Bruce carefully removed the last of the bandages that had covered Loki's arms, tossing the gauze in the garbage nearby. The blisters were healing over finally, meaning there was little chance of infection and Loki's pain levels would be no where near what they were when he'd first woken.
Loki sat on the bench, all silent patience that Bruce was used to by now. Twice a day Loki would come down to the medical centre without prompting, sit upon the bench and allow Bruce to check him over and change his bandages. Afterwards Bruce would give him the medication he needed and Loki would leave without having said a single word the whole time. Sometimes Thor would show up halfway through, always hopeful for good news and trying to get Loki to talk to him. It never worked, and Bruce would always know when Thor was approaching because Loki would suddenly tense up and clench his jaw shut. He would sit in tense silence as Thor came in and ignore every attempt Thor would make. The second Bruce was done he would then snatch the pills from his hands and leave the room leaving Bruce to deal with the kicked puppy look Thor would be sporting.
This time was no different. Thor had shown up and Loki had closed right up. The only difference was that this time Tony was there as well, already talking about some projects he needed Bruce to take a second look at. Bruce shook his head, concentrating on the job in front of him and ignoring the other two for the moment. Loki only ever permitted Bruce to touch him, and Bruce was conscious of this enough to keep his touch careful and limited. So when he took Loki's bare wrist to examine the fading bruising leftover front he cuffs, Loki let him.
"How fares my brother this day?" Thor asked, apparently tired of being ignored by Loki and instead focused on Bruce instead.
"Great, the burns are healing very well. I think we can go without keeping them bandaged now. I don't foresee any other complications either, with infection or more scarring."
Loki's expression was unreadable as usual as Bruce put his arm back down and glanced back at Thor. He was surprised to see that the Thunderer was frowning in confusion.
"Um… that's good news by the way," Bruce said, mentally going over what he'd said and wondering what had caused Thor to look so upset.
"What do you mean 'more scarring'? Has Shield done more harm to my brother that you did not tell me of?"
Bruce glanced quickly at Tony who shrugged. No help there then. "No, not that we know of," Bruce told the Blonde, "At least I'm pretty sure that Shield isn't responsible for anything else. The scars I found were under the burns, and already healed over so I kind of assumed Loki's had them for a while."
"Which scars do you speak of?" Thor was stepping forward and Bruce became aware of a drastic change in Loki's demeanor. Whereas before he had been more irritated than anything, now he was so tense Bruce was actually a little worried. He even took a step or two away from Loki and pulled up a file on the large screen nearby, opting to use the scans he'd taken rather than use Loki's himself. A 3D model of Loki's body appeared and he made sure that the lines that were the scars were illuminated so that Thor could see. They ran over most of his body they didn't look like they were from an injury at all. Every line was deliberate and ran up and down each of his limbs, around his torso and up his neck, and Bruce had assumed that they had been there a while, perhaps part of Asgards culture or something. Thor's expression told him without question that he was completely wrong, and that this was the first he'd been made aware of the scars existence.
When the Thunderer looked away from the hologram, he turned to his brother suddenly looking murderous. "Brother, who would dare do this to you?!" he all but shouted.
Loki didn't react at all to the noise. He did respond either, instead he just glared directly in front of him, silently fuming.
"So I'm going out on a limb here and assume that the scars are important somehow?" Tony quipped.
Thor spared him a glance before turning back to the hologram. "These markings, they are what are keeping my brother from his magic. They are a more cruel form of the bindings I had brought, carved right into the flesh. And they are permanent."
Bruce and Tony shared a look. "Are you sure?"
Thor nodded, looking heartbroken on his brothers behalf. "You are certain that Shield did not do this?"
"Well, yeah, pretty sure. The scars aren't that fresh, and the burns cover them so…"
"Then it was the one's responsible for controlling him and sending him here." Thor reasoned and stepped closer to Loki. "Brother, why did you not tell me?"
The question was ignored and Bruce pulled the hologram closer, looking with renewed interest. If the scars were what was stopping Loki's magic… "Thor, what else can you tell me about the importance of these markings?"
Thor turned back to him, looking frustrated and angry, but fortunately he pulled himself together and did his best to explain. "I do not know much, only that the placement of the lines are very deliberate. Usually this is only practiced on sorcerers that have committed terrible crimes and can not be trusted with their magic again. The markings somehow interrupt the connection between the sorcerer and their magic completely, and the effect is permanent. Once the scars have formed there is no way to undo this punishment. It is as I said before, there are things that our people can not heal."
Tony joined Bruce at looking at the hologram, squinting for a moment before turning back to the two gods with his usual grin in place. "Good thing us mortals are so much more advanced then," he gloated much to Thor's confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Just one quick question," Bruce stepped forward, and Tony let him have the floor. "You're certain it's the scars that are stopping Loki from accessing his magic?" Thor nodded, though he still looked unsure. "So if we removed the scarring then theoretically he would have his magic back again, right?"
"Yes, but scars can not be removed. They can not simply be cut out,"
Bruce shook his head. "Yeah, that… or we could try a laser treatment that would remove the damaged tissue and leave only healthy skin behind. No marks mean no block on the magic right?" Thor was staring at him. So was Loki, but the slighter god's expression was calculating.
"You can do this?" Thor asked, sounding like he was afraid to believe it. "You can remove the scars?"
"I think so, not right away, the procedure takes time and several treatments. And considering the amount of scar tissue I estimate a couple weeks worth of it but yes, I don't see why it wouldn't work." At this point he spoke directly to Loki, "I have to warn you it isn't a comfortable procedure, it does hurt…" There was no response so Bruce pushed forward and went into detail explaining exactly how the procedure worked. Bruce watched Loki's face as he explained, noting how the neutral shuttered expression began to show signs of distress. Why, he couldn't exactly figure out. Wouldn't the return of his abilities be considered a good thing? Unless it was the prospect of willingly subjecting himself to more pain at the hands of humans so soon after his torture. If that was the case, then Bruce could certainly understand his reservations for going under a laser. Wrapping up the explanation, Bruce moved to look at Thor who stood beside Loki in what he probably thought was a protective stance.
When Bruce finished, Thor smiled at him, obviously pleased. The large man then turned to his brother and raised a hand that might have slapped Loki on the back had he not remembered at the last moment of Loki's many still healing injuries. Instead he barely kept himself from placing his large hand on Loki's thin shoulder.
"Is this not good news brother?" He asked in his usual booming voice that seemed too big for the small room. "My friends have found a way to break the bonds holding your magic. Soon you will be able to heal yourself-"
"No."
Bruce almost didn't hear the refusal but Thor certainly did from the way that the smile dropped off his face and he frowned in concern instead. "Brother, do you not understand? My friends do not-"
"I understand perfectly Thor," Loki hissed as he jerked off the table and out of Thor's grip. "You're intentions are clear, and I refuse to submit to them."
Bruce tensed when Loki had moved so suddenly, but the injured god did not move to flee for the open doors, or even to strike out at anyone in the room. If anything he put as much distance between himself and the rest of them as possible. Looking more like a cornered animal, Loki held himself tense and glared at Thor.
"Why do you continue this? It is a cruelty I never expected from you…" Loki asked before Thor could speak again. "Feigning sympathy, healing me? Promising to return my magic when it will only ripped away again. Do you think me a fool? Do you think I do not know what awaits me?!"
Loki's voice was hoarse with desolation, and Bruce knew without a doubt that Loki believed only the worst of them. Not that he couldn't be blamed for that attitude considering, but it didn't make it any less discouraging. Thor looked like he had been physically struck.
"Loki, no… you are safe from that now. Whom ever has told you this has-"
"It was your words Thor," Loki's words cut through the room and Bruce eyed the near hysterical god, gauging whether or not he would have time to turn into the Hulk when Loki decided to bolt. "When you handed me off to those mortals, you said yourself that when they were finished with me you would take me to Asgard."
"Loki, I swear to you that when I gave you to the mortals I had no idea what they had planned for you! Even if you had been guilty of the attack on Midgard I would never have allowed such a punishment. Nor would my friends. They rescued you, and healed you. And now they would return your magic to you. No one will take it away again, I promise you."
Loki shook his head, "You have either finally learned to lie or you are a greater fool that I ever thought. You expect me to believe that Odin has forgiven me? That I will not face judgment for my crimes once you bring me before him?"
"But you are innocent Loki," Thor said, his voice having taken on a pleading edge. The large god had raised his hands in a soothing gesture, and took a step closer to his brother but Loki only moved further back. "We know that you were not under your own control. Father wouldn't punish you for that."
"Have you forgotten? Or have I been granted pardon for my attack on Jotunheim? And lets not forget the attempted murder of the King's son and the heir to the Throne. Do not mock me Thor. I know what I will face when you drag me back there." Loki was shaking with anger and nerves now, "I've been tortured, put back together and then tortured again far to much lately. If its all the same to you, I think I'd rather get it over with."
Thor looked horrified, "Loki, Father will not- I would not allow it! Do you think that I would willing to hand you over to such a fate?"
Loki froze at his words, his mouth gaping a little in horror. Then those lips twisted up in a terrible mockery of a smile one might give to an inside joke. "You have already, why not again?"
"Brother I-"
"I am NOT YOUR BROTHER!" Loki shrieked, startling Thor into silence. Gasping for breath, Loki glared at the blond. "I am not your brother," he repeated, quieter but with deadly certainty. "And I am not his son. So tell me, what reason would the great All father have to pardon the monster of his crimes against the realm eternal? Why would he spare me the fate your laws would have me serve?"
"Because you are his son! And you are a prince of Asgard no matter where you came from. You may not be his blood but Father chose you to be part of our family. Does that not matter?!" Thor argued fiercely,
"I was never part of your family!" Loki raged back and Bruce started to wonder if it would be polite to leave the room and let the two of them work whatever this was out. Tony was clearly not of the same mindset, and was observing the whole exchange with the air of someone who wished they had popcorn and a comfortable seat. "Odin did not take me out of sentiment, he brought me to Asgard because I might have been useful! I've never been anything more than a war trophy for him!"
"Loki no! You do not understand, Father told me-"
"He told me that he planned to use me to create a permanent peace between Asgard and Jotenheim." Loki declared, his voice suddenly smooth and deadly. "Those are his words Thor. I care not for whatever pretty half lies he told you after you returned, when I discovered the truth of what I am, he told me the truth. Take me back to Asgard as you've been commanded, but I will not stand to hear you say that my welcome will be anything but bloody. Even if Odin wished to continue the charade of me being his son, there isn't a single person in Asgard who won't be vying for my execution. And Odin will not risk a civil war, not over some Jotunn runt."
"Father would never let that happen Loki! We thought we lost you once already, all of Asgard mourned your loss!"
Loki's eyes flashed at those words, and he took a challenging step forward. This time it was Thor who took a step back, likely worried about the intense look that had suddenly appeared on Loki's face.
"Is that so? All of Asgard you say? Perhaps I was wrong then, I've been wrong all these years and only imagined their curses and hatred. Tell me Thor, tell me about my funeral. When Odin set the ship aflame, how many days did it burn?"
Thor suddenly looked uncomfortable and Bruce felt a stab of worry. "Loki, you must understand, we didn't- Father said that there was hope that you were still alive, only too far from our sight."
"So there was no funeral then? I suppose that is fair. But then there must have been feasts in my name. To honor a lost prince, they must have gone on for weeks."
Again Loki spoke as if he already knew the answer, and Thor shifted uneasily on his feet. He did not need to answer; his posture gave it all away. Loki stalked forward until he was directly in front of Thor who valiantly made eye contact.
"Who mourned me Thor? Name but one person who raised their glass to me in a toast, who might have honestly lamented my loss. I expect your friends did. I can just imagine Sif weeping uncontrollably when she learned of my demise."
Again, Thor said nothing. Apparently he realized there was little he could say to make the situation better.
"That is as I thought. Do not lie to me Thor. I am very aware of my favor with the people of Asgard. I know exactly where I stand within the house of Odin. I have never been anything more than a tool to be used. Do not delude yourself into thinking I was ever otherwise."
With those final words, Loki stalked from the room. No one tried to stop him.
Merry Christmas to All! And as my gift to you, I had everyone figure out the meaning behind the scars and had Loki get a few things off his chest at the same time! I hope everyone is having a wonderful christmas, and I will see you all next week!
