Trapped

Nineteen

Loki considered her question, it stunned him, because in all honesty he wasn't used to people trying to accommodate him. When he considered it, the truth was he had nowhere he felt comfortable enough, he knew there wasn't a single place in Asgard he could go and be comfortable at, so he just shrugged, "This is fine, I can stand."

He didn't trust his ability to sit and get back up anyway.

Mira watched him and he was sure she'd try and push him on the matter, but she simply nodded, "Alright... If that's what you prefer."

Again that look of surprise that tugged at her heartstrings, she merely stood and got herself the note she'd scribbled her thoughts on last night, moving to stand somewhere between the two Gods.

Thor frowned at that, then at Loki, "Get in here. Just sit down. It wouldn't kill you to offer her that courtesy."

He didn't miss the glare that Mira threw at him, but he ignored it as his gaze settled on Loki, "Don't make me come get you."

Loki met Thor's gaze with a mixture of annoyance and amusement flickering in his eyes. He was used to Thor's overbearing nature, always trying to impose his sense of propriety onto everyone around him. With a reluctant sigh, Loki looked between them.

"Fine." Loki muttered, pushing himself up from his lean against the doorpost, trying to mask the pain he felt as he did. He moved with a grace that belied his current discomfort, his every step calculated and controlled. As he approached he hesitated, eyeing the chair warily.

Thor watched, a satisfied grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He knew he had won this small battle of wills, and he leaned back in his own chair, folding his arms across his chest.

Mira, on the other hand, felt a pang of guilt wash over her at the sight of Loki's obvious discomfort. She hadn't meant to cause him any distress, only to ensure that he was included in the conversation. Clearing her throat, she reached out and took his hand in a silent show of support, perhaps even regret for forcing this situation inadvertently.

Again that hand first stilled, before it relaxed as he let her guide him to the table they'd been sitting at.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her eyes reflecting genuine concern.

It was a quiet moment between them and Loki regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable, "It's nothing."

It wasn't nothing, but he couldn't say he hadn't suffered more than this in the past. He'd heal.

As she sat down and offered him a chair next to him, on the other side of her to Thor with a resigned sigh, Like finally lowered himself into the chair, his movements slow and pained. He winched as he eased back into the chair.

He shot a pointed look at Thor, silently daring him to comment further.

Thor merely shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips as he returned his attention to Mira.

Mira's eyes remained fixed on Loki, worry in her expression, "What's wrong?"

Thor's gaze travelled back to the trickster playing into her vulnerability. She was a caring girl, he had to give her that.

Loki looked between her and Thor, he wasn't keen to address it, but he had to. With every time she extended her trust to him, he felt a desire to return it. His gaze shifted away, to the table, "Odin saw it fit to punish me for my choice."

He could feel Thor's gaze on him, but he ignored it as his own eyes rose to meet hers. Her brow furrowed and he knew what she'd ask before she did, "Punish you how?"

Her curious mind fascinated him, her desire to uncover truths and so he answered quietly, truthfully, "It varies with each offense, but in general he'll use physical means of discipline."

Thor frowned at his brother, "You're insinuating father hurt you?"

Loki's jaw set, muscle ticking as his gaze shifted to Thor, "It's the truth."

The God of Thunder's eyes narrowed, "Whose truth? The one of reality, or your version of it? You cannot hope to win her trust by suggesting you are a victim in this world Loki."

Mira looked at him, "Maybe you should listen to him for once and not fill in the blanks with your warped vision of his reality."

She wasn't sure what Odin had done, but the pain Loki was in was obvious, the way the Allfather had spoken to Loki gave her no doubt he was more than capable of adding to his verbal abuse by adding physical punishment too.

Thor scoffed at her words, "You don't know him. You don't know what he's capable of."

Loki frowned at that, "I think she knows me better than you've ever bothered to try."

He wasn't keen to be in this discussion, he wasn't eager to proof Odin abused him. He was fine letting Thor think what he wanted, which, as always, was the worst when it came to him.

Mira ignored Thor's words altogether, her attention fully shifting to Loki, "I'm sorry for putting you in that position, that's my fault."

Though Thor was quick to open his mouth to argue the fact it was the trickster God who spoke first, "That choice was mine and if anything, the fault is mine being the one to bring you here. I chose not to go, I chose for you not to be alone in our world. You aren't responsible for that."

Thor looked at Loki as if he'd never seen the man before, as if this site to Loki was a complete and utter mystery. Loki would've rolled his eyes. His adopted family was quick to assume they knew him, had all figured them out, but all they knew was what others had told them about him, the picture of him that Odin had painted that only reflected the worst of his abilities, while omitting the truth of it all.

He didn't care, he'd stopped caring when he was a little boy beaten into a state of oblivion for not wanting to break the minds of Odin's enemies, for not wanting to subject them to masked truths and no one came to help him, no one bothered to even check in.

Loki looked between the two, a smile tugging at his lips as Mira's hand once again reached out to his. Mira didn't miss that for the first time, he didn't jerk away from the touch.

Mira's eyes looked at him expectantly, "Will you show us?"

TBC...