ONE STEP FORWARD, FOUR STEPS BACK
A THOR/AVENGERS FANFICTION
CHAPTER THREE: It Starts
WARNING: This chapter contains the torture of a minor. If you don't like, don't read. And please, no hate.
Loki awoke shivering. His cell was colder than it was when he arrived the day before. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked over and saw a tray of food by the barred door. Loki got out of bed and sat cross-legged on the floor by the tray. He reached out to grab an apple when something else caught his eye; there was a note on the tray. Curious, Loki picked up and opened it. The words "It Starts" were written quiet poorly at the top, an actual letter beneath it.
Good morning Loki. Be sure to eat all your food before...You need your strength for...Just be a good boy and eat all your food. Brace yourself; it will not be an easy day for you and it only gets worse. I can't bring myself to explain. Eat your food, Loki. Dammit!
Lo! eat it all! You need it!
...
Good luck, Loki.
There was no name and the whole thing was poorly written, like the author was upset or in a hurry when he or she wrote it. Feeling his stomach growl, Loki headed the letter's advice and ate all the food given to him. He finished and stood, wondering what was starting today. Loki shrugged it off, deducing that part was a cruel joke, not meant to be taken seriously. Loki finished getting ready and sat down, boredom and loneliness consuming him.
Lunch was approaching when Loki heard footsteps. He glanced up and saw a figure in all black with a hood coming toward him. Loki backed up until his back was against the wall, trembling violently. The figure's face was covered.
"Come," it said. Loki sat shaking for a moment as the door opened, his back flat against the wall.
"Come," the voice said again. Loki nodded, all color gone from his young face. He stood up on shaking legs and cautiously walked over to the cloaked figure. The figure didn't speak again, but instead silently gestured for Loki to follow. A door to the left opened and the pair entered, Loki glancing over his shoulder. He actually missed his cell; odd.
The figure led Loki past many doors, the hall retaining the smell of old, dried blood. Loki was still shaking, his eyes wide with fear. He foolishly hoped Thor would come and save him, though he knew it wasn't possible. Thor didn't even know where this horrible place was. Finally the figure stopped and opened a door and led Loki inside. The room was small and it didn't have the blood smell. Instead, it smelled strongly of what Loki could only assume was old urine. He crinkled his nose in disgust. The room only contained a table with leather straps and multiple jars.
"On the table, please," the figure said. Loki nodded and shakily climbed on to the table, his legs dangling.
"Remove your clothing, please," the figure said. Loki blushed violently and his fear increased.
"W-why?" he managed to whisper.
"Remove your clothing, please," the figure repeated, its voice sterner. Loki's bottom lip trembled as he obliged, first removing his shirt. Tears leaked away and he removed the rest. He stared at the cloaked figure, crying silently, naked on a table.
"Lie down on your back, please," it said. Loki did so. The figure came and strapped his small arms and legs down to the sleek, cool metal table. Loki glanced around the room and his fear dwindled a bit. Nothing in here looked particularly dangerous, save the figure. Perhaps this wouldn't be as bad as he feared.
"This is the agenda for today, Loki," the figure said. "I will ask you questions. If you answer correctly, nothing happens. If you answer incorrectly or you lie, you drink this." The figure brought over a jar and Loki caught a whiff of the liquid inside. It smelled awful and the scent wasn't familiar at all. As much as he wanted to ask what it was, he knew better.
"Are you ready?" the figure asked. Loki nodded.
"Good. What is your name?" Loki sniffed. That sure was an easy question.
"L-Loki," he answered, fear in his voice.
"Your full name please," it said.
"Loki Odinson," Loki said. The figure gripped a cup and dipped it into a jug. He then forcibly opened Loki's mouth with one hand and dumped the liquid into Loki's mouth with the other. The reaction was instantaneous. Loki could feel the liquid burn the lining of his throat and stomach as he swallowed. His stomach- which was still full from breakfast-instantly bloated, the liquid filling in the gaps. The figure stepped back and dipped the cup into the jug again. It got close to Loki, the cup dripping.
"What is your full name?" it asked again, the cup dripping menacingly. Loki scowled a little despite the pain.
"I j'st tol' you. I didn' lie." Loki said honestly. The figure lowered its arm and Loki exhaled in relief.
"Who is your father?" it asked.
"Odin," Loki answered confidently. Again, the figure came and forced Loki's mouth open and poured the entire cup into Loki's mouth. Loki gaged as it went down, his throat burning as he did so. The figure shrunk back and Loki began coughing and spluttering. He didn't understand; he wasn't lying. Why was he still forced to drink the foul liquid? The figure came back and Loki had the courage to glare at it, its hand folded around the cup.
"I didn' lie! My father is Odin and my mother is Frigga! You shoul' know that, living in Asgard after all." Loki said, his voice already strained due to the liquid. "What is that stuff anyway?" Loki asked his eyes on the cup.
"Enough," the figure said, its voice hard, "How old are you?"
"Five," Loki said. Much to Loki's displeasure, the figure forced the burning, foul liquid down Loki's raw throat. Loki's eyes filled with tears, not understanding why he was getting punished. He wasn't lying! The figure walked back to the jar, Loki now coughing up blood. His gasped, pain ripping through his burning throat. The figure came back and Loki eying the cup nervously.
"How old are you, Loki?" Loki raked his brain. He was five! He knew he was! His birthday was three months ago! Yet he was accused of lying! He couldn't understand what he was doing wrong! Unsure of what to say, Loki repeated his previous answer, but worded it differently.
"I am five years old," he said slowly, his throat burning. The figure poured the cup in. Loki's eyes filled with tears, the pain intensifying. The coughing was getting worse, blood splattering across his bare chest.
"'M not lying!" he cried, the tears spilling over. He suddenly had an increase of pressure in his bladder. He suddenly understood what was going on. The point of this was to humiliate you until you told the truth. The problem was that Loki wasn't lying, so he couldn't understand why the figure continued to torture Loki. All he had done was speak the truth.
"How old are you?" it asked again, another full cup in its grasp. Loki took a painful, deep breath.
"I am presen'ly five years old," he said, bracing himself. The liquid didn't come. Loki breathed a sigh of relief.
For a little over an hour and a half, the questions continued, Loki only getting accused of lying more and more. The pain and pressure was intensifying with every question, his stomach bloated and breathing labored. Sometimes the liquid would go down Loki's wind pipe instead of his esophagus, causing not only more pain, but his breathing to become shallow and labored. Loki wasn't sure how much longer he could make it. Another cup went down his throat and Loki was trembling. The pain and worry of urinating all over himself and the table was getting too much to bear. The figure returned with another full cup of liquid and Loki began to move around in a futile attempt to get away.
"Please!" he begged, "No more!"
"How many Midgardians did you kill?" This question struck a nerve. Kill? Loki had never killed anyone! He didn't want to! Loki began to cry, big fat tears rolling down his chubby, filthy face.
"I didn'! I honestly don' know what you're talkin 'bout! I didn' kill anyone!" Loki cried. The figure approached, and Loki's cries increased in volume.
"No! Please! It hurts!" Loki tried getting away again and he locked his jaw. The figure, of course, was stronger than the boy and Loki was easily over powered by the figure. The liquid tore through tissue and Loki couldn't hold it any longer. He felt the release of the warm liquid and shut his eyes. Afterword, the pain intensified, his throat and stomach feeling like they were a flame. He opened his eyes again and saw the figure wasn't holding the cup anymore.
"Odin was hoping you would last longer," it said as it unfastened Loki's bonds. Loki fell to the floor in a heap, the pain almost unbearable. His throat, chest and stomach were throbbing so hard that Loki was afraid they would rip if he moved even an inch. At this point, Loki didn't care about the urine at all; he just wanted to leave the room. He was just too terrified to get up.
"Can you walk?" Loki shook his head miserably and the figure picked him up. Loki was relatively silent to his cell, the figure dressing him and handing him water and bread.
"Eat when you are calm. I shall fetch you again tomorrow." The figure left leaving Loki alone.
When Loki had calmed down, he drank some water and instantly felt his burnt tissue cool down. He felt good enough to eat and tried to, but after just a few bites, felt too sick to continue. He set the bread aside and felt bile rise up. He felt shaky and sweaty, and no matter what position he was in he was uncomfortable. As Loki changed positions, he vomited all over himself, the pain intensifying. He drank more water and ebbed the pain, but was now covered in vomit. Loki lay down on the bed and curled up, sobbing until he fell asleep.
"How did it go?" Odin asked. The figure bowed.
Not as you had hoped. The boy only lasted two hours." the figure replied.
"That's to be expected," Odin said, "he is a child after all." Odin sunk into his throne and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Did you learn anything?" he asked.
"He truly seems to not know of his sins." the figure answered.
"That or he is just a good liar," Odin commented.
"Shall I follow the schedule?" the figure asked. Odin nodded.
"Yes. The boy knows more than he lets on. Being a child won't change anything." The figure bowed and left, Odin sighing heavily. He sat wearily in his throne and a knock sounded from his now closed door. Odin groaned and sat up.
"Come," he called. Much to his displeasure, Thor walked in, clearly upset. Thor, who didn't bother to bow, walked right up to the foot of the throne and sat down.
"What troubles you?" Odin asked.
"Do you not know the pain you cause your family?" Thor asked softly.
"Do you speak of Frigga?" Odin questioned. Thor shrugged.
"Her and myself. Due to your announcement, my friends have abandoned me. Because of your sentence, mother weeps. Can you not see?" Thor said. Odin sighed.
"You don't understand. This must happen. Both you and Loki must be taught your separate lessons." Odin explained.
"Lessons? How does torturing a five-year-old teach him anything but fear?" Thor asked.
"If that is what Loki must learn, then pain shall be his teacher." Odin replied. A low growl emitted from Thor's throat.
"That is cruel and you know it," Thor growled.
"You yourself admitted to abandonment by friends and yet all you care about is Loki. Why?" Odin asked.
"What you are doing is wrong, and no amount of isolation will change my opinion." Thor said, his jaw locked.
"It is good for a king to have strong opinions. But," Odin said, his lips almost touching Thor's ear, "it is also wise for a king to know when to let certain ones die." Thor stood and hurried away, his back to Odin.
"Who was that cloaked man?" Thor asked.
"A keeper of Fjørlag-Bryggja. You heard our discussion?" Thor nodded.
"Most of it. What did you do to him? What else do you have planned?" Now Odin stood and walked toward a crest of arms on the wall.
"Have you ever heard of kveisa?" Odin asked. Thor shook his head.
"No, what is it?" Odin chuckled softly.
"It's a dreadful drink, not one you would serve at parties or banquets. When swallowed, it reacts with flesh and literally burns it, intensifying as more and more is swallowed, coating the throat and stomach. It also has unpleasant side-effects, causing severe pain in the stomach and throat. It also eats away at the tissues, causing throat, stomach and bladder injury the more it is ingested." Odin explained. Thor cocked his head to the side. Why was Odin telling him this?
"Not that this isn't interesting, but why did you tell me?" Thor questioned, turning to face Odin again. Odin glanced back, that triumphant yet sad look in his eye again.
"You asked what happened to Loki." Odin stated simply. Understanding flashed in Thor's eyes and was quickly replaced by anger.
"Is the damage treatable?" Thor asked through grit teeth.
"Most of it. Some prisoner's throats never fully recover. However, since Loki only lasted two hours, he should fully recover." Odin explained.
"Why was he forced to drink kveisa in the first place?" Thor cried angrily. Thor had never felt such anger before, not even in battle. How dare Odin and the keepers of Fjørlag-Bryggja submit a five-year-old boy to that! It was grotesque to say the least.
"If he lied or answered a question wrong he was forced to drink," Odin said, not looking Thor in the eyes.
"You're disgusting, you know that?" Thor shouted, unable to hold his tongue any longer.
"I knew you would react that way," Odin responded, obvious disappointment in his tone.
"What's next? The rack?" Thor asked angrily. Odin scowled at Thor.
"Hold your tongue, Thor. I will not inform you of my plans or of Loki's schedule. Neither of those things are of your concern." Odin hissed, his brow lowering over his good eye. Thor scowled back.
"I think it is, father. Loki is my brother and therefore my-" Thor began, his voice rising in anger.
"No," Odin said slowly, rounding on Thor, "he is my son and therefore my responsibility! Not yours!" he bellowed. As a small child when Odin would yell like that, Thor and Loki would quiver in fear and admit their wrong doings. Now as a man, Thor could stand his ground and no matter how loud the All-Father screamed would change a thing. Thor would always see the child Loki as innocent and see the punishment he faced as wrong. Nothing would change that. So instead of cowering like a child, Thor bowed lowly in an action of mock respect.
"Fine, All-Father. I see your position on the matter of Loki will not change. Good night," Thor turned on his heal and left, his cape billowing behind him. Thor stalked past Frigga's chamber, not noticing that the door was slightly open.
"How did it go Thor?" came a small female voice. Thor stopped and turned. He saw Frigga peeking out from behind her door, her eyes full of sorrow. Thor sighed and walked to her.
"Not well, mother," he began, "father will not change his position on Loki." Frigga eyes shimmered in the dim light with what Thor assumed were tears.
"He's only a little boy," Frigga whispered, shutting the door behind her. As Thor stood there, a realization struck him. Odin's actions were causing damage to not only Loki, but his entire family. As Loki sat in Fjørlag-Bryggja to suffer from crimes he committed in a past life, Frigga's heart broke and wept and Thor was defenseless to stop his family from falling apart. The worst part was that Asgard now viewed their golden prince as a traitorous lunatic, one that sides with war criminals. His family was being torn apart, his kingdom in disarray over succession and all because of one little boy. Not that Loki could-or should-be blamed; all this was Odin's doing, Odin's choice. The All-Father chose for Loki to be sent away, therefore set the fate for his family and kingdom. As Thor walked to his chamber, the sun was barely visible in the sky. Asgard always looked beautiful at sunset, but tonight Thor only saw hate.