Wow readers. I must say I am flushed. The support of this story for the first chapter has been amazing! Thank you so much to my reviewers, I promise to always try and reply to you all. Thank you as well to all my fav's and alert, I'm so glad this story has struck interest in so many.
As I explained to a few of my reviewers I love long chapters. So I'm sorry for the delay, but I always try and put extra effort in each chapter.
So hope enough with the pleasantries, and let's get to it!
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Chapter 2: Of Bonds and Blood
A month passed and nothing but time had changed. Loki was kept nourished and healthy, as anyone being held prisoner could possibly be kept. He was allowed routine bouts of exercise by way of escorted walks, with at bare minimum of six Asgardian guards, always returning once again to his room which was now known to be his permanent cell.
To an outsider, it may have looked liked overkill - six guards all resembling Heimdellr in body shape and golden outfit escorting around one physically inferior pale man. People more the wiser thought it was just enough kill. Yet despite his harsh reputation, or how unsettling it was to allow Loki to be contained in what the Asgardains considered minimum security, Odin could not bring himself to incarcerate his second son to the dungeons. The son in question considered it pathetic weakness on the king's part. If the tables were turned, Loki would not be so lenient.
Despite how unsettling it was having Loki confined outside the dungeons, it was nothing compared to the disturbing concern amassing by the passing of each day as to why the God of Mischief had not attempted in the slightest to escape. This was completely out of character for the trickster, and everyone ins Asgard began to grow increasingly nervous to what his ultimate agenda really was. Loki was never one without a plan. He was only a prisoner as long as he deemed it so.
There was one moment when he had cloned himself during his 'exercise' which resulted in his guards instantly carrying out restraining force, kicking both Lokis to the ground and aiming their golden staffs at the Gods backs demanding the real Loki cease his magicks. Instantly the fake Loki vanished and the real Loki stayed still on the ground on all fours, laughter erupting from his wicked mouth. Thor and Odin surmised that Loki wasn't even trying to escape. Maybe he was just practicing his magic to make sure it wasn't lost. Or perhaps, it had just been boredom. Psychotic boredom.
Thor's attempt at reaching his brother had also had been to no avail. Loki refused to admit any wrongdoings on his part for his actions on Midgard, or even Asgard before that. Then at times even refusing to talk to Thor all together. Thor compared it to being in the company of a Frost Giant, no matter what was said or by whom you always left the conversation feeling like had been inflicted with a severe of case frostbite. He didn't say this out loud of course, knowing full well the comparison to be way too close to home
So Thor had now found himself between a rock and a hard place. Odin refused to converse with Loki unless Thor was convinced his brother actually wanted forgiveness for his transgressions, and Loki refused to acknowledge culpability to Thor.
Then there was the issue of punishment. When it came to punishing the trickster, the problem was not that Loki didn't deserve Odin's renowned wrath. Far from it in fact. The evil he had inflicted on the people of Earth warranted that and more. The problem was that Loki did not shy away from punishment. Opposite really, he provoked it. It was quite disturbing the degree of delight Loki gained from infuriating those around him to the point they succumbed to anger and rage, even if it was directed towards him.
During the times he had spent on Midgard, Thor had learnt many things. One thing he learned was that the people of Earth had a word for someone with Loki's sort of personality - masochist. Tony had described the term to Thor before the Asgardian had left earth. He said on Earth it was a mental disorder. Nothing scared Thor more than the thought that perhaps there was no 'cure' for his brother; that there was a chance Loki's behavior was just who Loki was now. So Thor made it his duty to do everything in his power to help Loki change from the self-destructive person he had become.
"What shall we discuss today Thor Odinson." Loki taunted as he laid on his bed, hands underneath his head as he stared up at the ceiling refusing to grace his brother with even a glance as he entered the room; the guards as always fastening the door shut from the outside.
"How about my dear stand-in father? How is he fairing? You must be so restless in anticipation for the old King to finally die so you can sit upon the glorious throne of Asgard."
"That is enough Loki!" Thor roared. His brother had said some malicious things over the past weeks but this seemed even beyond the cruelty of him.
Loki let a sadistic side smirk break across his face. He had struck a nerve so early in their 'therapy' session. A record for Loki.
Sitting up to bring his legs over the bed he stared at Thor in wicked pleasure, "Oh come now. No need to deny it future King. If the waiting is too much to bare I could assist. Just let me out of this confinement and I would be glad to stab the Allfather in the throat while he sleeps."
Maybe it had been the day's tidings, maybe the lack of progress with Loki had finally taken its toll on Thor, but with that last remark from his brother Thor completely pushed him to the edge of sanity. Closing the distance between himself and Loki in a few bounds he brought the Liesmith to his feet, grabbing him at the collar of his shirt. With a forceful retraction of his muscular arm, he clenched his fist and brought it forward as hard as he could punching Loki straight into the chest. The pale God flew over his bed and across the room landing heavily into the wall. The impact encrusted Loki into the now large body sized crevice in the wall, rubble breaking away and tumbling down over his body.
Thor's breathing intensified as his rage consumed him, nose flaring, his arms shaking with fierce anger. Loki sat paralyzed momentarily by the stun of Thor's outburst, then fixing his eyes upon his brother, started laughing uncontrollably as he lent against the crumbles of the wall.
"Well now," Loki breathed out between fits of cackling, "that's more like it! That's the Thor I know. Uninhibited and Unrepentant."
Thor froze. His breathing easing back into normality. The furious scowl across his face disappearing instantly. What had he done? What had he let overcome him? The disgust in himself was overwhelming
Loki smiled in smug satisfaction as he rose to his feet, brushing off the debris from his clothes. "And here I thought your tramps on Earth had made you weak".
Over the past weeks Thor had focused every effort he could muster in an attempt to reach his brother. Day after day of bearing his soul and raw emotions to his brother had opened Thor more to his emotions that he ever knew a warrior could. Perhaps he wonder, that was the source of his sudden fit of rage; he had borne himself too much, letting both extremes of emotions fluctuate too much within him.
Thor continued to stare down at his hands clenching his fists in revulsion, his body resembling petrified stone. Loki however, was practically dancing in his head as he internally decided that he was no longer interested in taunting the blonde god. He immediately discarded his goal of teasing and psychological warfare. Something even more exciting had appeared before him.
Masking a warm smile across his face; the kind not worn by a friend but someone with questionable intentions in mind, Loki spoke softly placing a hand upon Thor's arm, "Brother."
One word shattered the stone layer.
Thor shot his eyes up at Loki who now stood before him. This was the first time in too many uncounted days his brother had addressed him in such a manner. His eyes widened, and in them you could see all the emptiness, the hurt and the confusion the the absence of his brother had caused him.
Cautiously moving his other hand and placing it upon Thor's shoulder Loki comforted, "Don't burdened yourself with worry. It suits you ill."
Thor didn't know what to think. A moment ago he had smashed his beloved brother into the wall from across the room. Now... now the brother who had sworn eternal hatred toward him was comforting him.
"Loki," Thor murmured but no more words would escape his lips. Emotions overcoming him, he lifted his arms and took his brother into his embrace. At that moment, Thor was terrified but all that disappeared once he felt Loki return the hug wrapping his arms around the God of Thunder.
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Thor's heart rate began to climb higher than he had first anticipated. He was uncharacteristically nervous as he approached the throne room to address his father. Initially, he had been entirely confident in his impending request and the King's response. But as his footsteps drew him closer to the throne room, doubt had kept upon him clouding his mind and it took all his resolve to finally force open the large golden doors to approach his father and mother.
"My beloved parents." Thor announced respectfully, bowing one knee before them. Frigga and Odin smiled warmly, so proud of how their first born son had grown into such a revering man.
"Rise my son." Odin dictated warmly, standing from his throne to go greet Thor; reaching out and grasping his shoulder. Frigga rose from her seat next to her King to embrace her son in a motherly hug, Thor smiling but slightly abash due to the eyes of the people still in attendance around the court.
Odin was aware his son desired to speak with him concerning delicate matters, a messenger informing him earlier than morn, so he addressed his court accordingly. "Leave us," he bellowed in only a fashion that could be described as kingly, "I wish to speak with my son."
And with that, the room was cleared.
"Father," Thor began, his eyes affixed upon those of the King of Asgard, "I wish to acquire your blessing for a proposition involving Loki."
With that, Odin's face became instantly shadowed with concern. "What do you propose?"
"Almost half a year has transpired since Loki's misdeeds on Midgard. I believe it would be beneficial to both Loki and the people of Earth if he were to return and make amends."
Thor's face remained unchanging as he spoke, while Odin's was washed with the firm expression of worry. "That is out of the question." He declared turning back to seat himself upon his throne, Frigga remaining at her son's side. While she never opposed her husband's decisions, she did have a skill for swaying his mind with the right guidance.
"Thor, have you discussed what you propose with Loki?" Frigga asked in a soft voice placing a warm loving hand on Thor's arm.
"Yes. I have proposed this to Loki who has agreed that he should return to Midgard to atone for his deeds." Thor returning his mother's kind touch by lightly brushing the palm of his hand to hers.
With both his wife and son now looking upon him with imploring gazes, Odin sighed squeezing the bridge of his nose, "Why would Loki seek forgiveness from the people of Midgard when he hasn't even expressed regret for his actions before me?" Odin questioned, suspicion more than enquiry clear in his voice.
Thor hesitated for a moment. Over the past weeks, Loki had finally begun to communicate with Thor like the brothers used to in what seemed a distant, almost unreal, past. Loki was open and honest with Thor about his resentment of Thor's father and mother for not revealing the truth to him about his origins when he was young. He explained that in his youth he was confused and felt like an outsider, and if only he had the truth, he could have grown to accept who he was. Now, that opportunity had been robbed from his as now he was an adult facing a future without an identity. Thor tried to convince Loki that origins did not matter, that family was a choice. Loki only retorted that Thor could not understand his anguish, but that if he did love Loki as he claimed he did, he could respect him enough to at least accept that he felt betrayed. To which Thor could not quarrel.
"Father, I know I am asking much of you. But you have my word that I have seen the potential for repentance in Loki." Thor offered almost pleading with his father. It didn't escape Odin's attention that Thor did not exactly answer his question. Of course, Odin knew exactly why Thor did not answer his question concerning the man whom he considered his own second son. It pained Odin with the thought that someone he loved so deep still held such resentment towards him; that he was willing to confront the people of a realm which he brought great misery and destruction before he would seek forgiveness from his own father.
For a moment Odin remained silent, his eyes distant in deep thought. Taking a breath he enquired, "Who would escort Loki to Midgard?"
Thor stepped forward confidently, "I would. I would take full responsibility for Loki."
"Then, with you making it your duty to guard Loki I will allow it." The King of Asgard decided and Thor could not help but let a smile stretch across his face, which his mother shared.
"I expect you should travel to Midgard first to make sure the guardians of their realm are aware of who you intend to recall into their realm."
"Yes father." Thor amply replied.
"Then I shall request the alchemist to open a portal for you."
Thus with his father's blessing, Thor took his leave with a respectful bow and a hopeful grin plastered across his face.
Thor well understood the favor he was asking of Odin. Asgard had many powerful individuals, from Gods, to warriors, to sorcerers. But Asgard's 'alchemist' as he went by, his name lost with time itself, was a powerful conjurer, and only with the use of Mjolnir combined with his dark magicks could the Asgardians create portals to other realms after the destruction of the Bifrost. There was of course the tesseract, but once the neigh indestructible relic had been returned to Asgard, it had been secured deep in the weapons vault of Asgard with no intention of allowing it to resurface ever again, especially not back to Midgard where it was almost the cause of the planet's most recent desolation.
The only catch to using Mjolnir was that the dark magicks needed to transport someone across realms was at such a dangerous level that it even left the alchemist completely drained. When one did travel to Earth this way, the traveler would have to wait a few days for the alchemist's powers be replenished before communicating with Heimdell to instruct the alchemist to create a return portal.
Planning the specifics aside, in the meantime Thor was overjoyed. He could not wait to share the good news with his brother. With a slight bound in his steps he made his way to Loki's room. Ordering he guards to open the boarded door in haste, the thunder god literally stormed into his brothers quarters.
Loki had been busily sketching at his desk, pen still in hand as he turned to Thor to look at him with a suspicious glare. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen his brother so... gleeful? Nope wait, he did remember, Thor's coronation when Odin handed to him the powerful hammer of the gods.
"What could have possibly instilled upon my brother more jubilant idiocracy than he already possesses?" Loki asked in a very snarky tone. Thor just scoffed.
"Because you are my brother and I love you, l won't take any heed to your untactful insult." Thor responded, Loki darkening his glare.
Now Loki was completely enthralled in anticipation. "Well come on," he pestered, "out with it then." Loki never liked secrets- unless it was his to know or share.
Bringing his hands upon Loki's shoulders as the far thinner god remained seated staring up at his brother, Thor grasped his hands tightly as he gaily spoke, "I bring tidings of goods news Loki. Father has consented to our return to Midgard."
Loki's jaw dropped, mouth agape in shock.
Was his brother being serious? 'Of course he is,' Loki contorted sarcastically to himself in his own mind. He was the liesmith, not Thor. Then how in Hel and all the nine realms did Thor get their... no his... his father to accede to this escapade.
When Thor had proposed returning to Midgard so Loki could make amends, Loki encouraged Thor to seek the bequest of their father; completely of the mind that Odin would not hear such ridiculous propositions. But the fact that he had... agreed?
Loki quickly composed himself noticing that Thor was growing cautious of his reaction, "Brother?" Thor murmured, concern in his tone.
Loki let a fake smile grace his face, "That is wonderful news!" He cheered. "Isn't it brother." Thor quirked raising Loki and wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace.
Really, the last thing Loki wanted to do was to return to Earth. He detested that planet and all its inhabitants. He was not looking forward to returning, and he was especially not looking forward to seeing those damned comrades of Thor's who had humiliated him the last time he ventured to that forsaken realm.
Well, at least it would be a change of scenery from his dreary captivity.
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I hope this chapter did not have too much detail. I try to balance the back story as well as equal it to the dialogue. Please let me know your thoughts in a review. Also, chapter 3 is in the final editing stages so I hope to have it up sooner than this chapter took to upload. Thanks again for taking the time to read!