Thor descended to the dungeons with chaos in his mind. Loki had called for him. After all this time without a single attempt to contact, his brother wanted to see him. Of course, Thor hadn't sought his little brother out either. He couldn't bare seeing what had become of him. To see the shell what had once been his baby brother.
What about today was special? What had changed and forced his brother to break his proud silence?
Thor was aware this must be a trick of sorts to break himself free. His brother had had enough time to come up with a thousand of them, a thousand ways to escape his former home. A thousand ways to get his revenge.
Nevertheless, hope still resided inside the crown prince. Loki had asked for his presence to confess his utter regret and remorse for his actions. Though what this would change, even the prince didn't know.
'Loki, why have you called for me?'
As Loki spun around, his face first turned into an angry mask. It fell away within a second, as it was replaced with relief. 'Brother, you came!'
'I did, though I don't know why.'
Loki's head snapped to the side. 'He's not that good looking.'
Thor frowned and watched his brother turn red. 'What did you say?'
'I-,' Loki sighed and fidgeted with his hands. 'You will never belief this.'
The first the signal of a trick. The beginning of the deceit from his brother.
'Let me decide, brother.'
Loki nodded. 'That sounds reasonable, especially for you.' He rolled his eyes and growled under his breath, 'shut up.'
'I am.' Thor already regretted coming down here. His brother hadn't changed. 'Speak quickly. Not all have no responsibilities.'
One of Loki's hands twitched, like it itched to have a dagger in it. 'I will. Better even, I will without talking around it.' He took a deep breath and blurted it out. 'I need you to take me to Midgard, to earth.'
Straightforward is was. He had indeed not spun a web of words around it. Loki's deceptive skills had deteriorated since being locked up. Or it was an even deeper layer of deception, one that would sweep Thor's feet from underneath him when he was least expecting it.
'You know I cannot do that.'
'I do, but you should know this isn't for me.' Of course it wasn't. 'It isn't,' Loki hissed.
Thor stiffened. Had Loki read his mind? After all the magic he had seen in the nine realms it wouldn't surprise him. Only frighten him.
'What did you say?'
Loki flustered, more furious now. 'Nothing. I promise you, this isn't for me. It's for…' he glanced to the side. 'For Saoirse.'
'Who?'
'Saoirse,' Loki repeated. For a moment, the sharpness lessened in his voice. 'She is a Midgardian woman. We think she is in a coma, somewhere in New York.'
'We?'
'Yes, we.' Again, Loki gave a dirty look to the emptiness beside him.
'Who is we?'
Loki now braced himself. 'Saoirse and me.' He pressed his lips together.
'How… if she is in a coma… on earth…?' Thor's mind worked hard to figure out what Loki was up to. A Midgardian woman? What made him think Thor would believe Loki cared for a Midgardian woman? He had shown well enough he thought very little of humans. Besides, how could Loki have ever communicated with her?
'Because she's here,' Loki explained. The edges of his [bijeen] act fell apart, revealing a more intense, desperate version of his brother underneath. 'She's standing right here. She's some kind of apparition, I don't know how. But she's here!'
'Loki…'
'If you take me there, brother, if you take me to Midgard, to her, and lend me one of your healing stones… you have used those on a Midgardian before, haven't you? I'll go back here, I promise, if you help me save her!'
Thor shook his head.
'No! He will help!' Loki said to empty air. 'Will you not, brother?'
'Loki…' Thor had thought his brother was trying some kind of scheme. Now, with Loki passionate and with intense eyes, he realised his brother had gone mad. 'I am sorry this is what has become of you.'
'No! Thor, listen! I will [perform] whatever oath you want me to! You can keep me in magical bonds the entire time! Let me do this!'
Thor backed off. There was an ache in his chest as he watched his little brother. This was never what he had wanted to happen. He had always envisioned his little brother at his side as Thor sat on the throne. Loki was an intelligent man, had always been. Now, loneliness had broken him.
Loki called after him. Thor kept moving. He would talk to his father about this. Try to convince him to bring his brother aid for his damaged mind. Perhaps their mother could fix him somewhat.
'I wasn't wrong. I only overestimated the heroic nature of my brother.'
Loki wasn't speaking to him anymore yet, he was still talking. Thor stopped out of sight.
'It is not over. There are many ways out of Asgard. I must find another way. And I will.' Footsteps paced through the room. 'I won't give up… Because-' a frustrated grunt. 'Because I don't give up.'
What was happening? Did Loki know Thor was listening? Did he truly envision a Midgardian woman speaking to him? Or did he- no. He couldn't let his brother convince him he was telling the truth. He never was.
'You are still here, aren't you? That means there is time.' The footsteps stopped. Loki's voice was a lot quieter when he spoke next. 'I know you wouldn't be here without me. But you will not leave this place without me either.'
Was there true regret and guilt in his brother's voice? Loki, regretting his past actions it didn't seem plausible. Even his brother wasn't as great of an actor.
What if? What if Thor took him to New York? He would be in shackles, of course. Thor wouldn't take his eyes off him. But he would get to see the results of his actions. He would know Thor wasn't the one who had given up on their brother[hood].
No. This was madness. Loki couldn't be trusted. He didn't deserve even the littlest trust. It would only result in chaos and destruction, like everything Loki had ever done.
'I- I am sorry, Saoirse. I am not trying to make it right for me, but for you.'
Chaos, Thor reminded himself. Destruction.
'It's true. I'll return here. You would never see me again.'
This was the trick. The great lie.
'I can live with that.'
Right there. Thor couldn't see his little brother, but in his mind's eye, it wasn't the twisted, tortured version of Loki he saw, but the younger one. Before the truth had ruined their bond. Before Thor had proved himself a bad brother.
Thor turned. He would regret this. For the rest of his life.
Loki's eyes lit up as Thor came closer, though they were reluctant to be hopeful. 'What?'
'Maybe I could help you. Mind you, I don't trust you.'
Loki smiled, relief washing over his face. 'If you did, you would be the fool I always took you for.'
