Chapter 6: Locker Room
"Thor, why, exactly, are you here," asked him Steve.
"On order of the Allfather, I need to make sure you have all the information you need regarding the keeping of the slaves," answered Thor.
"What else should I know?"
"This slave needs a strong hand. Sooner or later, he will cause problems and he might escape. It might seem like he knows his place, but his training was long, meaning there were problems. You should show absolutely no emotion toward the slave. As much as you might want to be kind to the boy, you can't, he's just the son of another slave, which makes him a slave too. Before I go, I will need to see him serve. Then, I would be able to leave."
"Okay, I was about to order him to clean the locker room. Come."
oOo
When Thor and Steve entered the slaves' room, Loki and Alex were waiting on their knees close to the wall. Thor was happy to see them like that given the raven on his shoulder. At least, the raven can tell Odin Loki knows his place.
"Alright, come with me, both of you," ordered Steve.
Loki and Alex followed them to the supply closet in the hallway.
"Now take the bucket, a sponge, and those products too."
Loki did as order.
"Oh, and the broomstick too, with the mop."
It was a lot, but he could do it.
They followed Steve and Thor in another section of the compound and entered the locker room. The smell was strong, but the men's room was empty.
"So you need to clean this whole room. You'll need a mop for the floor, clean the sinks, the mirrors. Pay close attention to the showers over there. Since it's your first day on the job, someone will be with you at all time. You may ask questions regarding the cleaning only. The room is big, the tasks should take you a little less than two hours. And Alex can help you."
Loki cleaned and had Alex gave him what he needed. Steve stayed for a while, then left, Thor left when Tony came to watch. Then he was replaced by Rhodey. However, the raven stay all the time.
oOo
"You need to punish him," said Thor.
"Why? He hasn't done anything," said Steve.
"Find something. If my father knows I left Loki be punished by you, he will be satisfied. Then, I will be able to leave and you could change the rules around Loki. Once Odin has proofs that the training is indeed complete, he will leave Loki alone."
"I just wish it was easier. I won't punish him for the work he is doing right now as long as it is well done."
oOo
The opportunity to punish Loki presented itself when they were returning from the locker room. Loki was following Steve a bit too close and tripped, then send the bucket full of musky water all over the place, but mostly on his master. Loki immediately sank to his knees in the water.
"I'm sorry master, I triped and poured dirty water on you. I apologize and demand punishment."
Behind Loki, Alex was scared and he kneeled too, still holding a few things his father had asked him to carry. Thor and Steve looked at Loki, then at each other.
"The slave forget to mention he was following you too close," said Thor. "He should always be aware of the distance between him and the free men. Either he was not aware he was too close or he forgot to mention it. Both add to his punishment."
"Please punish me master."
"You drenched me and you were following too close. For that, you have earned five hours in the cage. So you will be there until the end of the day. Now follow me, but not too close."
oOo
They first went to the common area so Vision and Wanda could watch over Alex and to collect Tony so he could lead the group (compose of Steve, Thor, Loki and the raven) to the holding area. The cell was clean, white, with just a toilet and a cot. Only the door, not window, but a camera in each corner of the ceiling.
"Why are you being punished?"
"Because I drenched you, master, with dirty water, because I was following you too close. I'm sorry. I am ready for my punishment," said Loki kneeling on the floor.
"You are to stay here until I come to collect you, which will be in five hours. Think about what you have done. Now, since this is your first time, you should know this here," said Steve while pointing to a trap in the wall, "is where you will be receiving food should you be here for long hours. Understood?"
"Yes master. I am to think about my misdeeds and repent. Thank you for giving me this chance," said Loki.
Tony closed and locked the door and then, they were gone. Loki was alone. He had to be punished. Of course he knew he was too close when he was walking, he knew he would trip. He had set himself up for punishment because he knew the raven had to see Steve be hard with Loki and Thor letting Loki's master do what needed to be done. Loki needed to be punished so Thor would prove himself as a true king, or at least the king Odin wants him to be.
Loki chose something that could be considered a mistake, not something worth sending him to retraining, but enough to be punished. He had tried to get punishment this morning in the infirmary, but Steve also knew Thor was being tailed by Odin. The Allfather needed to be a witness to Steve's potential as a master, via proxy.
oOo
While Tony, Steve and Thor were returning from the holding area, the raven flew away. They acted like they didn't notice, just in case it would come back.
oOo
"So Alex, I have a task for you," said Vision. "You see those different rings of colours on the floor and that small pole. I want you to put all the rings on the pole, the larger at the bottom and the smaller on top. Can you do that?"
Alex looked at the rings and picked a big one. He took his time to select the largest ring of those left on the ground to put in on the pole. After a few minutes, Alex had organized all the rings in the correct order.
"Very good Alex," said Wanda. "Now look over here at the mess I made. I want you to pick up all those pieces and put them in this sphere. But there's a trick, the pieces are different shapes and they all have their own entry way into the sphere given their form. So you have to put the piece in the hole that has the right form. Can you do that?"
And Alex did. There were more pieces, so it took it more time, but Vision could see the boy was smart. And then he started to yawn.
"Are you tired," asked Wanda.
Alex frantically shook his head.
"How about we go to your room so you can lie down for a bit?"
Alex tried to shake his head, because a good slave doesn't sleep in the middle of the day, but he yawns again instead. Wanda took his hand and led him to his room. Then, she put him to bed.
"You can sleep if you want. Or just rest. I know you are tired, and it's okay to be. You had a big day today."
oOo
"Bruce," called Wanda.
The nice doctor was reading a science book in the living room.
"So, we did the first two tests you asked us to do on Alex. He was scared, so it wasn't the ideal circumstances but he is good. A bit slow, but he didn't make any mistake."
"Good. He doesn't seem like the normal three years old, but he is not too far off. At least, it's not as bad as I expected it to be. Given Loki is his father, maybe he was taught a few things or maybe he inherited so intelligence from his father. Where is Alex?"
"Taking a nap. I have Friday watching over him. He felt asleep when I closed the door."
"Poor kid. Must have been really tired. If you can, give him a snack when he wakes up. I should also send a snack to Loki. Steve told him about the food delivery system."
oOo
In the cell, the food trap started to imitate noise. Loki, who was kneeling on the floor, looked up. The trap opened to revel a simple snack bar without the wrap. Loki looked around, but, of course, he was alone, should he take the food? He had seen the cameras, he knew they could be observing him. That's why he did not use the cot. A slave, or worst an idle or punished slave, should not be sleeping on a cot. He had learned that the hard way in training. But he had only been offered food once when being punished in training, and taking the food had not ended well if one considers being starved for a week not a good ending. So, he didn't take to food.
oOo
"So now that the raven is gone, does that mean your mission here is done," asked Steve.
"Probably. If the raven doesn't come back tomorrow, I'll be going home. But I fear it still might return," said Thor.
oOo
Alex was in his room without his dad. He was scared. He thought he had pretended to sleep for a long time and his father would be back by now, but it was still light outside. He didn't want to try to sleep anymore or to get out of the room, so he just stays sitting on the bed. At least, he was a bit more rested.
Wanda opened the door and came for him, being alerted by Friday. She gave him a protein bar to eat.
"I already got food today," said Alex in his small voice.
"Well, you can have more. And we don't have to tell the others. It will be our secret that you eat again."
So Alex took the bar and ate it.
"Your father will be joining us later, but in the meantime, why don't we go in the living room?"
oOo
Some of the Avengers were eating in the kitchen, but not all of them. They had decided it was better that meals be everyone for itself so they wouldn't have Loki there to serve them yet. It will come, but not today. Wanda and Bruce were sitting with Alex who was kneeling on the floor.
"So which colour is this," asked Bruce holding a block.
"Green."
"Great. And now, can you give me the red block?"
And Alex did. The tasks he was asked to perform were a little fun. He never saw so many objects with bright colours in Asgard and those tasks were easy. Alex felt confident he could be a good slave here.
Bruce was a bit worry about Alex. Obviously, the kid never had toys in his life and didn't know how to play. They had tried to pass the game as a chore, but Bruce was hoping that Alex could enjoy life, not as a slave, but as a kid. But slavery was all that kid knew.
They played with blocks, learning about colours and numbers until every Avenger had eaten supper and clean the kitchen. Then, Tony and Steve disappeared.
oOo
Suddenly, the food trap closed. Loki just hoped it would not open with more appealing food. The temptation had been strong, but he had seen stronger. He stayed on his knees, on the floor, shifting sometime to sit down more comfortably for a short period of time. He didn't like this punishment, it was hard, his knees hurt and he wished to know what Alex was doing. Was he okay?
There was a click and the door opened, revealing Tony and Steve.
"So Loki, did you learn your lesson," asked Steve.
"Yes, master, I will pay more attention not to trip and I won't follow my betters so close." Loki hoped it was enough to end his punishment. He might have done this so Thor would not be watched so closely, but he didn't like this punishment.
"You have done your five hours, you can come out. Now follow me."
Loki followed Steve out of the room and into the hallway, back to the living quarters of the Avengers. On the way, Steve stopped and turned toward Loki. Tony was standing right beside Cap.
"Loki, I want to clear some things with you. First, in that cell, you don't have to stay on your knees. Yes, we can see what's going on, but I'm not expecting you to kneel. You can use the bed. You can even sleep in it. Understood?"
No! This was punishment. The slave had to show he was inferior. How can he do that while sitting on the bed?
"Yes master."
"Okay, so next time you are in there, you won't kneel?"
"I should be on my knees. Odin said that given that I wanted everyone else to kneel, it is my punishment to kneel to everyone."
"But there is no one in the room with you. So you don't have to kneel and I won't be mad if you don't. Second, when there's food send your way in the cell, you have the right to eat it. I won't starve you as punishment. Also, given that you are malnourished and pregnant, you need to eat. Will you eat when you are given food that is destined for you?"
That he will. First, for the baby. And second, no master loves a slave who is not strong enough. And third, Loki was hungry.
"Yes master."
"Good. So it's seven right now. I told you you need to be in your room from eight at night until eight to next morning. So you have one hour of free time before you go to your room. But you have to stay in the common area. Come on, Alex is waiting for you."
Loki was so happy when he saw Alex in the living room. The boy was playing, no, that's not right, he was placing pieces in an animal puzzle, the same Steve had this morning. Was it just this morning?
Alex saw his dad and smiled. He knew better than to run up and hug him. Loki kneeled not too far away.
"Euh, Loki, this is your free time. Basically, you don't have to act like a statue," said Stark. "Just go with him and help, how about that?"
So Loki went to kneel beside his son and saw that he was doing well with the puzzle. Loki didn't like being in the center of the room. He saw Alex yawn from time to time.
"Okay, it's bed time. Loki, take Alex to your room and don't get out until next morning," ordered Steve. "Oh, and you can use everything in the bathroom, so you can take a shower or a bath if you like."
Loki quietly took Alex and they left the living room. Neither of them spoke until they heard the click of the door.
"Daddy, I did good. They wanted me to arrange pieces, and blocks, and colours. And I did. They said I was good at it."
"Yes Alex, you did well. Now, how about we clean up before going to bed?"
Loki brought his child into the bathroom and ran a bath. Not too hot, so not to use all the hot water, but not too cold either, and just enough water.
"This is fun daddy. The tasks were fun today. Should I have fun?"
"Alex, things here are different. But slaves don't have fun, okay?"
"It's fun when the task is easy."
Loki gave his child a bath and then took him to bed.
"Daddy, the nice woman made me sleep today, while you were away. She saw I was tired and put me to bed. I wasn't sure if I should sleep, but I was tired then and I'm tired now. But I didn't sleep earlier. ยป
"It's okay Alex. Sleep my baby."
And Loki kissed Alex on his head. He then wait a bit for Alex to fall asleep and went back to the bathroom. He used the same water in the bath to clean himself. After, he was not really tired and could not get out of the room, but he also had nothing else to do. That was strange. At every moment of his life, for the past five years, he either has something to do or he was too tired and just wanted to sleep. It was a nice moment, just calm, looking over a sleeping child, caressing the one to come. But it was an unusual moment. He just sat there on the bed, and he had a bed! Okay, he was sharing it with Alex and it wasn't a really large bed, but still, a bed was more than he had. And blankets.
The one good thing about being locked in his room was that the possibility of being used during the night was lower than if he were to share some else's room. Not absent, just lower. But it still made a difference. Even though it wasn't rape given his status, Loki didn't want the other Avengers to fill their needs for sexual pleasure with him.
