Chapter Text
It was just after the attack on New York, when Thor dragged Loki to Asgard. He knew Odin will choose a fitting punishment for Loki.
"I hope you do realize how ridiculous this is" Loki sneered while watching the handcuffs placed on his wrists connected to the collar around his neck by a heavy chain. He spoke to Thor who was watching him with a stoic expression but deep inside, he was hurt. Loki always was quite mischievous but never before was he like this. Evil, violent and insane but not only that, Thor was certain Loki was very confused but what also didn't leave the Thunderer's mind was how Loki behaved during the invasion.. The few seconds Loki had reacted to Thor's question on the roof, Loki saying it's too late to change it after he looked around as if he tried to find a solution only to not be unable to find a solution. The brief dwelling of tears before he suddenly snapped and stabbed him.. Yet Loki had been looking so confused after he stabbed him. The slight twitch of his confused eyes as he sneered the word 'sentiment'. Thor couldn't get it off of his mind.. he couldn't ignored that his brother wasn't alright. He could see it which I why he took his little brother to Asgard and didn't leave him on Midgard.
The tall guards beside the fallen prince dragged the Black haired man off heading to the throne room for his sentencing.There Loki's mockery didn't end at all. He would say things that made his parent's realize that he's probably out of his mind. Loki never had such delusions of grandeur, Never did Loki consider himself better than any other race. He even was against Thor attacking Jötunheim, until his mind lost it when he basically had a nervous Breakdown. But he said things about humans that even shook Frigga and Odin to the core but they masked it somehow, they had to hide their shock. Even if they wanted to show an expression, they were shocked by the display of their son so gravely they couldn't find an expression to show as they didn't know what to do.. "have I made you proud" the words Loki said would haunt Frigga even after the sentencing.. For hours, days possibly. His voice sounded so ghostly, haunted and not like himself.
"..... Cells"
Those words shook Frigga out of her thoughts - she looked up to see the shocked face washing over Lok's face.. She had totally missed out on hearing the sentencing but she did catch the mention of cells.
The guards dragged Loki by his handcuffs away from the large hall, away from people.. Into the depths of the dungeons. Into a cell.. Into isolation.
It was only when the night fell that Thor went into the throne hall where Frigga and Odin were having a mild argument. When the blonde prince entered they silenced briefly and gave him a glance.
"allfather, allmother, I came to ask you to hear me out in regards to Loki",Thor began and when he received a nod from both he continued to talk. "Father, Mother. Loki is not himself. I can't think that Loki would do such crimes on his own.. Father, mother, you've seen him. The last time we saw him, he fell off the bifrost! We three know what his intention was.. As I saw him again.. He looked horrible he still looks so different from what he used to look like! I know Loki is keeping secrets.. I know it. But please let us reconsider his punishment"
Thor pleased with them, he knew Odin was firm on his sentencing but his reasoning seemed to stir something deep within Odin, something he was concealing behind his firm mask.
Frigga looked thoughtful before she spoke up. She was of course powerful, and had as much say as Odin but she usually would leave political issues to him and sentencing when it came to Loki too. She could never ever punish Loki.. She knew how confused he was, she knew it.. She could hear it.. "I would like to check on him. Heimdall did inform us that he couldn't see Loki at all, and when you fought against him Thor, he said he was something different not Loki. It was a corruption.. I would like to have a check on him. And then.. We will have to think of what to do" the allmother spoke for both of them - Odin and herself. A sigh of relief escaped Thor.. He hoped this would help. He hoped. He hoped for his brother.
It was a few hours later, Loki was pacing restlessly up and down his cell, muttering under his breath. His eyes wild - scanning anything they could focus on.. Thor was the first to appear at Loki's cell and soon followed by Odin and Freya. Freya couldn't hide the sorrow in her eyes.. Loki, her beautiful, composed son. Her intelligent boy.. Now pacing like a wild animal and staring at them like a starving predator wanting to kill anyone behind the cell. Even Odin felt unsettled by what he was seeing.. This wasn't how he remembered Loki. "Loki, we've come to research your brother's suspicions.. Your mother will-" Odin was interrupted by a sharp and mocking sounding laugh erupting from Loki's throat as he finally turned entirely to them. His eyes - blue eyes - stared at them with nothing but hatred."Not my mother. Not my brother. Nor are you my father." Loki spoke with such vitrol that it took even Odin back.. It was so different. Sure Loki had always a way with words, he knew what to say but.. This? This wasn't him.
The allmother knew something was wrong, his eyes were showing it.. They used to be green. Now they were blue.. This wasn't right. Freya, without another word, entered the cell and before Loki could protest she held his head by both sides and closed her eyes. His seidr eager to latch onto her's. Eager to share the horrors it had been through. Loki's vision was filled with a bright light - blinding him before everything turned black.
Loki sunk to his knees slowly and steadily. He could hear a buzz in the darkness that overcame him. A coldness spread through him and eventually everything stilled.
Will it be quiet now?
Was it finally over?
And then everything went dull.
"Thor was right.. I can see his mind is torn.." Freya said, informing both Odin and Thor but she didn't go into detail.. She could've sensed Loki's seidr was hurt and his mind was torn. She had left the cell and left Loki to rest on the bed there, she had made him fall asleep which came from an unknown level of exhaustion.
"The scepter we had found.. The scepter Loki had. He never let go of it. It was always with him.. The Midgardians I helped managed to take the scepter away from him and we kept it in a room with us... It.. It made us aggressive. We would constantly make us be irritated. One of us even ended up taking hold of the scepter without realizing. I believe one of the Midgardians, Tony Stark.. Has mentioned some energy is radiating from the stone that is inside the scepter.. " Thor explained. Immediately Odin and Freya tensed.. They didn't need to be shown to know what it was about.. They knew it.. They knew what that thing is..
"Thor.. Is it possible that you bring that item here" Odin asked and after a moment of silence, the God of thunder nodded in agreement. He was sure he'd get the permission to take the item to Asgard. "retrieve it. If it is what we suspect.. Then it will explain a lot" Odin said to Thor while his eyes focused on Loki's sleeping figure.. Even in his sleep the prince looked deeply disturbed. Distressed.
It didn't take long for Thor to return with the item in question which was locked in a container to keep it isolated. Meeting up at Odin's throne the Thunder God would open the container and the second the allmother saw it, she gasped in horror. Odin paled and looked older all of a sudden, older than he already is!
"It must be destroyed or locked away. Far from anyone's reach." Odin ordered as he saw the little shiny stone. Thor looked at it for a while before his eyes shot up to glance at both his parents. "What exactly is it?" he asked. Thor wasn't stupid, by no means. Sure sometimes we was an oaf but he wasn't too stupid.
"it is-" Odin wanted to explain but he got interrupted by Frigga who simply answered in a soft but stern tone. "it is the cause of every trouble that Midgard had to face with Loki" The allmother closed the container as it seemed to close in it's radiating powers. "it must stay far away from Loki at all cost." she said with a concerned look on her face. "I'll visit him later tonight again and help to remove the connection his mind has"
And with that they three parted. Thor returned the objects as Tony and Bruce had insisted on being allowed to do some more research on the object. Odin was overthinking the punishment he had decided for Loki, he wasn't at fault and that he had been tortured couldn't be denied any further - just the look on his face gave it away. Odin and Freya knew Loki from when he was but a day old.. they know him for ages and they could see that something was wrong.
Thor didn't give the team called Avengers any informations but he did tell them, once he can he will explain everything to them.
When Thor had returned to Asgard and went to check onLoki as he received word that the allmother was finished with her task. As Thor descended the stairs he spotted the allmother standing by the cell, watching the prisoner -no - watching her second son, her son. Her and Odin's son and Thor's little brother they all had believed had died... She looked exhausted. Her eyes looked so heavy with worry that one might fear the worries would push her below the grounds surface by the weight "Mother, what's-" Thor's concerned eyes searched her face for any answers but then he received a smile and was interrupted in his speech. "Do not worry my dearest, It was just very exhausting to remove the connection Loki had with that object.. He is asleep now.. but Odin and I had a question Thor. What would you suggest we should do with Loki?" That the allmother asked him of such took him entirely aback. Sure he would often be consulted by his parents but he believed this was out of his league!
"You'll become the future king of this realm Thor, you will have to watch for your brother. Since it will be you at the end, I want you to make a decision - and to learn that you must judge even those you consider close" It was the allfather this time who had just joined their side as he decided on what their next step will be with Loki - it would be to let Thor decide. His voice as deep as thunders and yet as soothing as the sound of rain at night. Thor remained silent for a while and looked into the cell they three were standing infront of. Thor's blue eyes were basically glued on his brother who laid curled up - so tightly curled up that his entire body would easily fit on a pillow by now. Loki looked different now from earlier today, and yet the troubles he was in were still firm. My dearest brother, what will I do with you? I cannot punish you for something you had no control in.. Thor thought as he then sighed out lightly. "when he awakes.. I will decide. As of right now I believe he deserves all the rest he needs." Thor spoke calmly as he then glanced at his parents to see if they would approve or not.
"That is a wise choice, my son." Odin said with one of his very rare smiles they were basically invisible but they were there, his eye was giving it away. "but Loki should remain in the cell for at least until he wakes up as we cannot know if he will be able to know where he is as of right now, we don't know what he has been through. From the moment he fell from the Bifrost until today, Heimdall couldn't see him regardless of where he was.. before he appeared in Midgard everyone thought he is gone." Odin explained calmly as he knew Thor might have matured way more over the past few months and years but he also knew Thor had still much to learn and in all honesty? Both the allfather and allmother always wanted Loki to be like Thor's advisor at very least , someone who can guide Thor.
Thor gave Odin a nod of understanding and a gentle bow "I understand that" he said in the process of nodding - eventually it was decided mainly by Frigga's pushing that they should leave as staring tends to wake Loki up and being stared at might be a very scary feeling..
It didn't take a day or two, but a whole week until Loki finally awoke from his sleep, woken by something wet on his forehead- he had to struggle to focus but he eventually noticed it was a towel.. wet towel. so nicely cold..
With a brief frown appearing on his head as he was stirring awake he began to open his eyes. The first he saw was to no surprise, the fabric of a towel. But once the hand holding it moved aside he could see those two familiar blue eyes. Thor.
"Good morning brother" said the Thunderer as he watched his brother's eyes focus in and out rapidly.. his eyes - Thor noticed - weren't blue any longer.. they were the strong dark green color that Loki was known for. So green it would make any forest blush in comparison, battle emeralds even. "have you rested well?"
Loki watched his oaf of a brother through tired and exhausted eyes as if he needed a moment to even think of words before he spoke up hesitantly. "Indeed I did, Thor. Where even am I" Loki's voice was ridden by sleep and exhaustion but a small spark of curiosity was present in it as he was sitting up slowly.
"I brought you to your room Loki, I figured the cell isn't comfortable and like this I can actually visit you more often. How do you feel brother?" Thor gave his little brother a smile. But now that Loki had collected his mind enough and was fully awake now, the word 'Brother' was met with a snarl. "I am not your brother." He said firmly as he stared over at Thor. His green eyes burning with an emotion Thor hadn't seen in so long on his little brother's face. It wasn't envy, jealousy or hate. It was pain. Just pain. "Loki, you will always be my brother. You will always be mother's and father's son. Yes, I was told about your heritage but it doesn't change that you're of this family. And I'll protect you as much as I can, Loki, my dear brother" Thor tried his best to remain calm with his brother, he knew Loki and he knew when he felt cornered he could lash out.
"when he wakes up he might not remember. When he wakes up he can be different. The stone took a large part of him with it, he will slowly recover it - just be careful" These words said Frigga the day Thor had decided to take Loki back to his room, back to the place Loki belongs in. His own room. Back in the palace like a prince, not in the cells like a criminal.
Thor remembered his mother's words and now he could understand why she told him, it didn't take a genius to realize Loki was different. No, not different. He was scared. The way Loki would study any expression he could muster, the way his eyes would very briefly narrow, his fingers twitch with a small amount of green light sparkling - anything was a threat to Loki so much was clear. Thor couldn't help feeling sad, not because his brother didn't trust him, but because of his brother being so scared that everything was nought but a threat. "I will let you rest brother" Thor said in a gentle tone as he rose from beside Loki's bed and left the room. Only when he was alone the Prince allowed himself to look around.. he really was in his room again. On his bed.. his hand slowly and tenderly glid over the soft fabric of his bedsheets. They were mainly green with golden accents, oh how he missed them.. better than sleeping in dirt or on the floor. Before he could even think of getting out the bed his mind began to fade into black as sleep once again claimed him. Please, don't- was all he thought before he fell back on the bed and was out cold - deeply asleep immediately.
"We shouldn't punish him too hard, Odin! We've lost him before, we still don't have him back. I don't want my child to drift away from us even more." Freya said firmly, anger present in her voice as she stood by the throne's side. Over the past week Odin and Frigga were arguing a lot more than usual. Since Thor hadn't yet decided on what to do with Loki, Odin had come up with ideas.. all of them were harsh.
"He will have to learn" Odin argued back to his wife but before they could go on they silenced as Thor made his presence known by entering the throne room. He had heard their argument so much was clear. "how is he?" Thor wasn't sure who asked first as Frigga and Odin asked basically at the same time.
"I fear he might have lost a lot. Hurt is still in his eyes and I believe it comes from being on Asgard" Thor said out calmly which made his parent's frown. "What does that mean Thor?" Frigga asked with great concern as she feared Thor would agree to harsh punishement.
"Ever since Loki fell off the Bifrost I was trying to understand why he did what he did, why would he act out so much... as he showed up on Midgard I kept puzzling about it. The midgardians were a great help, at least some of them. They were willing to listen to me and were willing to listen to our childhood stories as they - as much as myself - tried to make sense of what happened. With their help I had realized it is us to blame for his doing. We cannot deny that there was always a large gap between Loki and I. Allfather, especially from you. You would actively exclude him from any training and I know why you did that, he is a mage not a warrior but I have seen him fight, father. He is a warrior, a special one. We always wanted him to feel part of this family and tried so hard in avoiding that he'd face anything unpleasant, that we began to exclude him." Thor spoke calm but there was sorrow in his voice. For so long they had tried to make things right only to realize they approached it entirely wrong.. "Thor, I kept him away from the warrior's training not because I deemed him unworthy of fighting, but.. the image of how I found him would always stay on my mind. " Odin confessed and Frigga lowered her head a tiny bit - she had a part in that too. "I had told Odin to not let him train with the warriors. I wanted him to focus more on magic, magic is frowned upon for a man to wield.. but I hoped that if a prince of Asgard can wield it then the prejudice will eventually fade." the allmother lowered her head, magic on Asgard was mainly something for women. Sure there were male mages - but if a man can wield magic then they must be better in swinging an axe at the end of the day. Frigga knew that would've been so far from Loki's nature, his nature they tried to value to the point they overdid it and made Loki feel excluded, made him feel like he is not part of the family. Made him feel out of place. Made him feel like an alien element.
After a moment of silence Thor spoke up again, this time his eyes slightly gleamed as he wanted to share his plans. "I did think about what to do with Loki, even now his behaviour is... unchanged. But I had an idea.. what if we take him away from Asgard, away from the golden halls, away from warriors, away from the unfairness he had to endure, away from the place he felt like he belonged to and yet was out of palce, away from all the memories that corrupted his mind to the point he did attempt to commit suicide. Away from us. Away from the pain. " Thor only paused to see his parents reactions but before they could even ask where to take Loki, Thor answered. "Midgard. He has only been on Midgard under influence, while 'himself' he was only there for maybe an hour back in the days. He doesn't know Midgardian customs, he knows basically nothing of Midgard except of what he reads in his books. Let me talk to the Son of Fury and to the Son of Stark. I want Loki to learn something else. Something new." Thor asked, his eyes pleading to have that wish granted by his parents. Of course at first they looked concerned and very sceptical but the more Thor spoke the more their expressions had calmed and eventually they allowed themselves to consider the option. After all, they didn't want to give up on Loki. Not yet.
After what felt like forever an agreeing nod came from both parents, giving permission to Thor's idea to help Loki. "I will return once I talked to them - I might need a week" The thunderer said, he knew he didn't have to ask them to watch Loki, as mother was always very close to Loki and probably was the only person Loki trusted in the palace - even if that was currently hidden behind a wall of pain and self-preservation. Thor didn't wait any longer, immediately he made his way to Heimdall and was sent to Midgard.