Monster

Chapter Three: Broken Beyond Repair

Nearly a week passed, by the time Thor had come to a conclusion. Thor made his way to the prison, returning to Loki's cell, and dismissing the guards. Thor peered into the cell, and spotted Loki on the bed, leaning on the wall, and barely awake. Thor's brow furrowed and he unlocked the door, stepping in and leaving the door open.

"Loki. I have come to take you from this cell." Thor said, moving slightly closer.

Loki did not lift his head to meet Thor's eyes, but simply continued to stare at the floor. Thor moved closer and lifted Loki's chin to meet his eyes. Thor's brow furrowed further, as Loki's eyes seemed completely void of any light, or any emotion, not even hate.

"Loki, are you well?" Thor asked softly, still holding Loki's chin up.

Still, there was no reply on Loki's end. Thor sighed softly, and gently moved to pull off his cape, and wrap it around Loki gently, before lifting the smaller god into his arms. He was much lighter than Thor recalled. Loki hadn't responded when he was lifted, not a single sound, only the soft sigh of the breath leaving his lungs, before breathing in again. Loki's silent deeply worried Thor, as he moved out of the cell, carrying Loki from the prison. The guards protested briefly, but with a harsh glare from Thor, they promptly silenced themselves as Thor passed. Thor moved quickly to his personal bed chambers, and settled Loki onto his bed, before moving to find a cloth and a bowl of water. Thor wetted the cloth, and gently wiped away the dirt from Loki's face and arms, before returning the cloth to the bowl. Loki was sitting up at the edge of the bed, completely still, and still remaining silent. Thor's hands shook as they moved Loki about, gently removing the dirty tunic and breeches from Loki's body, all the while checking for wounds, before he cleaned him up and redressed him. Thor set to find a small pair of scissors for cutting sutures, as he had his own first aid kit for his hunting trips, and he took the scissors and settled in front of Loki, gently cutting the silver thread, and pulling it from his lips. Even as blood began to drip from the now open wounds, Loki made no sound. Thor gently cleaned up the blood, and put a healing cream along the wounds, before moving him to lie down in the bed, covering him with the blankets. Thor sat beside Loki on the edge of the bed, looking over at his brother's pale face, and seemingly unseeing eyes.

"Brother, why will you not speak? Are you injured, or ill? Please, you must tell me what is wrong..." Thor said softly, waiting several long minutes, before getting off the bed and moving to his door.

Thor called a maid to go find his mother, and request her presence, before moving back over to Loki. It was like his brother had turned into a shell, just a doll that could not speak, and has no emotions. It was strange. There wasn't even a bit of anger or hatred in Loki's eyes, and at this point, Thor was hoping for any emotion. A soft knock resounded on Thor's door, and Thor looked up, before moving to pull open the heavy door.

"Mother. Please, you must come inside." Thor urged, and once his mother was inside, he shut the door behind her.

"I have brought Loki back. I wish to- rehabilitate him. Though, when I got him, he has not made a sound, or moved once without my coaxing. I cannot get him to say a word." Thor said, his tone laced with worry.

Frigga's brows knit together at Thor's words and she moved to Loki's side, sitting beside him, before brushing the hair from Loki's face gently.

"My son, are you well? It is I, Frigga. Please dear, you must speak a word so that we may be able to help you." Frigga murmured, smoothing her hand over Loki's hair.

And still, Loki made no response, his eyes still staring straight forward. Frigga turned towards Thor, her eyes sad as she stood and moved beside Thor.

"I fear something has broken him. For there is no light in Loki's eyes, and he seems to be in a trance of some form.. I fear know not the cause of this, nor how to fix it." Frigga said, her small hands moving to take Thor's much larger ones in her own.

Thor gently squeezed her hands, "I will fix him mother. I will find a way, no matter the cost. You must try and speak with father though, for he will not be happy that I have taken Loki. But he must stay with me. Even if he is not allowed to leave my chamber. I must have him by my side, so that I may help him change…" Thor said softly, his eyes meeting his mothers.

Frigga nodded gently, before stepping closer and hugging Thor closely, before stepping back and bidding her sons farewell to go speak with Odin. Thor turned to face Loki again, his expression clouded.

Several hours passed, Thor visiting the healers to try and find an answer, without being suspicious, visiting his mother to find out that Odin had allowed Loki to stay with Thor. Reluctantly had Odin allowed it, and had only allowed it under the condition that Loki is in sight at all times, and he is not allowed to leave the palace. Thor thanked his mother dearly, before he returned to Loki's side, to find him out of bed, and standing in the windowsill, still blank eyes watching the sky. Thor approached him slowly, watching the way the sun cast an odd sort of glow over Loki's face, a glow that did not reach his eyes. Thor reached out an gently pressed his hand to Loki's shoulder, and instantly Loki's eyes were wide, and he was flinching away from Thor's touch. Thor's brows knit together as he took a step back as Loki shied away.

"Loki, calm down, I will not harm you. Hush, please brother, are you alright? I had not meant to startle you." Thor breathed softly, trying to calm his obviously startled brother.

Loki's reaction worried Thor, it made him think. The only people Thor had ever witness act such a way, were those who suffered from something terrible, like abuse, or some sort of horrid witnessing. The only thing Thor could stink of was Odin sewing Loki's lips together. Perhaps that was what broke Loki. But then, why would he react so violently? Perhaps there was far more to the bruises along Loki's skin. Had the guards done something as well? Thor sighed softly, trying to relax as the anger welled within him once more.

"Loki, come, you must eat something. I will not touch you, you have my sincerest word, brother." Thor breathed, motioning to a platter of foods he's grabbed from the mess hall before coming back to his chambers.

Thor stepped away from the plate, and watched Loki hesitantly move around Thor to the plate, picking up a bit of bread and the water. Thor kept to himself, cleaning his armor on one end of his chambers, while Loki ate on the other side, but all the while Thor's eyes carefully watched Loki, unsure of what he was supposed to do. It was as if Loki was suddenly reverted to a scared child. Perhaps that's how he should be treating him? Cautiously; like one would when dealing with a frightened child. Thor hummed softly to himself, deciding that was probably the best route in this situation.

The sun had begun to set, and Thor looked over to where Loki was still perched on the windowsill, watching the sunset. Thor had been able to get a very soft 'thank you' out of Loki earlier when he'd gotten him lunch, but nothing more since then. Loki's eyes were trained on the vibrant oranges painted across the sky as the sun set, casting a warm glow over his pale skin. Thor caught himself staring at the sight before him. Though Loki was not himself, the sight of Loki in the sunset's glow triggered a memory for Thor.

Thor moved over to Loki, and gently brushed his fingers over a strand of hair, tucking it behind Loki's ear, "Loki, are you tired? You may rest in my bed if you like; I can take the small couch in the other room." Thor offered softly.

Loki shook his head ever so slightly, his eyes not moving from their gaze upon the sun. Thor sighed softly, and settled into a chair beside Loki, following his gaze into the sun.

"I remember, when we were young, still just young teens. You and I had set up a camp in mother's grand garden. It was then that I learned of your love for the sky. You had lain in the grass and watched the sunset from start to finish, when the sky had gone black. By the time I left the tent to find you, you had fallen asleep in the grass. I remember seeing you looking so happy, and so at peach, just watching the colors of the sky change. I miss seeing you smile like that, brother." Thor said softly, closing his eyes and thinking back on the time.

It had been late summer, when the air was perfectly balanced between warm and cool, and the sky erupted into vibrant colors the most in the evenings. Thor smiled to himself in thought. Loki had fought against the idea of sleeping outside, when he could sleep in his bed inside, but Thor had convinced him otherwise. Loki had helped set the tent, with little struggle and a bout of laughter at Thor tangled in the cloth. In the end, Loki had the tent up, and Thor left to go get food and Loki had settled in the grass. Thor returned to find Loki laying back in the grass, his brilliant green eyes glinting with joy as they peered up at the clouds. Thor had set Loki's food beside him, and moved to get the blankets set inside the tent. Thor had eaten his food, and changed, settling into the tent when the sun began setting. Thor moved from the tent to ask Loki is he was going to come inside, only to find that his words got lost in his throat at the side that befell him. Loki had his arms tucked beneath his head, and his eyes were briefly closed, basking in the warmth of the setting sun. The sky had bloomed with bright oranges and pinks, casting an ethereal glow on Loki's pale skin, lighting him up in such a way that he shone brighter than the sun itself. Thor had simply been at a loss for words, and turned to leave his brother be, as he seemed quite peaceful to be left alone. Sometime later, when the stars had come out, and the sky settled into deep blue, Thor left the tent once more, chuckling fondly at the sight of Loki asleep in the grass. Thor moved to his brother's side, and picked him up, bringing him into the tent, and settling him beneath the covers, before settling himself down. That night, Loki had ended up curling up close against Thor in his sleep, unconsciously seeking warmth in the night.

Thor snapped out of his day dream at the sound of shuffling, opening his eyes to find Loki had left the windowsill, and changed himself, standing beside the bed, simply staring at it. Thor's brows quirked, surprised that Loki got dressed on his own.

"Go ahead; get into bed, if you are tired, brother. I will not bother you." Thor murmured softly, getting up to move towards the adjoining room where he'd sleep.

As soon as Thor moved past Loki, a pale hand shot out and caught Thor's sleeve. Thor turned, his eyes slightly wide as he met Loki's gaze. There was fear in the pale green eyes.

"Stay." Was all that Loki breathed, his voice trembling softly.

Thor nodded softly in understanding, moving to change into his nightclothes, before moving to climb into one side of the massive bed.

"Come. I will not leave your side while you sleep. I shall be here when you awake, brother." Thor said softly, pushing aside the blankets on Loki's side.

Loki fidgeted, hesitant for a moment, before he slipped into the bed, pulling the blankets over his shoulders, and settling into the pillows. Thor watched him for a moment, before doing the same, rolling with his back to Loki as he closed his eyes.

Nearly an hour passed when a cool trembling body pressed softly against his back, and Thor opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder to find Loki pressed against him, his head tucked against Thor's back, asleep. Thor couldn't help but smile as he rolled to face Loki, slipping his arms around the smaller god, and pulling him close. Thor pressed a soft kiss to Loki's hair, closing his eyes. Why did things have to become this way? Could Thor have ever done anything to prevent his brother's actions, and the punishment Loki received the punishment that ultimately broke him. Thor couldn't help but blame himself, the negative thoughts flooding his mind as he drifted to sleep, with Loki curled protectively into Thor's arms. Thor had vowed to himself that he'd never let Loki fall again, that he'd protect him until he breathed his very last breath.