The cells seemed to be in constant movements these days, Loki supposed, staring out from behind the clear wall of his prison. He was pointedly ignoring Frigga, not wanting to admit that her presence, even if it was a specter of the woman he'd once called mother, was a great comfort to him. So instead his green eyes took in the admittance of new prisoners, vagabonds, pirates, marauders from the outskirts of the nine realms and beyond. He'd once thought himself above them. Still did, if he was honest with himself, his shoulders straightening and his eyes darkening as he took in a burly that walked past his cell with a gruff grunt. These pirates had once thought themselves so strong, unbeatable, but Loki had seen true power. Wielded it for a fraction of a moment before it slipped through his fingers. Had seen it used, and had it used on him after he'd fallen. Thanos was an avid believer in setting examples, and Loki had more than once tasted what failure would have meant. He was not eager for it to ever come to him again, and knew that so long as Thanos was aware that he lived he would never be free of the Titan's shadow.

Frigga had, more than once, suggested that that was Odin's truth behind keeping him locked up. As ever he ignored her protests and pleas to reconsider his own hate for those he had once called kin, Frigga of course being the only exception. He could never hate her.

"Loki, do you intend to ignore me forever?" Her voice said quietly, and he could sense her stepping closer, rather than hear her. Shades made no noise, yet when he screamed it still reverberated around the walls.

"Perhaps," he said, allowing the corners of his lips to twist upwards. "Would that make you angry?"

"You give yourself far too much credit if you think a little of the silent treatment can irritate me. Have I not dealt with you and Thor in your youth? I have the both of you to thank for many of my grey hair."

Yes. He didn't want to think about that, though, about how much more stress he'd piled upon her since his fall from Asgard, since the mayhem caused in Midgard. Since his lock up here. How many more lines had been added to her face? How much more would he cause her, still, to know that her youngest was a hunted, wanted man with two choices before him: waste away in the dungeons, or be set freed and likely turn prey to the Chitauri and whatever foes Thanos saw fit to send after him?

Perhaps he ought to rip out her heart to save her the pain.

Even before his fists tightened at his side with the repulsion that thought provided he knew it was no good. He could not do this without her strength. Where once he'd thought he relied on Thor's brawn and unfailing belief that his brother was, in fact, good, he came to see now that it was Frigga. It always had been. She smiled out at him from Thor's bright eyes and broad grins, when the oaf smacked Loki upside the head for being an ass it was Frigga's reproachful eyes that followed him.

And oh how he hated the man he once called brother for it, that he should inherit the goodness that was Frigga while Loki was stuck with the wickedness of Laufey.

"Loki, do not turn away from me," she murmured. "I have done everything in my power to make you comfortable here."

He turned to stare at her, knowing his gaze was cruel, that the words jumping out of his mouth would only hurt. Silvertongue that he might have been, it could be used to harm just as easily as it could to charm. "Have you? It must be so inconvenient, me being down here, for you to have to strain yourself to visit me. And how must Odin and Thor ask of my well being-I cannot imagine the pains you must go through day in and day out at their questions."

"You know as well as I that your brother and father-."

"HE'S NOT MY FATHER!" He couldn't help but shout, his composure slipping as the rage bubbled up and over, spewing venom onto the one he cared most for. He saw her shake, too, watched the sorrow well in her eyes though she didn't shed a single tear, watched her horror at his words as it all played on her face, before slowly, reassuringly, she slipped the mask back on. There was no going back from that, Loki supposed, breathing hard as a winded animal as he glowered at her, having stepped closer in his rage. Had she been corporeal he might have felt her breath on his face as she raised a hand as though to cup his face.

"Then am I not your mother?" She breathed, her voice soft enough to break his heart.

How he wished he could swallow his tongue and never speak again. "You're not." He could not have it both ways, after all, could not have Odin as the bastard who'd adopted him and lied to him without vilifying Frigga, and that he could not stomach. Yet to accept Odin as his father? To accept the lies that had been spoon-fed him and forced into his brain, all the while his true parentage and heritage was hidden from him, was too much to stand, for as much as he loved Frigga he also hated Odin. There could not be one without the other.

'As Thor cannot exist without Loki, so Loki cannot exist without Thor.'

Her quiet laugh was breathy, and might have been mocking. The same variety that had ghosted over the Widow's words when she'd called him out on his lies, having perceived his plan. How was it these women could read the liesmith without fail?

"Always so perceptive of everyone except yourself, Loki. You will come to understand, in time." She promised.

He didn't want to hear it. His heart was already heavy and his blood had already turned to ash in his veins, clogging and polluting anything he might further say to her. Not wishing to cause her more grief he leaned into the hand that she'd offered, pretending for a moment he could feel the reassuring heat of her skin on his before her ghost disappeared and he was once more alone.

He was not given much time to grieve the offensive words he'd said and for that he was grateful.

Not three hours must have passed before there was a rumble and loud shouting came from one of the other cells. Loki, who had been reclining on the sad excuse for a bed that had been provided him, stopped his fidgeting to listen, the cup he'd been tossing caught in his hands and set down at his side a moment later. Shouts, screams, pleas for help. All filled the air before a loud, bone-splitting shriek overcame it all. When it ended there was silence, sudden and absolute, followed by the shattering of one of the magical barriers. The lights in his cell flickered as Loki slowly sat up, turning to watch as the other inhabitants, the vandals and imbeciles he'd watched being led in, were one by one standing as well and shouting, demanding their freedom. A huge beast, horned head and dark, soulless eyes, was striding through the hall between cells. The monster brought its enormous fists to the walls keeping the prisoners in, and one by one they broke, disappearing into thin air as the villains were set loose to deal with the guards.

Standing, Loki crossed over to the front of his cell to see the beast coming closer, their eyes meeting. In them Loki saw nothing but pain. Anger. A need for vengeance against the Aesir.

He found himself able to relate, yet he knew he was better than this beast, this ill excuse for a soldier, twisted and deformed by his hate while Loki had let it artfully chip himself away. His chin tipped up ever so slightly, almost excited to see what this creature would do, and when it sneered and turned away Loki couldn't help but smirk. So it did recognize that which was stronger than itself. Perhaps it wasn't as idiotic as Loki had assumed.

"You might want to try the stairs to your left," he said, voice no louder than if the monster was standing in front of him, and though it paused to hear his words and nodded, it made no other note of it as it disappeared down the halls. Loki summoned a book and seated himself on the floor beside the clear wall, wishing to see the damage and chaos that followed. What was an annoyance to Odin and Thor was a boon to him.

A/N: Updates on this story and my others may be slow going, but I will for certain finish this as well as Chasing This Starlight, though for any fics after that I'm not sure exactly what'll be going on. Thank you all so much for sticking with me and your words of encouragement are incredible.