Trapped

Thirty-nine

You don't corner a predator and Loki sure looked like one as his gaze travelled along all of them. He had been so clear that he didn't want to share this with others, didn't want to prove it to them by showing how much he'd suffered, how greatly he'd been mistreated. Not now, not after centuries of trying to get any of them to listen, to read his truth or his lies. None had accepted his request.

None had cared enough to see if he wasn't the absolute villain they made him out to be.

He eased away from Mira, gently, urging her back to Thor who gently drew her into his arms, before he stepped back, "No."

Immediate whispers, extra doubts, if this was the truth as he said it was, why didn't he work to make them see it? Why didn't he take the opportunity so easily offered by Frigga, why refuse to let them see his torment? The questions were endless, most of them aimed against him.

It was Thor who watched him closely, pushing yet again, "What of Forseti, would you show him? He can reveal your honesty to the rest, a truth they can then blindly trust."

That look of betrayal in Loki's eyes was fast replaced by anger, hatred.

Darkness swirled around him, another realistic illusion that had others step away from him.

It was Odin who spoke then, "Of course the trickster can't show us anything, he know the lie he has fed Thor will not stand as truth with all of us. Thor was easily convinced of version of the truth that Loki fed him, but he knows the rest of us aren't so easily fooled."

The look of utter sadness in Loki's eyes was heartbreaking, as if he too realised there was no way to convince them of his innocence, they'd always assume the worst.

His green eyes glowed with power as he looked over all of them, "I do not need your pity, I don't need you to see the truth now. Centuries. For centuries you stood by, did nothing, no matter the times I asked for help and shared the truth, it was easier for all of you to assume the worst. Continue to do so then, I don't care. The truth I shared was shared over the curiosity of one person, shared in the promise of secrecy and trust, only to be used as a means to force my hand. I am done here."

With that, Loki disappeared.

Mira stared in shock at the empty space Loki had left behind, at the hurt and anger in his voice, in his eyes before he turned his back on those who would still condemn him.

Angry, she turned to Odin, but Thor steered her away, speaking softly, "Not now."

It did nothing to ease her anger, instead it became stronger.

Loki was right, even now, she too heard the voices already assuming his truth must be a lie if he refused to share it with them, not realising their disbelief was the very reason he wouldn't.

It wasn't fair.

Her eyes shifted to Frigga, "Can I not vouch for him? I can speak of his suffering, of the sadness that has been his life. I would speak the truth."

Frigga lightly shook her head, "No child, for that truth is the one you believe to be true, still based on his rendition of it. Only his truth can defend him."

Mira frowned at that, "Or someone else's lie."

If Loki wouldn't show them his truth, perhaps Odin would – under pressure – reveal the lie in the truth he's shared.

As the tension lingered in the air, Odin's voice cut through the silence, addressing Mira directly, "My dear, you must understand the weight of the decisions we face. Loki's past actions have sown seeds of doubt among us. While your loyalty to him is commendable, we must proceed with caution, he has been known to twist the truth to benefit him in whatever he wants to achieve."

Mira frowned at that, she couldn't shake the feeling of injustice gnawing at her. She wanted to believe in Loki's innocence, to trust that his suffering was genuine. One could not make all of this up, and for what? To trick her into trusting him, sharing that claim?

She refused to believe that.

Frigga approached her, her expression soft but firm, "I know this is difficult for you, Mira, but sometimes the hardest truths are the ones we least want to accept. Loki had his chance to share his truth, but he refused, he ran. That alone is proof of his lie."

Mira shook her head, "He is not lying."

Thor's hand came back, resting at the small of her back, a warning?

Mira looked at Odin, "If he tricked us, tell us your version of every major event of his misbehaviour and scheming. If they are true, that proves Loki lied, yet if they don't..."

Odin's eye narrowed at her, "Are you questioning my sincerity, my dear? What a terrible way to start this new relationship between us. My son should have warned you against Loki's manipulations and I apologise to you for not managing to interfere enough to steer him away from you."

It was Thor who spoke next, "But she is right, if Loki's truth is not the reality, your version of what truly happened will prove that. Surely you'd help us eliminate the lie, father. For all of our benefit."

Thinking quickly he added, "If he tricked Mira and me in such a way, twisting the truth like that, I will not rest before we see him removed from our pantheon, father."

He felt Mira's flinch in his hold, anger, disappointment. Thor had no way to tell her he needed his father to agree and the promise of Loki being banished from Asgard would hopefully be enough to motivate Odin. He hoped he was right, hoped that his father believed his Allpower would trick Forseti's power of truth.

Frigga joined her son, facing Odin, "Yes, dear husband, show them what truly happened, how troublesome Loki was as he grew up with us, how his powers created only chaos and darkness. Let us see for ourselves."

As Odin agreed, Mira stared at him. She hadn't expected him to agree to this. He looked at Heimdal, asking him to connect his mind to produce the images.

She wished Loki was there to see it, to see what started a new life for him.

One way or the other.

TBC...