness for. He evaluated himself in front of the body-length mirror next to his bed. His eyes were still bleary and bloodshot from the venom. His black hair had grown since his return to Asgard; the spiky black tresses brushed just below his shoulders. Loki found a spare band of fabric to tie his hair into a ponytail. His heart ached with nostalgia upon seeing the open scrolls and journals spread out on his desk. Months in the dungeon didn't count. Loki just returned home, and now he was leaving it again. He spared a quick last glance behind him before leaving his room and joining Thor at the end of the hallway.

They headed to the stables next. Thor grinned as he went over to his horse, Styrkur. Tall, broad, powerfully built, golden as the sun and whose name meant "strength" in Asgardian, Styrkur had been Thor's trusted steed since their youth. Meanwhile, Loki approached his own horse with a big smile and an affectionate pat on the neck.

"How are you, old fellow?" he gently inquired.

His horse nickered quietly and pressed his muzzle against Loki's hands.

Loki had named his steed Draugur—"ghost" in Asgardian. Unlike Styrkur, Draugur was lean, black and swift as a shadow. Because Asgardians generally favored horses of great size and strength, Loki had been the only one to express his desire to own the smallest horse in the stable. He was also the only one able to ride Draugur without fear of being bitten or thrown off by the normally unlikeable and aggressive horse. The two steeds, like the two brothers, were as different as night and day.

Thor and Loki mounted on Styrkur and Draugur and rode them to the observatory. Loki remembered the days when they were children, racing with their colts all around the Asgardian palace. Most of the time the races ended in a draw; Styrkur's strength was equal to Draugur's speed. As always, they found Heimdall standing guard between the end of the bridge and the observatory. The Gatekeeper regarded them with cool, red eyes that radiated fire and calmness all at once. Loki found it hard to meet his piercing gaze.

Thor dipped his head at him. "Greetings, Heimdall. I have permission from my father to escort Loki back to Midgard."

"Yes, I have heard. You may proceed."

Heimdall turned and led the brothers into the observatory. He sunk his blade through the sheath, opening the Bifrost in a powerful rush. Since the Chitauri battle, the Bifrost was restored to its full strength and readiness.

"I wish you a safe journey," Heimdall said.

"Thank you." Thor replied. Loki merely nodded his head in acknowledgement. They stood side by side, facing the swirling gate of light and color that would soon transport them across the stars.

Thor glanced at Loki. "Are you ready, brother?"

Loki's lip narrowed to a thin, hard line. His hands tightened into fists, which quickly began to sweat. Unlike Thor, he wasn't as eager to return to Midgard, especially after everything he had done in an attempt to destroy it. He was going to plunge straight into enemy territory, unarmed, disgraced and stripped of his powers. He was nervous, but he would never throw away his pride to admit that to Thor.

"Of course," he smoothly lied. "Ready for anything."

Norse myths are pretty cray-cray. Snake venom in your eyes for all eternity doesn't sound like fun. In the myths, it's Sigyn, Loki's wife, who catches the venom. And he was punished for killing Balder, not trying to take over Earth. But that's the great thing about fanfics. You can bend and twist stuff to your liking, as long as you don't break too many rules. (Which I hope I haven't. :P)

About the horses…styrkur is actually "strength" in Norwegian, while draugur is "ghost" in Icelandic.

And what's this about Loki having his mouth sewn shut? All will be explained in due time. ;) You guys excited about the Loki and Natasha interaction? I'm kinda nervous, actually. I hope that I can write about their chemistry in spectacular fashion.