Chapter 2: New Master
"No! I can have custody of someone else. Thor, I would beat Loki the first time he enraged me and I won't be able to control the Hulk. No, sorry, but I cannot," said Bruce.
"Thor, slavery is illegal on Earth," said Cap.
"Then he can be an unpaid servant. Loki must serve and obey. That's his sentence and it shall be as Odin decided. Call it what you want, but it is as Odin declared."
"But he is your own brother, even though he is adopted," said Tony.
"I believe Odin Allfather wants to make it know his former son is not above the law and that the future king is up to the task. It is a test to Thor to deliver the slave to his new master. That's the reason why the raven is here," said Jarvis.
"The one of us should accept Loki as a slave. Better us than Shield," said Cap. "They will lock Loki up and experiment on him. If Loki stays at the compound, we will all be able to watch over him."
Thor nod but said nothing.
"So if Bruce doesn't want to be Loki's master, who's next in line?" asked Tony.
"You, Captain Rogers, because of your rank as leader of the team," said Thor.
"So basically, I will be his master, then what?"
"Loki has been trained as a slave. Usually, that training takes three years, but in Loki's case, it was longer. And the pregnancy adds a bit of time also. He will obey to everything you said. Even though he can be the slave of any one of you if his master declared it, only the master control Loki's magic."
"He still has his magic."
"Yes, but it is under stick control from his master. And he has his longevity. He should live up to 5 000 years, more or less. And I will be staying here for the first two weeks to help the new master. So, Captain Rogers, do you fall up to the task? Or would Dr. Banner like to come back on his decision."
"No, I'm fine without having a slave, thanks," said Bruce. "I can maybe be in the same room as him if he behaves, but I don't guarantee the other guy won't come out to play."
"Loki knows it is in his best interest to always behave. Don't you, slave?"
For the first time, Thor addressed Loki.
"Yes master," was all Loki let out.
"He has been trained for all occasion, everything you might want to ask of him. So, captain?"
"I'll do it. Because I am against slavery, I will try to be a benevolent master."
"Great. So basically, he has to obey you and you cannot kill him, no matter the offence. If you believe he should be executed for a misdeed, there will be a trial in Asgard. You can lean him to others or you can sell him. Until the fifth birthday of the child, said child stay with Loki, but at five years old, the child would be taken for training. You may ask to buy the child after the three years of training."
"What if I don't want the child to go to training? I mean, we could train the child ourselves."
"You could, if it's common practice here to do so," said Thor.
"It is," said Stark, "until a child is old enough to work, the child is trained either at home or at school. I am sure we can train the child by ourselves, both of them."
At that, Loki raised his head so slightly, but his child turned toward him with big eyes to await confirmation they won't be separated. Loki lowered his head again and so did the child. Loki had thought he would have to offer to train his children himself in order to maybe have a chance at keeping them. Slaves were rare, but if a slave has children, those were also slaves for life. And that was the case for both of Loki's children. They night not deserved it, but they would always be slaves because of something Loki did. Not only those two, but those to come in the future, though Loki didn't want any other, but that's not up to him.
"So Rogers, last chance to back out," said Thor.
"No, I'll do it. What do I have to do?"
"I, Thor Odinson of Asgard, owner and master of slave Loki, transfer my slave to Steven Rogers of Midgard."
Thor felt it. Loki felt it, even the child felt it. Rogers was in control now. Being a Midgardian, he didn't feel the ancient magic bond him to Loki.
"The bond is magical. Loki will be able to find you anywhere and you will know his location as well. Other than that, you are the only one able to command his magic. The magic cannot force him to obey, but he has been trained to and knows what is the punishment. Loki is known as a runner among the news trainees, that's why he is wearing chains. I would suggest the chains stay until he has the baby. By then, he should know better than to run away."
"Wait, he tries to run away during training?" asked Wanda.
"Yes, on his first year. He has been wearing the chains ever since."
"What, four years in chains!" said Tony.
"We should have them remove now," said Cap. "What? I am his master, should I decide. I don't like the look of chains."
"I would recommend you do not remove them just yet. Loki hasn't been out of the training ground for long and he should get use to being here before we change his whole routine. Also, giving his reputation, it is advisable to let the chains there, for now," said Thor.
"OK, so in a few days, maybe?"
Thor nod. Loki didn't let it show that he was hoping for the chains to come off. Well, he had been hoping for it since the moment the trainers suggest putting him in chains, or maybe even when he was sentenced to slavery. But, of course, he didn't let it show, he was a well-trained slave.
"So we are really doing this," said Rhodey, "taking in the god of mischief who destroyed New York, as a slave to the Avengers? On order of Odin himself."
"Saw it as payment for Loki's crimes," said Thor.
"And your mother approved? Asgard is all okay with that?" asked Rhodey.
"My mother didn't approve, no. But she was the queen and had to side with her king."
"Wait, was?" said Tony. "Did she die?"
"Yes, my mother Frigga has passed. It grieved us all."
"Mother is dead?" said Loki shocked.
All eyes were immediately on him, most of them of surprised, but Thor seemed furious. And in that sight, Loki knew he fucked up.
"I am so sorry, my majesty, Master," said Loki while looking at Thor then Steve. "Allow me to ask for punishment."
"What, no," said Steve.
"You do know a proper slave doesn't speak unless spoken to. You will receive punishment," said Thor with pain.
"Thor, no punishment. No," said Steve.
"How come you never told your brother your mother was dead," asked Tony.
"He is not of the family anymore," said Thor. "But he needs to be punished for speaking. Friend Steve, I will show you how to discipline a disobedient slave."
Thor stood up. The kid in Loki's arm turned to hide against his father. Loki looked like a statue. He knew he would be punished and deserved it. He should know to keep his mouth shut, but the shock of the news was too big. And well, if he was to be punished...
"Master, may I ask for my child to be sent to the slave quarter, please?" Yes, speaking out of turn would only increase the punishment, but the child had never seen his father be punished.
"Loki, you know you shouldn't make demands when you are being punished, and you shouldn't talk when you are already going to be punished for talking," said Thor.
"Thor, we don't need to punish Loki for speaking. It's okay," said Steve.
"No, the slave needs to be punished. Loki, tell them why," said Thor.
"It is not the proper behaviour for a slave to speak without an invitation. A slave must be as invisible as possible. Now, I must be reminded of my place, my rank and the rules I must follow. Forgive my transgression, master, your majesty," said Loki.
"OK, Wanda, Vision, take the child somewhere else," said Tony.
"Tony, we can't condone this," said Steve.
Wanda approached the slave and Loki nudged his child toward the woman. The child didn't want to let go of his father, but in the end, Wanda exited the room with a child in her arms, followed by Vision. They were both doing their best to distract the kid, but it was just not working.
"Friend Steve, if you want Loki to obey you, you need to discipline him when he deserves it. And now, unfortunately, he does. I was hoping his training would have tame his tongue, but it appears not to be the case. If Loki is too misbehaved, I will have to take him back to Asgard for retraining."
"I'm sure Loki will understand after the punishment and that he will be on his best behaviour after knowing all the rules, which we haven't told him yet," said Stark. "Won't you, Loki?"
Stark was trying to allow Loki to speak, to say something to make the situation better.
"While it is true I don't know the rule my new master wants me to follow, as a slave, I should know the basic rules," said Loki.
"What if I don't care that he speaks without being invited? He doesn't need to be punished if I don't like that rule," said Steve.
"Loki would have tested the limits, of course. He needs to know you are his master. And the rules he learns in Asgard stand as long as you haven't replace those with your own. I'm sorry, but he spoke before you change the rules," said Thor.
"And what is the punishment," asked Rhodey. "I don't fancy seeing someone being punished, but it's Loki we are talking about."
"Whipping. Most of the punishment include some form of beating or other corporal punishment. For the lesser of infractions, whipping usually should suffice," said Thor.
"That will change. I won't beat Loki if he is not fighting me first," said Steve.
"But he is fighting you by misbehaving."
"How many hits? The whipping, how much?" asked Tony.
"Five should be enough. He apologized fast and asked for punishment. Five lashes should do. But he also aggravated his situation to ask the child to be removed. So maybe fifteen."
"No, the child is a free-pass," said Tony.
"And it will be so every time Loki needs to be punished. The child, or children, will never be in the room," said Steve. "Five, no more."
"OK. So when you need to discipline your slave, you should make sure he knows why. You don't need to tell him how much he will receive. And he must apologize and thank you. So once you have decided the punishment, you tell him he would be punished and to assume the position."
Loki turned around and starts to remove his tunic. He had half-healed gashes on his back, signs that he had been whipped before, and worst.
"Wait, the baby. Won't that hurt the baby?" asked Tony.
"No, Loki is very early in his pregnancy, but Jutnar are really good at protecting the baby inside. Don't worry, the baby will be safe. And, as you might suspect, the slave has been beaten before, while pregnant. Don't worry," said Thor. "Now, you take to object you will use to punish him with. You can take it out before, but something, it is best to keep it a secret. It hurts more."
Steve remove his belt.
"What? I don't have a whip with me."
"You will need one. Especially with a slave like Loki. Now, you ask him why he is being punished."
"Loki, why are you being punished?"
"Because, Master, this disobedient slave spoke out of turn. Twice. I apologise and demand punishment for my action. Please Master."
"Does he need to say all of that, " asked Tony.
"Well, he is being polite. It's a good sign. The old Loki would have talked his way out of it. Or turn the situation around. Now, you hit him. You can make it slow, strong, fast. However you want."
Steve lifted his belt and brought it down on Loki once, twice and so on, five times. It wasn't too fast and it seems strong.
"There, five lashes."
"Thank you master. I will remember this lesson."
Tony looked at Thor to ask if that was normal.
"Yeah, he is expected to say that. I thought he would bruise faster though."
"Put your shirt back on," order Steve. Order that was immediately followed by Loki.
"Okay, it's getting late. I would like to go to bed soon," said Steve. "Tony, do you have a room for our new guest."
"The slave can sleep on the floor of your room or with the other slaves," said Thor.
"We don't have other slaves," said Tony. "There is a room free beside Vision. I was keeping it for Spider-man, but Loki can have it. There is only one bed though, so he will have to double-bunk with his child."
"And he needs to be anchored for the night. You might be against that, but at least for the first few nights. Until he knows he cannot run away."
"Because your brother is a flying risk," said Tony. "I don't like it, but it will have to do for now. When we trust him, we won't have to chain him down."
"Wait, what if we remove the chains and put him in a cell? You have cells here, right Tony? There, he will be secure," asked Rhodey.
"I won't put a child in a cell. The room with the chains will have to do. But Friday will also keep a close eye. I would like a moment with Loki alone in his room. Tony, tell Wanda she can bring the kid in maybe half an hour."
Thor took Loki's chains and followed Steve in the vacant room.
