Chapter 4

When Loki woke up, they loomed over him with tension and masked hatred. He couldn't recall who they were, but they looked awfully familiar. He could only get some snippets of images and memories. For one, he remembered one of them offering a drink. He had no idea why, but it seemed like a good time to mention it.

"I think I would like to have that drink now." He said slowly and carefully as if repeating code to continue a secret conversation.

But he wasn't met with friendliness. Instead, Thor pulled out a magic restraint and locked them on Loki's hands. He stared at them blankly and looked back at them. They stared back at him as if he was insane.

"Loki-"

Loki put up his shaking shackled hands. His heart was beating thousand per second. He could feel his magic being restrained. Just like when he was captured before. He shivered.

"No, that's not what I meant to say," he stuttered. "I can explain! Just, take this shackle away" Loki said desperately. "It's because...ugh" his head felt like a split watermelon. His tongue felt loose and he felt the ground shift underneath his feet.

The embedded object in the back of his neck fizzled. He could hear it grinding its gear inside the tiny mechanism. His eyesight blurred.

Stark felt that something was wrong with the Reindeer game. They saw Loki go pale and stare in the distance. Thor also realized once more, something was wrong. Even Natasha looked unnerved.

"Please...just listen to me, Thor. Get this restraint off." He painted with fear in his eyes. "I need my magic."

"Exactly the reason why we need to restrain you." Barton snorted.

"No, you don't understand. This, all of this, wasn't me. It wasn't." Loki mindlessly mumbled. He looked around in paranoia. He knew Other was around somewhere, listening in. His neck prickled.

He reached for the gem embedded in the back of his neck but even a slight movement sent the Avenger gearing to take alert stances. Loki began to sweat. He looked at them all in the eyes but what stared back were blanks filled with loathing, animosity and cold unyielding heart. Only Thor stared at him with sadness, and regret.

"Please Thor, please believe me just one last time," Loki begged. "Just take a look at the back of my neck. There is a mind-"

Loki never got his final word out. Suddenly, he felt as if a knife slid into his soft brain and he lurched in agony. He clutched his mouth shut to not let out a scream but the pain brought him to his knee. His tears fell unwillingly and it took all his energy to maintain consciousness. He felt as if his brain was on fire and his body was continuously being struck by lightning. He could almost smell his skin burning.

It's an illusion he thought. It's all in my head.

But if his pain wasn't even real, then maybe, even the Avenger and Thor wasn't real

After all, if the person in front of him as Thor, he would have surely listened to him. Surely, he would have believed in him.

Another voice whispered. But who would believe in God of lies? The voice chuckled.

The Avenger watched with confusion as Loki collapsed to the ground. The last sound he heard was Thor shouting his name.