A/N: A huge thank you to those who have reviewed and favorited so far! You rock my world. :) This chapter was mean to me.
It felt like he'd been struck heavily by one of Thor's training clubs, blunt and forceful in his diaphragm.
Loki's body went rigid as humiliation sunk its heavy claws into his chest. The air crystallized in his lungs and he suddenly could no longer breathe as the entire room echoed his embarrassment. Without his permission, his face flushed hot with blood and he nearly stumbled as he hastily escaped his elevated perch. Oh gods above. What an idiot he had been. If he had just let Thor make the announcement, this wouldn't have happened. Why did he let his pride get in the way? No one here gave a single damn about his princely standing and he had willingly walked into this situation. Father was going to be furious, and his plan was in shambles. This entire thing was a mistake, why didn't he just let Thor say it, why why why -
Loki yelped as someone firmly grabbed onto his arm and yanked him back upon the scaffold. Bewildered, he eyed Thor with a sunken posture, and his brother simply stared right back.
He looked positively furious.
"People of Asgard!" he bellowed. In but a single beat, every single one of them hushed. A twinge of jealousy shot through Loki's heart before he could stop it; never before had he commanded such attention or respect with a single utterance."It would do you well to cease your laughing. My brother is in earnest." Just like he had done moments before, Thor made certain he did not look at their father. Instead he faced the crowd, proud and handsome and utterly king-like. When he stepped closer to his brother, Loki nearly stepped down to give him space out of half-formed habit. Instead, Thor draped an arm across his shoulders and squeezed. "We will hunt this beast together." The crowed murmured their consent and Loki suddenly could not help hanging onto every word he happened to catch amidst the throng:
"Thor and Loki alike? So young they are, but look how brave..."
"The All-Father has raised mighty sons..."
"Who else would slay the beast but the princes of Asgard? How utterly perfect!"
Thor's grip tightened on his shoulder as the pleasure rippled through the crowd. "He's going to kill us," Loki muttered between clenched teeth, his eyes looking everywhere but where their father stood.
"Not in front of all of them he won't." In scarcely anytime at all, the people began to cheer. It was only once this positive reaction was received that the brothers dared to look at their father.
His face was entirely blank.
"Oh gods," Loki mumbled. "We're doomed."
"Look at them," Thor said, forgetting to whisper. "Loki, it's working. Your plan is working!" Eyes wide, Loki made a show of swiveling towards his brother in stunned amusement.
Since when did Thor compliment him so? Or at the very least, admit he had done right? He must be drunk with the crowd's energy.
"Silence." At the sudden command of the All-father, everyone hushed. Loki could not stop the harsh intake of breath on his part; he would never get used to the utter power his father maintained over the people. "I will convene with my sons and my men in private. I will return within the hour with my ruling." Gungnir slammed to the floor and not a soul in the place uttered even a whisper. As Odin turned, he stared down each of the boys in turn, silently daring them to disobey. Thor stiffened beside him and Loki forced his face into a blank, expressionless mask.
"You may be right," Thor muttered. "Father is going to kill us."
"What in the name of the Norns above were you thinking?" Odin's voice rang out loudly, echoing within the sanctuary of his private chambers. He stood tall and furious behind his desk while the brothers stood directly in front, hands clasped behind their backs like disobedient children. "I am beyond displeased with your actions tonight. Were you trying to make a fool of me?"
"Father please," Loki said. "I can explain." Odin's eye shifted towards his youngest and it took everything within him not to flinch. He was not expecting the silence that followed - since when did father wait for an explanation without yelling? - but quickly stumbled over his opening to fill the gap of quiet. "We, we were wandering the corridor outside when we heard the noises of a large gathering. We happened upon the group and of course stayed to listen. The situation holds much interest for Thor and myself and we..." His voice faltered only slightly as his father's face dipped into a frown. "We were caught up in the energy of the crowd and so acted thus." Their father exhaled heavily through his nose and the anger did not leave his face, nor did his gaze move from Loki. It stretched into what felt an eternity.
"I oft wonder," Odin said finally, stepping from behind his desk, "why you both think me a doddering old fool." Loki's eyes bulged and he squirmed only slightly under his father's scrutinizing stare.
"We do not think you a fool," Loki began but Odin held up a staying hand.
"My sons." His tone was cold and brimming with barely-suppressed rage. "Do you truly think I have remained unaware as to your involvement, not only in tonight's gathering but the affair entire?" His eye darted back and forth between the two. "It shames me that you have so directly disobeyed my specific instruction and then have proceeded to lie about it as well. Though I can tell you that while Heimdall was greatly amused by your antics, I was not." It was here Loki froze. "Now I am going to give you one more chance to tell me the truth. Thor." Something bitter splintered in his heart and Loki couldn't stop the sneer that found its way to his face. The king was currently fixing his gaze on his eldest, and the bitter splinter began to pump livid poison through his veins. "Heed my words true, boy: another lie will result only in swift and unyielding punishment."
"It is our duty to protect our realm!" Thor suddenly blurted. Odin did not react, so Thor blundered on. "We are of age, father! We cannot just sit idly by while the guards and soldiers handle the concerns of the people. Concerns they brought to you to solve! Would you rather have my apathy in this regard? Would you rather I turn my cheek and block my ears?" Odin stayed quiet and stared at his son, crossing his arms slowly over his chest. "Father, I have been on many a journey already and slain many a beast. You yourself said but a few weeks ago that you felt I was nearly ready to wield the might of Mjolnir. Can you blame me for my interest in this matter?"
"No," Odin said, more softly now. "I cannot."
"Then I pray you will forgive the trickery that lead to our current circumstance," Thor said. Loki shifted his gaze towards the desk, trying to school his expression into something less hostile. Arrogant arse! "But I cannot let this rest, father. Nor can Loki. We are no longer children, you see. The longer we remain hidden and tucked safely behind the palace walls, the more cowardly we will appear. The people will take note and begin to wonder."
"I will repeat my earlier sentiment that your heart is noble," Odin said blandly. "But I fear your true intentions, my son. Are you not mostly trying to win my favor by proving yourself so that Mjolnir may be bestowed upon you in haste?" Thor huffed.
"You think me arrogant."
"No," the king said. "I do not."
"Then why stop me, father?" Thor cried.
"I never stopped you," he replied with a shrug. "Nor did I ever forbid you from supplying your aid to the people. Yet you took it upon yourself to intervene before I yet had the chance to make a ruling." Behind his back, Loki's nails dug painfully into the palms of his hands. As usual, this had become a conversation between only the king and his first-born, now excluding him entirely.
"I seem to recall only coming to Loki's assistance." Thor crossed his arms over his chest, seeming to mimic his father's stance. "Twas he who chose to leap up and proclaim his intention."
"And 'twas you who rallied the people towards your cause," Odin said dryly.
"And look how they responded!" Thor said, exuberant. Excitement was creeping back into his tone, replacing his previous indignant manner in a flash. "Father, they are overjoyed at the prospect. Will you truly not allow me to fight for them?"
"I might have been more willing," Odin said, "had you not decided to sneak about like a child."
"But I didn't father!" Thor protested. "I did not sneak about! I only -"
"Eavesdropped on a private conversation between Tyr and myself." Odin's lips quirked into a half-smile, but Thor didn't seem to notice his seeming amusement. "Willingly, I might add."
"It was Loki's idea!" Thor exclaimed. Said brother could not stop himself from rolling his eyes. "And it was only as a last resort! I went to you repeatedly and you barred me entry from your chambers!"
"Thor..." The king suddenly sounded tired.
"If I may -" Loki began.
"Hush brother!" Thor snapped. Loki clicked his tongue and stared languidly at the floor once again. "Fine then. Deal us our punishment. I grow tired of this idle chatter."
"You are growing dangerously impertinent," Odin said, but both he and his eldest paused at the sound of Loki's laughter suddenly lilting through the space. He wasn't sure why, exactly, it sounded so bitter and insincere, even to his own ears; but he found in that moment that he truly did not care either.
"Pray tell what you find so amusing about this, trickster?" Thor grit out, obviously thinking there was a mockery within it. Loki puffed his cheeks out with an indignant huff and didn't try to hide the frustration in his voice as he addressed him.
"Your unyielding conceit for one," he said. "But perhaps more so, your absolute refusal to admit any wrongdoing on your part."
"It is your tricks that lead us here in the first place -"
"Enough." The All-father's voice was neither loud nor angry but it caught the attention of both his sons instantly. "This bickering is unbecoming of you both, especially in light of the fact that you are no longer children." Their father's repetition of Thor's own defense sent a splendid frown to his face. Loki smirked. "Be not so smug, Loki. Your brother is right. There is no honor in your lies or trickery." Without his permission, his heart fell like a stone into his stomach. "My Queen has told me I ought to be grateful you two are so ardent in this matter." Odin's tone changed again to something more musing, as if recalling a pleasant memory. "That it is a far better thing than your apathy." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in seeming frustration. "I agree with her to a certain extent. Your concern is with your people, and in that there is no dishonor." His hand dropped and he leveled Thor, only Thor, with an intense stare. "But you disobeyed me outright. I fear if I allow you to traverse to Myrkviðr that you will only see this as a reward for your duplicity."
"But father -"
"Silence, boy." Odin tapped his fingers against the desk, leaning back on it with his palms. "Somehow I know that if I were to forbid you from leaving these grounds, your mutual frustration would draw you back together and you would find a way to do so anyway. Someday..." His gaze drifted elsewhere. "Someday your forces combined will be unstoppable." Loki raised an eyebrow as their father chuckled and snapped back to the present conversation. "The people of Myrkviðr would not have thought you cowardly if you stayed safe and tucked away behind the palace walls. Though that was before you offered them your service, and now it would serve me ill to keep you here."
"So you will allow me to go?" Thor cried, already overjoyed.
"Have I any other choice?" Thor hollered in excitement and Loki sucked absentmindedly at the inside of his cheek. His irritation was abating, but he still felt rather cross at the two of them. Odin raised a hand, shushing Thor with a steady glare. "But you do understand it is not because of your underhanded attempts to fool me. You are nearing manhood, Thor. I expect far more of you now. If you do anything like this again, I will not only keep Mjolnir from you until your thousandth name day, but I will forbid you from joining your friends on any sort of expedition out of Asgard. Am I understood?"
"Yes father," Thor gushed.
"And have I your word?" The All-father prompted.
"You have my word." Thor bowed his head in submission, but the grin never left his face.
"Good. Now depart from here. I will speak with Loki alone." What felt like ice water crashed unexpectedly against his chest in a panicked frenzy, and his gaze found Thor's quickly. His older brother only shrugged at him, as if to say, what can I possibly do? and departed with an irritating spring in his step. He watched him go with some misplaced sense of forlorn camaraderie slipping through his fingers and silently cursed when Odin spoke again. "Step forward, boy." He complied but with a mounting unhappiness.
He was to take the full brunt of the punishment, then. He supposed he deserved nothing less, but it would have been nice for father to at least pretend he was just as angry at Thor.
"You have remained ever quiet," Odin said. Loki's eyes snapped towards him in disbelief.
"There was not much opportunity for my input," he said stiffly.
"Do not act so wounded. No wrong has been committed against you." Loki forced the hurt at being so carelessly disregarded down into his stomach and schooled his expression into what he felt was something more neutral.
"My apologies," he said, swallowing back the snide remarks his tongue seemed so desperate to speak.
"Do you truly mean that or are you simply trying to abate my temper?"
"Mayhap it is a combination of both," he said smoothly.
"Loki." There was an unspoken warning in his own name and he grimaced.
"I know, father." The resignation in his voice was sincere; he was tired of this entire business. "I was the one who cast the spell that hid us from your sight. I was the one who made the proclamation before the people." He felt suddenly like a small child again, awaiting discipline from his father. "It is only logical that I receive your wrath. This much I know."
"It is obvious to me that this entire 'plan' was wrought with your influence," Odin said. Loki couldn't quite determine if that was an insult or a compliment and he frowned. "So I ask but one thing of you since it was your meddling that got us here in the first place: will you watch after your brother?" Loki blinked.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked.
"Thor knows only the draw of the mystery and not the likelihood of the disappointment to follow," Odin went on, ignoring him. "He seems to have forgotten that our men faced not an enemy, but an apparition. They returned with naught to report. I do not know why your brother thinks he can find what Tyr did not."
"So you mean to say..." It was difficult to connect the words in his mind to his mouth, but he pressed on. "I am to accompany Thor to the woods?" He sounded incredulous to his own ears, but Odin only nodded. "But what of my punishment?"
"You play foolish games boy," he replied, voice tight. "But I know you meant no harm. I think you have learned your lesson well in the laughter of that discourteous crowd. I do not wish to add to your embarrassment." Loki's face flushed and he turned his head, mouth crumpling in distaste.
How civil of you father, he thought bitterly but instead bit out, "Thank you."
"Ah, but I'm not yet finished." Loki slid his eyes back towards his father and felt some level of distress at the smile on his face. "I do not know if you had a true desire to accompany your brother, but you will do so anyway. To keep watch over him. To ensure he does not do anything rash or stupid. I am placing this responsibility in your hands, Loki, and it is to be your burden until you return."
"Thor hardly listens to me!" Loki protested, suddenly indignant. "If he sets his heart on some foolish task, nothing I say or do will sway him."
"Mayhap," Odin shrugged. "But you seem to have managed pretty well in convincing him to go along with your little plans, yes?" Loki's mouth set itself in a firm line, understanding the trap. Odin laughed. "Be not so serious, my son. Though you will depart with the same warning your brother did: do not lie to me again."
"I won't," Loki swallowed. Guilt poked tenaciously against the anger in his heart and he sighed, giving in to its taunting despite his lingering irritation. "Forgive me, father."
"That has already come to pass." Odin straightened and began to walk past him, and his eyes only bulged slightly when he clamped a hand down on his shoulder. "Sometimes, I must admit, you confuse me boy." And with that he left the study, leaving his youngest to stare blankly at his desk a moment before following shortly thereafter.
Happy New Year everybody!