Imprisoned
Head in your hands, you were sitting against the wall of your cell. That was not how you had imagined your stay in Asgard. Imprisoned by the Allfather himself. You could have fought back, but you chose not to.
Why were you so foolish?
“Y/N?”
You looked up and crossed Loki’s gaze. He was staring at you intensely. Concern written all over his face.
“Are you alright?”He asked, his eyebrows raised.
“I am. It’s me who should be worried about you.”
You turned your face away, feeling shame and regret overfielding you.
“Why should you be worried about me?”
Loki cocked his head, and you shrugged.
“It’s your cell, isn’t it? You were imprisoned here after the events of New York. It must have been hard for you… though, you came with me.”You replied, running your hand through your hair.
Loki leaned against the wall and examined the cell thoughtfully. You noticed an ounce of sadness in his eyes. You approached him and laid your head on his shoulder. He sucked in a deep breath and watched you closely.
Still frowning, Loki hesitated to reply. He doesn’t like to talk about how Odin made him pay for his crimes. He stared at the ground still uneasy, and looking at you, he knew he could tell you anything.
“It wasn’t a… pleasant experience. I remember every day when I was locked up in this cell. There was not a day I couldn’t hate Odin and what he had done.”
Loki paused, and you felt him tense.
“The throne wasn’t meant for me. It had been destined for Thor since his birth. I didn't stand a chance. Thor was Fathe-Odin’s favourite. All I ever did was for the Allfather. I wanted him to notice me, to be proud of his son, even though I am a frost...a frost giant.”Loki muttered, his voice breaking.
He watched your every move, hoping you would not be afraid of him and who he was.
Determined, you searched for his hand, fingers tenderly lacing through his.
“It’s alright, Y/N, it was in the past.”He murmured.
"It's not because it's in the past, that it can't hurt."
You looked up and plunged your eyes in his. He purposely avoided your gaze.
You were right, and he knew it. However, you were still a human, and he couldn’t look too vulnerable with you. Vulnerability meant weakness. Loki couldn’t look weak.
“You don’t need to speak, Loki, I understand.”
“It’s over now, Y/N. We can’t do anything about it. Rehashing the past won’t change anything.”He assured.
Groaning, Loki stood up and hit the invisible wall of the cell with all his strength.
His fingers were soaking in blood, but he couldn’t care less. This cell made him angry and desperate. He hated Odin for imprisoning you. He despised him with all his might.
“Loki!”You cried, hurrying yourself to help him.
“I hate him! How dare he? You may be a mortal, but he shouldn’t treat you like that! All I ever wanted was him to notice me, to care about me! But what can I expect from a man who imprison someone only because she is in our realm?”Loki shouted, ready to hit again the wall.
You stopped him before he broke his hand.
“Loki! Stop. You’re just hurting yourself. Just stop please.”
Without thinking, you put your arms around him and hugged him tightly.
He tensed at first and leaned on your touch.
“I know it hurts, Loki. Though screaming and hitting a wall won’t help. You need to forgive. Not for Odin. But for you. You need to forgive you.”
He still hung on you, like you were the only thing keeping him sane.
“But… Y/N, I am a frost giant. A monster. The monster parents tell their children about at night. I don’t deserve forgiveness.”He whispered, feeling his chest hurting.
“I know. I don’t care what you are, and I am not afraid. I know who you are. The kind of god who likes to read until he’s tired, the kind of god who was willing to sacrifice himself in order to save me when the Avengers couldn’t do anything during the last mission, the kind of god who cares too much but doesn’t want the world to know that.”
You laced your fingers with Loki’s, not caring a bit about the blood on his hands. Wide-eyed, he stared at you, not completely understanding why his heart was beating faster. You were hypnotized by his ocean eyes. You couldn’t look away. Loki wasn’t the ruthless god newspapers were talking about. He was not the same god he was when he wanted to rule over Midgard. He changed. No matter what people believed. Loki changed.
Loki looked straight at you and gently stroked your cheek.
Was he going to kiss you?
You wanted to lean on and kiss him desperately, but Loki stared fixedly at you, like he was searching for some kind of truth in your eyes. Instantly, you put your hand over his, gently caressing his hand with your thumb and still not leaving his gaze. Loki’s eyes were etched with wonder, pain… and lust.
“I am sorry to disturb you in such a touching moment, but your presence is required.”Frigga spoke, breaking the comfortable silence and standing at the corner of the cell.
At the sound of his mother’s voice, Loki withdrew his hands and turned at Frigga. She glanced at the two of you thoughtfully, an all-knowing look on her face. When she noticed the blood on Loki’s hands and yours, Frigga groaned.
“Loki, you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself, could you?”She questioned, pointing at the wall and the blood flowing on both your hands.
You smiled awkwardly when you saw a grin slowly appearing on the corner of the Frigga’s lips.
Why were you so ill-at-ease?
Feeling your cheeks reddenning, you tried to smoothe your dress, hoping you wouldn’t seem too odd.
“And you my dear, I owe you an apology.”She said, taking several steps towards you.
Frowning, you tilted your head.
“I apologize for my husband’s behaviour. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him.”
Frigga took your hands in hers and gazed at you with genuine kindness in her eyes. You looked at Loki immediately when Frigga pronounced the word “forgive”, and she stared at you with a questioning look.
“Thank you, Frigga, for the dress and for everything.”You gestured to your clothes, with a sad smile.
She grinned.
“Mother, why are you here?”Loki asked, eyebrows raised in wonder.
“I convinced your father to let you go. You are free to leave this cell whenever you want.”
“He is not my father!”Loki cried, facing the wall.”And may I ask why he would let us go so easily?”
Frigga shrugged and nodded, sadness passing through her eyes.
“We are going to host a ball in the palace this evening. You need to prepare, Loki.”
“A ball?”Loki questioned suspiciously.
“Your fath-Odin wants you and Thor to find someone to marry. He believes a ball would be the best opportunity to find an Asgardian woman.
Frigga emphasized the word “Asgardian” as if it was a warning to her son.
Open-mouthed, Loki held his breath and tensed his shoulders.
How dare he? Odin wanted him to get married. As if the events of New York had suddenly disappeared.
Who would want him as a husband?
“And Y/N? Will she attend the ball?”Loki asked, cocking his head.
“No.”Frigga paused, a serious expression had replaced her warm and wide smile.”She can’t. Odin forbids it. I tried to convince him otherwise, but the only thing I managed is for her to stay in her room instead of spending the night in the dungeon.”
“She won’t! If Odin wants me to go, Y/N would need to attend the ball.”
Loki’s mother purposely avoided his gaze.
A determined look on your face, you walked towards Loki and put your hand on his shoulder. At first, he tensed, but then he relaxed under your touch.
“I will try to convince him, Loki, but I can’t promise you anything. You know how stubborn he is. You should attend the ball. Odin hates Y/N, and if he learns you won’t be here, he will make her pay.”
Loki faced you and plunged his eyes in yours. You were lost in the deep blue of his eyes.
Why weren’t you going to speak?
Loki crossed his arms over his chest, still waiting for you to defend yourself.
You raised your chin and did your best to fake a smile.
“It’s alright. I don’t like balls anyway. And I have a good book in my bedroom. It’s all I need. Thank you, Frigga, for letting us leave this awful cell.”You said, trying to look sincere.
You would still be locked, but compared to that, your bedroom was a rather comfortable cell.
“Then, it’s settled. Loki, you need to get dressed. I will personally accompany Y/N to her room.”
Frigga left the room and waited for you to follow her.
Loki clenched his fists firmly, and watched your every move, thoughtfully. He knew you lied. He was the God of Mischief after all. He searched for an ounce of truth in your eyes, and when he found none, he shrugged.
“That’s what I thought.”He declared, walking towards the exit of the cell.
Jerking your head, you watched Loki leaving the cell at a quick pace, anger written in his face.
You took in a sharp breath and followed the God of Mischief.
It was going to be a long evening. Alone in your room. While Loki would be surrounded by magnificent women whose only interest were to marry an Asgardian prince at all costs.