Loki was fuming with anger. If he had been a midgardian comic character, steam would be blowing out of his ears and nostrils, he was sure of that. And yet here he was, forced to smile attentively as he listened to some story the man next to him was telling. Oh how he despised these feasts. But he had promised Thor, his older brother and, as of new, lover that he would accompany him. It was after all the thunderers birthday.
And so Loki had dressed in his nicest clothes, soft green fabric wrapping around his body in a way he knew Thor loved, silver linings forming beautiful patterns on it, shining as the light of the torch hit it. A pair of tight black pants and knee high boots had completed the outfit he chose for this occasion. His hair was carefully slicked back as always, bright green eyes sharp. He knew he looked good, and if his reputation hadn't been what it was, maybe a maiden or two would have actually considered going after him.
But no, he was stuck with an older warrior, reminiscing about his greatest battles, eying the lord of mischief up all too obviously. Loki wanted to gag at the very one way glances he was receiving, hoping that maybe his lover would notice and save him. But Thor was too busy with the Warrior's three and Lady Sif to notice his despair. Which was the reason for Loki's anger to build steadily as minute by minute passed.
He wanted to scowl at his older brother, throw something at his head and scream at him. Why did he even force him to come if he wasn't going to pay him any attention? Was Thor trying to piss him off? But he sat obediently, ever the good prince, next to the male and listened to his stories. Finally, the man took a break, and Loki took that chance to excuse himself, claiming he needed some fresh air. He didn't wait for an answer, but simply strode off onto the balcony, inhaling the sweet scent of the evening air.
I mustn't turn Thor into a pig, he thought to himself, repeating the thought in his mind over and over. Oh how glorious it would be to simply cast the spell, and watch the entire party blow up in his brother's face. But his father's nerves were already stretched concerning his younger son, and Loki had no intention to get himself banned and thrown onto Midgard.
"Not having a good night, Prince Loki?" an unfamiliar voice made Loki turn his head. Next to him, holding a golden cup in his hand, stood a man he vaguely recalled seeing at the training arena. A young warrior, Loki thought to himself, forcing a small smile onto his face. Couldn't he be left alone for two damn minutes?
"Feasts are not really my favorite way of spending my time." he answered quietly, his voice soft and pleasant. Now go away, he added in his thoughts, but the male laughed, a loud, but pleasant sound as he nodded.
"I understand that all to well, my prince." Loki was slightly taken aback by the bold words. His prince? Since when? He was about to snap in a very un-prince like way, but stopped when he felt that familiar prickling on his scalp. He was being watched. Turning his head to look into the hall, he caught his brothers gaze. It was cold, no smile gracing his brothers lips. Oh a wordless warning. Loki had quickly found out his brother was possessive, and though the mark at his neck had faded, he could still feel it when he ran his fingers over that patch of skin.
"Do you know?" Loki asked quietly, moving a little closer to the male. Oh Thor would be angry if he was still watching. He hated when Loki got close to someone aside of the thunderer himself. Loki could feel a warm hand brush against his, his lips pressing together by reflex. No one ever touched him aside of Thor. But now, this young man who's name he didn't even know was doing it. Just like that. Casually. Gently. Sweetly. He once more looked into the male's face, chuckling to himself as he saw the soft blush on his cheeks. Never before had anyone reacted to him this way.
"I do." the other answered, obviously trying to hide the blush as he looked away from the trickster, motioning toward the sky with his cup. "Its a beautiful night. A perfect night for a nice and quiet walk."
Loki's eyebrows shot up. Though he might be insecure, this man new exactly what he wanted from the raven haired man. Loki couldn't help it, a soft smile curled on his lips as he nodded slowly. A plan was forming in his mind, and he would be damned if this wasn't going to get his brothers attention. The trickster knew he would be paying dearly for this later, when Thor caught him, but right now he didn't care.
"Would you like to go take a walk in the gardens?" he asked, looking at the male, giving him his best seductive smile, brushing his fingertips against his arm ever so gently, making the man move just a little closer. It was then that Loki knew he had the man hooked.
"I would love to, my prince." the stranger replied, grinning widely as he followed Loki through the hall and out into the corridor, only half a step behind the trickster. Loki was very aware of the blue eyes following them as he exited the hall, wondering if maybe this was a little over the top, that maybe he was teasing Thor too much. But no, this was exactly what the god of thunder deserved. If he didn't think he needed to pay his younger brother any attention, he would show him that others were more than willing to do that for him.
Loki stayed silent as they slowly walked through his mothers garden, feeling a little uncomfortable with being alone with this man that showed so obviously what he wanted from the young prince. But for now, he was keeping his distance, simply following Loki's lead. The moon shown all too brightly onto the two figures that wandered through along the beds of flowers and small tree's.
"Prince Loki." the man suddenly broke the silence, and before Loki knew what happened, he was being pushed face first against a tree, a strong hand coming up against his mouth, covering it firmly. "Oh how long I have waited for this."
Panic arose in the green eyed man, as he tried to struggle, but the man's body was pressed up against him, forcing his body flush against the tree. Loki tried to turn, tried to get in any position to fight this overly eager suitor, digging nails into any part of the man he could get too.
"The word is you like it rough, my prince." the man breathed into his ear, nipping at it, making the trickster squirm. "It seems to be true. And I am glad it is."
Loki could feel bile rise into his mouth, his stomach churning as he felt the man's erection rubbing against his ass, screwing his eyes shut as his screams were muffled against the hand that covered his lips. He had never thought this would happen, but he wasn't good with unspoken magic, not yet, he was still practicing. He kept fighting, kept trying to squirm away, to save himself, but as always, he was overpowered by the strength of an Asgardian male. He wasn't as strong as Thor, but Loki was still hopelessly outmatched.
Tears welled in his eyes, silently begging for his brother to come after him, to somehow sense his distress as he felt his pants being pulled down, freeing soft flesh. He whimpered, twisting his hips, hoping that if he just resisted long enough, if he could just get away, everything would turn out fine.
His eyes widened in horror as he felt something firm, hard and warm pressing against his exposed flesh. The hot breath against his ear, coming out in harsh pants, only fueled his panic. He twisted his hips desperately now, trying to avoid it slipping between his cheeks, trying to make the man understand that this was definitely not what he wanted.
"Oh you are ever so eager, my beautiful prince." the man breathed, making Loki's stomach lurch violently. If he had eaten anything, he was sure he would have thrown up. Panic so strong it made his chest strain arose in him as he felt a hand grip his hip, forcing him to stay in place, the grip bruising.
Screwing his eyes shut once more, he prepared for the pain he knew would come in just a few moments. But nothing happened. He heard a gurgling sound behind him, and suddenly he was free, cold air hitting the exposed skin. Pulling up his pants as quickly as he could, he whirled to find his brother behind him, tightly grabbing the warrior's neck, choking him as he hung in the air.
"Thor.." Loki whispered, his words so soft he could barely hear them himself. His brother did not turn to look at him, and for the first time in his life he was grateful that his brother did not give him any attention. The look on the thunderers face was frankly scary, his eyes burning with anger, teeth bared, brows knitted.
"You dare force yourself on a prince of Asgard?" he growled out. The man's hands were tugging at the hand that was firmly wrapped around his neck, obviously struggling for breath, not able to speak. Loki swallowed hard as he watched the male's face slowly turning purple. Thor was going to kill him, choke the life out of him if he didn't stop soon.
Loki rushed forward, tugging at his brothers arm, trying to pry those strong fingers off the man's throat, pleading with his brother to stop this, to let the man go, but Thor didn't seem to hear him. Desperately clawing at his brother's arm, he begged his brother to think, to stop this madness. Finally, Thor turned his face toward his brother. Seconds passed before the man's, now unmoving, body was dropped to the floor.
The trickster quickly looked at the man, relieved that he seemed to be alive. Thor hadn't killed him. His brother didn't murder a man for him. Just when Loki though the horror's of tonight would be over, he felt a bruising grip on his arm, and then he was pulled away like a doll, stumbling as he tried to keep up with his brother's long strides, swallowing hard as the thunderer bellowed at the guards to take the man to the dungeons.
The sorcerer didn't dare to speak, his silver tongue feeling more like led as he let his brother lead him not too gently to the blonds room. The doors were opened and he was shoved inside, stumbling and hitting the floor, his knee's aching as they connected with the stone floor.
"Are you happy now, trickster?!" Thor roared, slamming the door shut, towering over his smaller brother, making no attempt to help him up. And so Loki stayed on the floor, not wanting to upset his brother any more, scared what would follow if he did. "Are you happy with the result of your stupid, attention seeking game, brother?! Is this really how low you would sink before simply asking for my attention?!"
Fuck it. Loki thought, scowling up at his brother. Whatever would come from his snide remark, no matter how much would hurt him, how hard he would beat him, he would not stand for the words being tossed at him.
"Do you really thing this is what I wanted?" he spat, swiftly moving to stand. "I wanted to make you jealous, not almost get raped against a tree!"
"JEALOUS?" Thor roared, dropping his hammer to the floor, grabbing Loki by the collar of his tunic. "You are a fool! You have no need to make me jealous! You can come and ask for my attention, brother! I am tired of your games, of your silver tongue, and your lies! What if I hadn't been there to save you, once again?! What would you have done if that man had had his way with you?!"
"You are the fool!" Loki roared back, feeling the anger rushing through his body, a thick, black substance filling them as he glared at his brother. "The only reason I came was because you begged me to! You did not take no for an answer! If anything, it was your fault that any of this happened!"
Suddenly Loki was back on the floor, his cheek being pressed to the floor by a too strong hand at the back of his head. He couldn't hold back a whimper at the pain, fearing that his skull would crack from the sheer pressure it was forced to take.
"Do not blame me for your own stupidity, brother." Thor hissed, kneeling over Loki's cowering body. "Do not dare to shove off the responsibility for your actions. You should have known better than to take a strange man into the gardens with you, where no one could save your pathetic ass. But that is what you do best, is it not brother? Shove off everything to others, so you may remain in the delusion that your life is so unfair. Do you enjoy your misery, brother of mine?"
"If you had just paid attention to me for five minutes I wouldn't have done any of this, you big oaf!" Loki groaned out, finding it difficult to speak as his face was crushed up against the floor. "You wanted me to come and then you abandon me! And how would the golden prince of Asgard even start to understand what I feel?! You are selfish, selfish, brother, for you only see yourself! You have no right to speak to me about troubles you will never have!"
Thor roared, gripping Loki by his hair, yanking him up from the floor, turning him to force the trickster to look straight into the thunderers face. They both scowled at each other, neither willing to give the other an inch on their argument.
"Have words betrayed you once more, brother?" Loki spat, his fingers curling into fists at his side as he was forced to look Thor in the eye.
"Your arrogance and incapability of socializing like a normal person have taken my words from me, brother." Thor finally replied. "Is it so hard for you, Loki, to come to me? You could have just joined me if you wanted my attention. I thought you were enjoying yourself."
"Enjoying myself?" Loki spat, feeling the grasp on his hair lightening, and he was finally able to pull away from his brother, taking a step back from his antagonizing brother. "I was forced to listen to the ramblings of an old man while you were happily eating and drinking with your friends! You of all people should know I despise feasts! And yet I came, for you! I dressed nicely, for you! And what did I get in return?!"
Thor sighed, moving to sit on the cushioned chair next to the fireplace, and suddenly Loki felt just as weary as Thor looked. He was tired, tired of fighting, tired of their constant bickering. Tired of the entire situation.
"I am sorry." Thor finally said. "I should have been more attentive. I did not realize it was such a burden to you, nor did I realize you felt abandoned by me."
Loki snorted, moving to stand at the window, staring blankly out into the night, his arms wrapped around his hips in a pathetic attempt to warm himself. His entire body felt cold, sadness and exhaustion creeping into his bones.
"You are the shining prince of Asgard Thor. You are what I never will be. And I will always have to beg for your attention. It is only when I pull away that you come after me, when you finally realize I have slipped from the tips of your fingers. I am tired of this game." Loki closed his eyes, tightening his arms around his lithe body. "You say I play games, brother, but in truth, I play games because you leave me no other choice. And I am tired of it."
"What are you saying?" Thor asked quietly, too quietly. Loki shrugged, not daring to look at his brother. Was he really going to do this? Was he going to end this? He swallowed. He couldn't do this anymore. Loki, the god of mischief and lies, the trickster, was accepting his defeat.
"I am saying that this is doing nothing for me, Thor. That I am tired. Tired.. no.. exhausted from chasing after you at all times." Loki took a deep breath. "Whatever we have, brother, whatever the last weeks have made us. It isn't working. I see this now."
"Brother. Do not do this." Loki could hear Thor rise from his chair, heavy steps moving toward him, and then he felt a hand touch his neck, where Thor had left an angry mark, had claimed him, weeks ago. It felt like an eternity since then. "I am sorry I have mistreated you, I am sorry for forcing you to such desperate acts. But do not turn me away, brother."
Loki closed his eyes, willing the tears that were threatening to fall to retreat, to let him do this with some dignity. He moved away from his brothers touch, putting more space between them. He couldn't feel his brother's touch against his skin, couldn't feel his warmth, or he knew he would be lost.
"I have no choice." Loki whispered, his voice breaking. "You leave me no choice. I am breaking, breaking more and more with every second that passes by. I thought I was lost when you came to me on the rainbow bridge, I thought I knew real pain. I was wrong."
"Then let me change! Give me a chance to better myself, Loki." The thunderer pleaded, moving closer to his brother that only pulled away from him once more. "Do not do this, do not take this from us."
"Can't you just let it be?" Loki breathed, closing his eyes, turning his face away from his brother. "Can you not give me free, brother? Even if you better yourself, even if we work things out. You are to be king. You are to marry a maiden, and have children, and you will be happy. And I will be left to stand by your side, watching. Is that what you want for my future?"
"I will wed no one, brother. I care not what father says, I care not what is expected of me. And if I am to be banished to midgard, or even jotunheim. I will not leave you alone." Thor replied forcefully. A bitter laugh arose from Loki's throat.
"You know not what you say, brother. You know not what you promise." he sighed, running his hands over his face. Never had he felt this hopeless.
"I know exactly what I promise." Thor answered, moving to stand in front of his brother. "There is a reason I avoided you tonight, brother. A reason why I did not seek you out at the feast."
"And what reason would that be?" Loki asked wearily. He just wanted to sleep. He did not want to hear another word from his brothers mouth, did not want to discuss their situation. He wanted to undress, and lay in his bed, bury his face in the softness of his pillow and let sleep take him.
"I was nervous." the unexpected reply made Loki face his brother, a quizzed look on the sorcerer's face as he quirked a brow.
"Nervous?" Loki asked, tilting his head to the side slowly, green eyes staring into blue. "Why were you nervous brother?"
"I am now old enough to look for a wife, as you have pointed out yourself." Thor said slowly. Loki watched as Thor pulled something from his pocket, a small golden chain, hung with the seal of Asgard, and engraved with Thor's personal mark. Each person from Asgard had a mark of their own, a way to show their victory in battle, and lay claim on another. Loki's breath caught in his lungs. "I was given this by father when we were both just children Loki. Just as you have received one of your own. And you know what they mean."
No. Loki swallowed, moving back from his brother.
"Stop this madness, Thor." Loki whispered, staring at his brother. His emotions began to rise, anger, disbelieve, shock, and such unbelievable joy.
"Tis not madness." Thor answered, moving forward, grasping his brother's wrist, and holding it firmly. "I may never be able to wed you officially, Loki. But that does not mean that you are not mine. That I haven't claimed you. That I.."
"Don't." Loki pleaded. If he heard his brother say those words, if he let himself listen, he would be lost forever. Lost in his brother, lost in his love for him, his want and need, and he would never recover.
"That I don't love you. For I do, brother. With all my heart."
Loki closed his eyes, choking on the air in his lungs as the tears started to fall. He felt the cool metal of the bracelet be moved over his hand, securely placed at his wrist. A strangled sob escaped him.
"Why do you weep, Loki?" the question was gentle, much too gentle, and as he felt his brother's hand at his cheek, he could not help but cry harder. And suddenly he was being embraced, embraced in a way he never thought he would be. He was loved by the most perfect being in all nine realms. He was loved.
"Stop your tears, brother." Thor soothed, pressing a kiss to the tricksters temple, holding him gently against his chest. "Does my proposal not make you happy?"
"..It makes me ecstatic, brother, Thor." Loki whispered, looking up at his brother, the tracks of freshly spilled tears marking his pale skin.
"Then why do you cry?"
"They are tears of joy, you oaf." Loki muttered, gently pulling away from his brother. "Wait here." He said before moving over to one of his many shelves filled with books. Pulling one out, he opened it, his hands running over the silver chain lying flat between the pages. Never had he thought he would give this to anyone.
Moving back to his brother, he looked up at him, whispering quietly to himself to make the bracelet larger, so that it would fit over his brothers broad hands and lay comfortably against his wrist. Thor simply watched his brother with silent awe, waiting patiently for Loki to now lay claim on him. And when he did, the thunderers grin broadened.
No more words were wasted. Thor's lips laid themselves onto his brothers, kissing him with such gentleness it made Loki want to weep again. Small hands tangled into his brothers hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. Clothes were quickly thrown to the floor, and were forgotten just as quickly.
Skin against skin, Thor pulled his brother onto his bed, laying him beneath his tall form, running a hand over the unbelievable soft skin. Never had anyone looked at him with such adoration, and it made the tricksters heart clench. Oh how beautiful his brother was, how kind, how perfect. Soft kisses were planted onto every inch of his skin, from his toes to his head, making him squirm and moan. His brothers touch was the sweetest he could ever imagine.
The fear he had felt while the other had touched him, had tried to claim him, was washed away. All he could see was his brother, and the silver bracelet that hung at his wrist. Never had their coupling been so gentle. There was no desperation, no rush, just love, and acceptance, and sweetness.
He could feel Thor's fingers preparing him, could feel his entrance be stretched more and more, wider and wider, until finally he knew he was ready to accept his brother into his body.
"Please Thor.. please.." Loki whispered, thrusting his hips against his brother. "Take me. I.." he swallowed harshly, biting his lower lip before going on. "I love you. I need you."
Thor smiled down at him, that sweet, sweet smile that made Loki feel like the sun was rising after a long night of darkness and cold. He felt warm, safe, and oh so loved.
"Enough."
One word. Just one word made them both freeze. Slowly, Loki moved his gaze from his brothers face to the door. And there he stood.
Their father.
"Enough." Odin said quietly. Loki felt as if the warmth he had just felt was being drained from his body. He couldn't speak. He couldn't think. All he could do was stare at his father, eyes wide with shock, skin paler than it had ever been.
"Father, I-" Thor started to speak, but he was silenced as Odin lifted his hand.
"Get dressed. Come to the throne. We will talk then." And then the Allfather left, leaving behind his two sons.
"Loki." Thor breathed, turning back to his brother, gently caressing his skin. "It will be alright. Come, brother. It will be alright. I will protect you. Cover yourself, and let us see what father has to say."
The sorcerer was numb with fear, but he nodded, trusting his brother's reassuring words as he slipped from the bed, moving to gather his clothing and dress himself. When they had both finished, Thor took his brothers hand.
"No need to hide it anymore." he said quietly, giving his brother a halfhearted smile that Loki could not return. But he gripped his brother's hand, holding tightly, as if he was holding on for his dear life. And together, they walked to face their father.
Loki knew immediately that something bad was coming their way. They were not alone. Guards, their mother, Lady Sif and the Warrior's three were standing next to the Allfather, and by the looks on their face whatever was to come was going to be bad.
Loki swallowed, fighting his impulse to simply turn and run, run for his life. Because that was what he might lose. His life. But he stood beside Thor, trying to seem confident, to keep his head held high as they made their way up to their father.
Thor knelled, and Loki mirrored his actions, hanging his head, staring at the floor.
"Come to me, Thor." Odin said quietly. Thor turned to look at Loki. He could read doubt in those blue eyes as clear as day. But he nodded, telling his brother to do what he was told. Angering Odin would not make anything better. So the thunderer stood, making his way to his father.
"My boy." The Allfather said, gently laying a hand on the blond's shoulder. "What has he done to you?"
In that second, the Warrior's three lurched forward. It all happened much too fast, and yet so slow. Loki felt himself struggle against their grips. But they were firm, holding his arms in place as a muzzle was strapped to his face. His words had been silenced.
He could hear Thor's roar and he looked up, his eyes searching for the man he loved, the man that had silently vowed to love him until the end of time. The bracelet was ripped from his arm almost painfully by Lady Sif. Loki wanted to scream, wanted to curse her until she dropped dead to the floor.
He looked for Thor, but the god of thunder was no where to be seen. His distant shouting could be heard. They had taken him away. They had taken his love away from him. In a sudden outburst of rage, he could feel the magic inside him pulse, and suddenly his arms were free, the Warrior's three laying motionless on the floor.
Loki didn't care if they were dead of simply unconscious. No one would take Thor away from him. The god of thunder was his. He made his way to follow Thor, to seek out his lover when he felt a hand wrap around his neck.
The Allfather himself was now next to him, and Loki could feel the magic drip from his body. He struggled. He tried. He tried to free himself, to go after Thor, but his father's grasp was too hard, too powerful. Odin himself was constricting the sorcerer's magic, his strength. He was but a child in his fathers hands, weak and inferior.
"You are banned from Asgard for enchanting your brother, and forcing him to lay with you, Loki Laufeyson. Your magic will be taken from you. And you will spend the rest of your life in midgard, where you can cause no harm."
The words rang so clearly in Loki's ears that his head hurt. Laufeyson? Midgard? This had to be a bad dream. Just a bad dream.
With a loud crash the door flew open, and he could see his brother struggling to keep the many guards off of him, fighting them to get back to his brother. Desperation clawed at his heart, and he reached out, reached out for the man he loved. He wanted to scream his name, wanted to call out to him, tears running down his cheek, meeting the cold metal of the muzzle that pressed too tightly into his flesh.
"Loki!" Thor roared, another wave of guards crashing into the god of thunder, keeping him from the trickster. A strong arm wrapped around Loki's waist, and he was being pulled away. Loki screamed, screamed as loud as he could, but no sound passed through the metal meant to keep him silent.
Thor was reaching out for him, battling the guards as much as he could as they clung to the thunderers arms and legs, his waist, even his neck. They were being pulled apart, further and further. Loki screamed, he squirmed, he trashed about in his fathers steel like grip, but the gap between them was growing.
"LOKI!"
Thor's voice broke the tricksters heart, as he struggled even harder to get back to his love, to free him from the guards that were holding them back, to kill each and every one of them. How dare they hurt him? How dare they try to keep them apart?
The pain washing over him was overpowering, more and more tears spilling from his eyes as he cried out for his love, as he fought his father, as he lost Thor out of his sight, being pulled from the hall.
No! he pleaded, but his desperate begging could not be heard. His father pulled him away, quickly, mercilessly. Loki fought, oh how he fought, how he slammed his fists against his fathers arm, digging his nails into the armor of the Allfather, screaming at the top of his lungs as tears dripped onto the floor.
"Heimdall!" Odin bellowed as they reached the bifrost. "Open it. Send him to midgard. Don't let him return."
Loki's last hope was the man holding the sword. He looked at him, pleading, begging with his eyes. But to no avail.
The bifrost was opened.
"Loki!"
Thor! Loki's head snapped to the entrance he had just been dragged through, fixing his gaze on his brother. He looked battered and spent, but he was here, and he would save him, he would save him!
Hope blossomed in his heart, the warmth returned, they would not be separated, they would stay together-..
And then Thor fell. Slowly, he fell to his knee's, and onto the floor. Not moving. Behind him stood Lady Sif, her sword in hand. She had hit him from behind, like a coward. Knocked him unconscious.
He was not going to be saved.
"You will not return. Your spell will break when your magic does. And Thor will be free. You will never see him again. And your perversion will be forgotten, just as you will be, Laufeyson. In time, you will be forgotten."
Those were the last words Loki heard before he was tossed into the bifrost, never to return to Asgard or his lover.
He would be alone.
Forever.