Silenced Liar

Chapter One

Loki's feet hit the ground. He opened his emerald green eyes. His eyes were met with the glorious sight of Asgard. The breathtaking blue of the sky and the superb green of the grass, the gold of the city and the silver of the roads. Loki glared heatedly at it all. Especially when Thor looked at him.

Thor yanked the Tesseract from Loki's grasp and tucked it under his arm. "Come, Loki. It is time to speak with our father."

Loki tried to protested that he was Thor's father and Thor's alone, but the metal gag wouldn't let him. Thor took a hold of the chain in between the shackles, which confined the trickster's movements. He yanked it forward some as he began to walk, forcing Loki to follow.

They reached the palace and made their way to the throne room. Loki kept his gaze locked on his feet, a glare firmly in place. He could feel the heated gazes of the Asgardians judging him as they walked down the halls. They soon reached the doors to the throne room.

Thor opened the door and guided the trickster in. They soon stood before the Allfather, whom stood from his throne. Thor bowed before his father. Loki did not. Really he had no way to… his hands were bound and he also preferred not to wrinkle his robes. He still had some dignity left after all.

Odin looked at his sons and said "Rise, Thor."

He did as told. Thor gazed at his father, wondering what his brother's punishment would be.

"I see you have brought back your brother, Thor. Good job." Odin praised the thunder god. Thor smiled briefly. But it soon disappeared as the Allfather began to speak again. "Now… Loki…"

Loki looked up with a defiling arrogance. He refused to look weak, even in his prisoner state. He still held his head and gaze on as a rightful prince would. Odin continued. "As you should know, the consequence for your actions is death."

Frigga gasped softly in surprise. She had forgotten. She looked at her sons. Her eyes were sad as she looked upon Loki. Thor's blue eyes widened. "No! Father, please!"

Loki couldn't believe it. He had to fight hard to keep his mask up. He had been fearing his punishment for his crimes. He had hoped his 'father' would have been merciful and not sentenced him to death, but obviously that was too much to ask for. His heart began to pound and race inside his chest under his silver armor, though he hid it well. Only Thor could see that he was scared, but Thor wasn't paying him any mind, as usual.

Odin looked to his golden son, slightly startled. "Thor?"

"Please, father… Do not sentence him to death… he is still my brother… Is there not any other way?" Thor asked, his tone pleading, his blue eyes full of pleads and begging. Loki clenched his jaw in anger. He was not Thor's brother.

The Allfather pondered this for a moment. "Hm… Well… I suppose there is another way…"

Frigga sighed in relief. She, too, wished not to see her son dead.

Odin spoke, his tone emotionless. "If not death, then I sentence this silver-tongued to forever be silenced."

His words echoed throughout the hall. Loki's mind whirled. Silver-tongue to be forever silenced? Surely, he doesn't mean-

"Loki's lips will be sewn shut, and he will be imprisoned in an isolated cell."

The trickster's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly recovered. He would be silenced! For all eternity! What was he going to do? He didn't want to be silenced. His tongue was his best and only weapon.

Thor wanted to prevent this, but he had already pushed his luck enough as is. He at least saved Loki from certain death. The god of thunder looked at his younger brother.

Thor looked back at Odin when the Allfather began to speak. "Thor, you will take Loki to his cell. The guards will guide you. I have a cell prepared for him."

The golden god nodded and gently took a hold of the god of mischief's arm. Loki gave the hand a death-glare before turning his heat gaze to Thor's face. The god of thunder gave him a sad apologetic look before leading him away.

Loki was shoved into the cell by the guards roughly. Thor wanted to protest and demand for them to be more gentle with his brother, but the trickster would just glare at him again. Besides… Loki probably likes being handed roughly, like he's not fragile.

Thor entered the cell after Loki. The guards stood outside of the cell, awaiting for their prince to come back out. The door closed and locked behind Thor. They would let him out after he finished talking to Loki as he had wished.

"Loki, brother, you are back in Asgard. And you will not die. You should rejoice." Thor began. Loki sneered behind his gag, but it shown in his eyes. Thor sighed.

"Brother, why must you always be angry? Why must you always push me away?" With that said, Thor turned around and called for the guards. They let him out, leaving Loki to his bitter thoughts.

Loki growled behind his mask as the door sealed shut. The cell he was to be in forever was small. A metal bench was on the left wall and just barely fit in the room. The cell was only as long as the metal bench, and it was about twice that wide. The floor was hard steel and the walls were the same. The ceiling was steel too, but it was covered with an illusion. It gave the impression that it was the Asgardian night sky, full of stars. But he could see through the pathetic excuse for an illusion. His magic was far more advanced. He could have made a more realistic one.

The god of mischief sat on the metal bench and stared at the wall straight in front of him. He kept his face masked, knowing that Heimdall, the all-seeing and all-hearing, would see or hear if he broke down.

Why must I push you away, you ask, Thor? Well, it's because I have nothing I can offer you… For I am not worth it…

It was a week later when someone entered the cell of Loki's confinement. Loki looked up and his eyes met with Thor's. Thor looked genuinely desperate and hurt. Odin was also present with him. As was a doctor… The door shut behind him.

Oh… it has come time then… He thought bitterly, his eyes sharp and angered. He didn't want his beautiful lips sewn shut for then he couldn't lie. Then he couldn't talk. Then he couldn't tell Thor what he wishes to, nor could he kiss Thor…

Odin cleared his throat, interrupting Loki's train of thought. He stared indifferently at his former father. Thor moved forward and took the muzzle off of Loki by pressing a circular grey button on it near the trickster's temple.

The muzzle fell free into Loki's lap. He gasped sharply, taking in deep breathes of fresh air. But all too soon, his jaw was grabbed, rather roughly mind you, and turned towards someone. It was the doctor. "No!" Loki protested, his voice hoarse from disuse, pushing the needle away from his lips. "I want Thor to do it."

The cell fell silent. Odin arched an eyebrow. Thor looked startled. Loki wore a mask of indifference. Odin spoke then. "You wish for Thor to sew your lips shut?"

The trickster stared hard and cold at the Allfather. "Yes. That is my last verbal wish."

Odin nodded once. "Very well."

"But father! I can not." Thor protested. He did not wish to harm Loki. Ever.

"Silence, Thor! You will do as asked." Odin replied harshly. Thor opened his mouth to protest, but Loki spoke up. "Are you to cowardly to?! Is that it?! Huh, Thor? Or is it because I am a despicable monster that parents tell their children about at night?!"

Before Thor had time to react, Odin exclaimed "Enough, Loki! Thor, you will sew his lips."

The god of thunder wanted to protest, but he knew better. He sighed sadly and took the needle from the doctor, the magicked green thread was already strung through the needle's eye.

Loki stayed absolutely still as Thor approached him with the needle. The god of thunder kneeled in front of Loki, their eyes now nearly leveled. Thor ran his thumb over Loki's soft lips before raising the needle to them. The trickster closed his eyes and anxiously awaited for the needle to prick his skin.

Hesitantly, Thor stabbed the tread through his lip, pulling the needle through. He did it again and again, slowly sewing the lips shut. Loki felt and tasted the blood that filled his mouth. His eyebrows were tightly knitted together as he tried not to move or flinch from the sharp needle that was damaging his body.

Once done, Loki was breathing heavy through his nose and had his eyes squeezed shut. He was trying not to release a sound, trying not to admit that had hurt… a lot…

Thor could practically feel his brother's pain. And to know he was the one who caused it! He released a sad sigh. He handed the needle to the doctor. The doctor took it gingerly.

Odin nodded once and said "Come, Thor. Leave him to adjust to his new stitching."

Thor didn't speak. He just obeyed. He couldn't look at Loki. He felt so guilty and ashamed that he hurt his brother.

Loki was thankful the moment the doctor, Thor, and the Allfather left. He opened his eyes to find them blurry. But… he wasn't crying in pain. He was crying for the secrets he could now never tell… for the things he could never say again…