Chapter 13: Dramatic Turn of Events

On the way down, Loki did not resist. Both the captain and the widow were holding tight on his arms. Though they were not holding too tight, his arms hurt. His hands hurt. He was exhausted. What had he done? Why? He needed to let out his frustration at the whole situation and he had lashed out, but not only on him. While walking, he could feel his robs throbbing. Weirdly, the pain felt good! Like he deserved it, like it was long over due. He was just walking on autopilot, not even looking up. After all, they were going to his cell.

The whole walk had been without a word. After what felt like forever, they reached the cell.

"Loki, I don't know yet how long you are going to stay here," said Steve while removing the towel biding Loki's hands. "It will be long, so make yourselves at home."

Loki sank to his knees. Steve was still behind him.

"You don't have to kneel. You can use everything in this room, including the bed. Also, Loki, please eat. You are being punished, but it doesn't mean starvation. If you don't want to do it for you, then do it for the baby. I'll see you when I see you."

Loki knew there was something missing. What? Oh... He was supposed to say something... What was it? But he came up blank.

Steve got out and Natasha closed the door. The room was the same, no window, no handle on this side of the door, no distraction. Just a cot, a toilet slash sink and the food trap.

And the floor. The cold floor. Just white. Nothing special about it. It was the only thing Loki was currently looking at. He had sunk to his knees and now he was just there, the door behind him.

For once, with this pain, Loki felt real. The pain was supposed to be there. It felt like something had been returned to its rightful place. So Loki just focus on the pain, the bruises forming, the blood tickling, the ribs throbbing. He patted himself to feel it more. It hurt to move. Moving was fine, just more pain. Pain was good, pain was normal.

But the pain was fading. No! No, Loki needed the pain.

So he got up. He could not hit the wall like he wanted to, it belonged to Stark. He could not hit something that he didn't own. As a slave he owned nothing. So he started hitting himself again, and again, and again.

oOo

Sam was still in the gym, playing soccer with Alex. He didn't know what was happening with the rest of the team, so he just entertained the kid. He had tried to ask Friday, but the AI was offline apparently.

At least, Alex was having fun.

oOo

In the living room, Steve, Tony and Natasha were watching the video of Loki's crisis.

"Nothing triggered him," said Natasha. "Nothing happens before."

"He went from cleaning to hitting himself. The guy has issues," said Tony.

"I should talk to him soon," said Steve.

"Is Friday back online," asked Natasha to Tony.

"Yes, I put an end to the update. I'll do it another day."

"Where is Alex," asked Steve.

"Probably still with Sam," said Tony. "Hey, Friday, where are Sam and Alex?"

"They are still both in the gym now playing soccer," said Friday.

"And how is Rhodey doing?"

"Doctor Banner seems confident he will wake up soon," said Friday.

"Good, I want to talk to him," said Steve. "Get to know his version."

"Look like Rhodey arrived and tried to stop Loki when Loki decided to stop Rhodey," said Tony.

"Friday, show me Loki, please," asked Steve.

The image on the screen changed and now showed Loki beating himself in his cell.

"Friday, zap him now," said Tony before all three went running.

oOo

In his cell, Loki was sizzling on the ground like a piece of bacon. It hurt in a totally different way, not a good way. Loki was not in control, as he should. A slave is never in control.

Over the electricity running in his body, he barely heard the door opened.

"Stop, just stop," screamed Steve. "Make it stop."

"Friday, stop it," screamed Tony.

Loki was panting on the ground when he felt hands on him.

"Got the chains," said Natasha.

"Give it here," said Steve.

Steve took the chains and started to bound Loki. Because of the bracelet, Loki was not resisting, just limp. He felt the cold chains on his wrists. Then, Steve turned him around and put a belt made of chain around his waist.

Then Steve lifted Loki up and put him on the bed. More chains were applied and the. Loki was restrained to the bed and could only move his feet.

"Loki, you start kicking and I bound your legs too, understood?"

Of course, Loki didn't answer.

"You DO understand you will not see Alex as long as you still being violent," said Natasha.

Alex! Oh, Alex. Loki suddenly wanted to ask about him, but he kept his mouth shut. A good slave doesn't talk, especially not in front of his master.

But a slave can apologise. Should even. And Loki was being punished.

"I apologise for my misdeeds, master. I will take whatever punishment you deem necessary."

"For starters, you are going to calm down and stay here for a while. When we trust you, we might remove the chains," said Steve in a severe voice.

"Thank you, master."

"Consider apologising to Rhodey maybe," said Tony.

"I apologise for all my misdeeds, masters. I am sorry for the hurt I cause. I am truly sorry and I repent. I deserve punishment and I will take whatever beating you will inflict on me."

Loki just recited every line he knew about apologies, about how a slave should act after misbehaving. He had learned them all by heart and he just hoped that one of them would satisfy Tony. But when he ran out, he decided to say his apology with his heart.

"I am sorry Rhodey got hurt. He has been nice to Alex and I. I hope he recovers. I wish him well and I am so sorry I did this. He was there and I was just hitting because I deserve the pain. I deserve to suffer, to be in chains, to be in a cell, to be confined. I don't deserve the reward system, I don't deserve some privileges, or the right to go out, or clothes, or good food."

Loki was still talking, chained to the bed. Steve made a sign to the others so they would leave. Then he sat down on the bed.

"Hey, Loki, look at me," said calmly Steve.

"I am just a slave, I am nothing. I have been taught I am nothing. Nothing. They told me that in training. Nothing makes sense here. The rules don't apply like they should. Please, punished me, beat me, make me regret everything."

"Okay, calm down. We are going to talk first. Deep breath, Loki."

Loki breathed deeply like asked.

"Close your eyes."

Loki obeyed.

"Just focus on my voice. Think about Alex, think back to the evenings when you played with him. Think of his smile."

A multitude of memories passed in Loki's mind, all the good moments with his child.

"Think of when you told him a story when you put him to bed. Focus on Alex."

oOo

Natasha made her way back to the gym they had left when Alex came.

"There you go! You are good Alex. Come on, again," said Sam enthusiasm.

Natasha saw both of them playing soccer.

"Hey, Sam, can I have a minute, please."

"Okay, Alex, continue without me. Aim of the nest," told Sam while Alex was running for the ball.

Sam approached Natasha.

"So, what happened?"

"Loki attacked Rhodey. He will be in the cell for a while. Rhodey is at the infirmary now, but Bruce is confident. Steve is talking to Loki, but it's not good."

"He just attacked unprovoked," asked Sam.

"No. For what it seems, Loki was not right. He was trying to beat himself, but Rhodey tried to stop him. Steve is trying to make sense of what happens, but we are still waiting for Rhodey to wake up."

"Oh... And what is going to happen?"

"We don't know yet. Do you mind keeping an eye on Alex? Maybe he should go back to his nap until supper. We haven't decided what he should know."

"Of course I'll stay with Alex. Thanks Nat."

Sam went back to the kid.

oOo

"So Loki, are you calm?"

"Yes master."

"Loki, I'm not your master."

"Yes, you are."

Steve sighed, deciding to let the matter slide for now.

"Can you explain what happens?"

There was a moment of silence. Loki knew he should be on his knees for that, but given the chains, he would stay on his back.

"Nothing makes sense here. You told me not to call you master, but you are. You said I am a prisoner, but I am a slave and I should remember that. You refused to punish me when I broke the glass, when I stepped too far from you outside. I deserve punishment, but instead, you gave me the reward system. You took off the chains, but they are back now, it's good. For five years, I have been taught how to be the perfect slave. But here, nothing makes sense. There is no task I have been trained to do, I have to relearn everything. I am not a good slave. You gave me a bed, a room, food, clothes. You offer me abortion. I cannot repay you, never. Master, please treat me like I deserve."

"Loki... I understand you need time to adapt. There have been a lot of changes in your life and you need time to adapt."

"No! A good slave doesn't need time."

"Loki, listen to me. We don't have slavery here. You are not a slave. You. Are. Not. A. Slave. I will repeat it as long as I have to. I am so sorry you had to go through training, Loki. You deserve some kind of sentence for your actions in New York, but not this. Slavery is not human."

"I'm not human."

"You are a god. I know. But here, everyone is born equal. You should read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As far as I am concerned, those rights apply to you. And if I am your master, then you have to listen to me. You have those right. We... The Avengers, we have agreed that you will be treated like a prisoner."

Steve took a small break.

"You know, prisoners have the right to work. They can earn money. They have rights and they go outside. They can use their money like they want.

"When Thor brought you here, we talk a bit once the raven was gone. We talk about his plans concerning slavery. He wants to abolish it, but it won't be that simple. Thor planed of forcing the masters to pay their slaves so the slaves will have the right to eventually buy themselves, buy their freedom. Odin will die one day and pass the crown to Thor. Thor wants to overturn your sentence. At least put a limit on it. If you behave, you earn gold stars. But one day, you might be able to buy your own freedom."

"Alex's first. And the baby," said Loki.

"No, just your own. The baby will be born on Earth, therefore will never be considered a slave. Never! Alex is an innocent kid, not a slave. Your children already have their freedom, okay? I want you to understand that, because it's important. When we punished someone, we only punish the person. Not everyone around him. If we use your Asgard logic of sentencing the whole family, your parents and brother should also be punished just because they are your family."

"They are not my family. And I am adopted."

"Odin raised you. You are a prisoner, but Alex is not. Alex has the right to a childhood. A normal midgardian childhood. Loki, I will repeat it every day if I have to, you are not a slave. I will tell you why I put every rule upon you so you understand. I want you to have autonomy. The reward system, we put it in place so you could earn things for yourself and Alex. We wanted to show you that by working, you can earn things. We wanted you to be responsible and be a father. When I look at Alex, I can see he is lucky to have you as a father. You always put him first, make sure he is okay, even just now, you asked to buy his freedom first. And that first night you arrived, when I had been forced to hit you with a belt, you asked for Alex to be sent to another room knowing you might be earning a bigger punishment. Loki, you are a good father."

"Where is Alex now?"

"I left him with Sam. They might still be in the gym," said Steve. "Loki, right now you are punished, but it is important you know the reason why. You are being punished because you hurt Rhodey. I won't accept that. You are chained to the bed, not as a punishment, but as a way to protect you for yourself. I will come back later and we will discuss the situation. I will then judge if the chains can be removed. In the meantime, I want you to establish a list of things you think don't make sense around here. Any question you have, you add to the list. Friday is here. She can hear you, so she will take notes if you ask her. Friday, you're up for that?"

"Yes, mister Rogers. I will take note of what mister Loki ask me too and recite it back to him. Will they be more?"

"No Friday, thank you."

Steve stood up.

"Think about why you tried to punish yourself. Think about the things you don't understand so we'll discuss it when I come back," said Steve before leaving.

oOo

In the infirmary, Rhodey had awake.

"Hey, how do you feel," asked Bruce.

"Like I've been hit by a god," answered Rhodey.

"Can you tell me what happens?"

"Well, Loki was hitting himself. I approached him and told him to stop, but he didn't. I asked for Friday, but she didn't respond. So I came ever closer and I touched him. I should not. That's when he started hitting me. He was clearly out of his mind. I don't think he knew I was there, that it was me. I should not have touched him, it was stupid."

"All your injuries are superficial. You took a blow to the head, but otherwise, you should be fine very soon. You have a few cuts and I put you with an IV and antibiotic. If you are in pain, just take some Tylenol, but if it gets too bad, tell me."

"Can I go?"

"Not yet. I want you to spend at least the night here. In the morning, you can go. And Steve will want to talk to you."

"Okay. And what happens to Loki?"

"He's in the cell. We don't know how long yet."

"I think he has issues and needs time to adjust. He has been in this hell hole for five years and now, he is here. Imagine if you were deported on a foreign planet with a set of rules that are not even apply there."

"Yeah, can be destabilising."

oOo

"Where is daddy?"

The Avengers were about to eat. The food was being served and everyone was sitting. Sam was finally coming back with Alex. They all turn to Steve hoping he would have a good way to tell the boy.

"Alex, this afternoon, your father had done something bad and he is now in the cell," said Steve. "He is in time out for now. But, Alex, he might be there for a few days."

"Can I go with him?"

"Alex, you did nothing wrong. You will stay with us for now and soon, your father will come back."

"Is he hurt? Did you beat him?"

Alex sound so innocent, but what he was saying was so far from it.

"Hey, I got an idea. After supper, you could talk to your father," suggest Tony. "You won't be in the same room, but you could hear his voice. But only if Steve says yes."

"Before bed, after I talk to Loki, okay, Alex?"

"Okay."

oOo

After supper, Steve got some food on a tray and brought it with him. He let himself in Loki's cell and put the tray on the bed beside Loki who was looking at him.

"Loki, are you calm?"

"Yes master."

"If I take the chains off, would you attack?"

"No master, I swear it."

"I want you to stay on the bed, okay?"

"Yes master."

Steve unlocked each padlock. Thor had magic so the locks back then were magical, but the chains now in use were locked with a midgardian normal padlock with a key, which took time to open. Loki stayed still on the bed the whole time. Steve took the chains and put them in the food trap.

"You can sit. And you can eat. This is for you," said Steve pointing at the tray.

Loki looked at Steve cautiously.

"I told you, we are not going to starve you."

"Thank you master, I don't deserve it, you are too good."

Loki took the tray and started eating slowly.

"Have you compile a list of things you require elaboration?"

"Yes, master. Why can I not call you master?"

"What did they tell you on Asgard about that?"

"That you are better than me, that I am nothing, that I am nothing, lower than nothing. That I should always show respect."

"Loki, what they told is not true. It does not apply here. You are someone, someone smart, so you can understand what I am saying. I am not better than you, and you are not less. You are not nothing, you are not a slave. You did bad things, but you are just our prisoner."

"But I still should show respect."

"You can do that by not calling us bad name. There are a lot of ways to show respect beside call people 'master' and kneeling. And I'm sure you know that because of your upbringing."

"I do..."

"What is it, Loki. You can talk."

"Please master, keep Alex here, on Midgard, on Earth. Please."

"Why would I send him anywhere?"

"Because when a slave is sent for retraining, if he has children, they go with him. Please don't send Alex back with me. I understand you need to send me to retraining after what happens, or for retrial. I deserve it."

"Loki, I am not sending you anywhere. You will stay at the compound. And right now, in this cell. They will be no retraining, nor trial. However, we will be deciding how long you will stay here. I told you punishment can be of a few days."

"I don't understand why you are not beating me. I hurt general Rhodes, I deserve the pain."

"Can you explain what happens?"

"I figured if you would not beat me for all I have done wrong, I should do it. Nothing makes sense, so the least I could do was punishing myself. I did not see him, I just continued hitting, but he was there. When Alex called from his room, I realised what I have done."

"And when you hit yourself in this cell, what happens?"

"I was trying to punish myself. I needed to feel the pain."

"Loki, on Earth, we treat prisoners with dignity. We don't beat them. Don't do to other what you would not wish upon yourself. If I were a prisoner, I would not want to be beaten. So I won't beat you, I won't starve you, I won't do anything that, if I were in your place, I would not want to endure. Do you understand, Loki? This is important. This is human moral. You have the right to basic rights."

"I think I'm starting to understand, mister Rogers."

"Good. Now, Alex had been asking for you. Friday can use her speaker so you can stay here and still talk to him. You won't see him, but he will see you through the camera. Do you want that? The possibility to talk to him?"

"Yes, but, what would it cost?"

"Loki, this is a part of basic rights. And Alex needs to hear your voice. But there are some conditions. We will be listening to the call and we can put an end to it at any time."

"I accept those conditions. What have you told Alex about why I'm here?"

"We told him you are in time out because you did something bad."

"Thank you, mister Rogers."

"The call was Tony's idea."

"Can you thank him for me then? Please?"

"I will," said Steve with a smile. "Are you ready now?"

Loki nodded enthusiastically.

"Friday? Tell Tony we are ready on our end."

oOo

In the living room, Alex, Sam, Wanda and Vision were having an animal play-doh modeling contest. Tony was the judge, so he was not authorised to participate, but he was still looking. What a bunch of children.

"Sir, mister Rogers just informed me they are ready for the call," said Friday.

"Good. Hey Alex. Remember I told you you could talk to your dad."

"Yes."

"Well, Friday will make it so we can hear his voice. Go ahead Friday."

"Daddy!"

"Alex. I'm so happy to hear your voice," said Loki from the speakers.

"Hey, Friday, can you show Loki on that screen," asked Tony pointing the television in the living room.

And so Loki appeared on the screen. He looked at Steve and asked him where the right camera was — the one filming them. Steve pointed at the corner of the ceiling, hoping that was the right camera.

"Daddy, I can see you!"

So Loki wave at the camera and smiled.

"Daddy, can you see me? I made a giraffe with the Play-Doh! Look!"

"Alex, I cannot see you, no. But you can describe your giraffe."

"It has a long neck and long legs. But it's too heavy to stand. It always falls down. And it's blue... I don't have the right colour of dough to make it like a real giraffe."

"I'm sure it's beautiful. Have you eaten?"

"Yes. We had food I never had before. But it was good. Daddy! When are you coming back?"

"I don't know, Alex. But I want you to listen to the Avengers, okay?"

"Yes Daddy. Is this like that time when they punished you in another room for a few days? Are you hurt?"

Oh Norns, Alex remembered the days Loki had been trained as a bed slave, the week the baby has been conceived.

"As you can see, Alex, I am not hurt. I am okay. And it is no way like that time. You are with good people and they will take care of you, okay?"

"But I will be alone in the room."

"You will have your snake with you. And there is always someone near. If you need something, you can ask Friday and she will help or send help."

"I miss you daddy."

"I miss you too, Alex, very much."

Loki blew a kiss on his side. Alex knew better than to cry, but Loki was everything to the young boy.

"You are coming back, right?"

"Yes Alex, I will be back."

"Can I visit you?"

"I don't know if it's possible."

"Please daddy."

"It's not up to me. But, Alex, I promise you I will behave and when I see you, I will hug you so tight. And you know I always keep my words. So in the meantime, you will behave too. Alex, I am the one being punished, not you. You did nothing wrong and I want you to continue to listen to the Avengers, okay?"

"Okay daddy."

"Alex," said Steve, "Tomorrow, you will talk with your father again, okay?"

"Okay."

"Say goodbye," said Steve softly.

"I have to say goodbye now, Alex, but I will miss you until I see you again," said Loki.

"Bye daddy."

"Friday, disconnect the call and the camera," said Steve.

In the living room, the screen turned black. For a moment, Alex didn't know what to do, he just stayed there still.

"So, should we go back to our animals," suggested Sam. "My octopus is finished, and it's awesome."

"My giraffe is better," exclaimed Alex.

At least, they were keeping him distracted.

oOo

In the cell, Loki's eyes watered. He had stayed on the bed the whole time and he now felt a ball of emotion in his throat.

"Thank you," said softly Loki while nodding. "I needed that."

"I'll come back tomorrow," said Steve. "Good night Loki."

The food trap closed and took the chains away. The door opened and Steve got out. Loki was alone and trying really hard not to cry. He missed Alex, but he would do everything to get back to him.

oOo

Steve made his way to the infirmary. He needed to talk to Rhodey about the whole situation.

"I won't be long, Bruce. Please."

"Ten minutes. My patient needs to sleep. And so do I," said the good doctor.

Steve took a chair and sat beside Rhodey.

"You want to know if I blame Loki. I don't. The guy was clearly out of his mind," said Rhodey.

"You won't have any problem being in the same room as him?"

"Well, I expect him to apologise at one point, but no, no problem."

"He is very sorry. After we put him in the cell, he started literally beating himself up for punishment."

"Poor guy. Steve, he needs to talk to someone. Not you, someone who went through similar stuff."

"I don't know anyone like that."

"Not exactly the same stuff, just close. Someone who can relate. It will help him."