He placed the circular room he had shut himself into when they had reached the underground base, hidden under a small mountain peak in central Tennessee. Used as a last resort after S.H.I.E.L.D.'s larger and more heavily stocked bases had been destroyed in the last week. A shimmering stone was placed on the round silver table positioned in the center of the room. An inverted pyramid of pale green light emitted from the center of the stone and he caught himself stealing minute glances at the light, waiting on his father to receive his call.

Finally, after what seemed like a millennia, Odin's face materialized from the light. Thor practically lunged toward the image, seating himself quickly in front of his father's projection.

"Father?" he asked uncertainly.

"It is I, my son. What news of Migard?"

Thor grimaced. "Loki was successfully thwarted, Father."

The Allfather sighed, but his gaze remained firm on Thor. "Is he subdued?"

Thor only nodded in response.

"Then it is time to bring him back to Asgard. The court has been deliberating on his punishment since you gave word of his agenda."

"Have they reached a decision?" Thor murmured.

Odin nodded stoically. "They have. Loki's deception knows no bounds... They have agreed on stripping him of his royal rights. He is to remain in the palace only to be kept under watchful eye. A prison to be built for him was suggested, but your mother was adamant about him being resigned to his original quarters indefinitely."

Thor frowned, but only nodded again.

"That is not all, my son," he hesitated, and then; "Loki's mouth is also to be bound."

"Bound?"

A thick, silver cord and a hooked needle materialized on the table before Thor. The thunder god couldn't help but gasp as he looked down at the small rope, realization of his father's meaning hitting him at once.

"You mean for me to sew shut my own brother's mouth?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Odin nodded and began again, "The court forbids his return until his words are bound inside of him. I am sorry, my son." He gave what Thor interpreted as a look of pity before the rock on the table began to rattle and the pyramid of light disappeared. Thor picked up the cord and needle, giving the tools a look of disgust before he rose and walked to the door. He stopped momentarily, stealing himself for the task ahead, then exited the room, his lips flattened into a grim line.

He entered the cell quickly, but not quickly enough for the master of mischief. Loki jerked his head up and gave Thor a bitter smile.

"Come to finish me off?"

Thor leveled him with a hard look and then seated himself in a plastic chair facing the cuffed Loki. "I talked with father-"

"Your father," Loki interjected matter-of-factly.

Thor chose to ignore him. "-and he spoke of the council. They have decided on your punishment."

"And, pray tell, what would that be?" Loki queried, his eyes full of cruel mirth.

"I am taking you back to Asgard. I'm taking you home," Thor replied firmly. "But under one condition... a condition I am bound by duty to obey." With this he pulled the needle and cord from his pocket.

Loki eyed the objects. "Needlepoint?"

"Do not play, Loki!" Thor thundered, slamming his fist against the wall. The wall shuddered and plaster sprinkled form the ceiling.

Loki looked at the crack in the ceiling, a small smirk spreading across his lips. "I understand now," he began as he gestured to the needle. "They mean for me to be seen, but not heard." He paused. "And you're to do this to me?"

Thor nodded solemnly.

The sardonic look in Loki's eyes faltered for a breathe before he nodded. "Go on, then."

Thor stared at his brother a moment, then to the punishment that rested in his hands. He grudgingly stood and went to thread the needle, but the silver cord slipped through the needle's eye without help. He stepped toward his brother and grasped his shoulder firmly. If this harmed Loki, he gave nothing away.

"Loki, I-"

"No," Loki stopped him. "Do you think me afraid, brother?" he mocked, his unfeeling eyes set squarely on the other man.

Thor plunged the needle through Loki's upper lip, causing him to jump, but he remained silent. Drops of scarlet blood dripped onto the floor in a rough pattern, like a leaky faucet.

Somewhere nearby, metal twisted, a girl screamed, and a man died.

The hulking man's armor glittered gold as he marched purposefully through the palace. He spoke to no one, keeping his eyes set on the path in front of him. In a matter of moments he arrived at the door to the king's chambers. The couple of guards flanking the door caught sight of him and bowed immediately. He took a breathe to steady himself before his fist tapped the bronze and emerald-inlaid door.

"Enter!" Odin bellowed from inside.

He walked into the room and immediately went to his knee, his right fist moving from his side to cover his heart.

"What business brings you from your post, Heimdall?" Odin questioned. "And please rise, old friend."

Heimdall got to his feet but kept his eyes trained on the floor. "I have failed you, my king."

"What in Valhalla do you mean?" Odin asked, worry etching his wizened eyes.

"As the Gatekeeper of Asgard, it is my duty to keep eye on all nine of the realms, and I believe I do that to the best of my capabilities. I never have made an error... that was until eighteen Midgardian years ago," he finished quietly, finally moving his golden eyes from the floor to the eyes of Odin. "I let something... rather someone distract me. There was a mortal woman of Earth, and she was breathtaking. I traveled to Earth and we- she had a child."

"Heimdall, you mean to tell you laid with a mortal?"

"Yes, my lord," he replied dejectedly.

"And the child, what of it?"

"Her power is strong, my lord. Being mortal, she is not like us... but she has a natural magic to her. And she doesn't know how to control it. I saw her slay another mortal today. I do not believe she is safe being left on earth. It's not her I am worried about, but the others around her. We can teach her how to control it."

Odin nodded solemnly. "You have served me loyally for many ages, Heimdall. I will have Thor retrieve the girl after he returns with his brother."

"My lord?"

"Yes, Heimdall?"

"Your sons have just arrived.

an: ahh, finally finished the first chapter! it was much harder than how the second is going. it's shorter than i originally planned but i was itching to get it out. tell me what you think!