Asgardian Twilight

Preparing for Combat

The holding cell had become something distant for Thor as he sat against a wall and shut his eyes. Having resigned himself to his situation, he resorted to the only comfort he could attain under the circumstances- prayer to his father.

"Odin, I bid you take your place in the halls of Valhalla...Where the brave shall live forever," he prayed quietly. "Nor shall we mourn, but rejoice-for those that have died the -for those that have died the glorious death."

Loki's voice was suddenly audible, praying alongside him. Thor's eyes opened and he looked harshly across the way at Loki.

Loki smiled at him and tilted his head. "It hurts, doesn't it? Being lied to. Being told you're one thing and then learning it's all a fiction. I can still remember the bitter sting of that. It certainly cleared things up though. Suddenly the favoritism made perfect sense."

Thor reached for a pile of rubble at his side and began to casually throw bits of it at Loki. Each piece slipped through the illusion he was casting, clattering against the wall behind him.

"You didn't think I'd really come and see you, did you? This place is disgusting," Loki groaned as he looked about his surroundings.

Thor shrugged his shoulders. "I don't care."

"Does this mean you don't want my help?" Loki asked as Thor continued to throw things at the illusion. Loki sighed. "Listen to me. I couldn't jeopardize my position with Grandmaster, it took me time to win his trust. He's a lunatic, but he can be amenable."

Thor regarded him with total disinterest. To be truthful, there was nothing Loki could say at this point that would sway him. He was finished with trying where Loki was concerned.

Loki sighed at Thor's sudden indifference. "What I'm telling you is, you could join me at the Grandmaster's side. Perhaps, in time, an accident befalls the Grandmaster, and then...we take over."

Thor continued throwing, barely acknowledging Loki's words.

"You're not seriously thinking of going back, are you? Our sister destroyed your hammer like a piece of glass. She's stronger than both of us. She's stronger than you. You don't stand a chance. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

Thor scowled at him then.  "Fine. I guess I'll just have to go it alone. Like I've always done.

A huge grin broke out on Thor's face and he shook his head.

Loki glared down at him. "Would you say something? This one-sided conversation is boring me."

Thor shrugged and began to look for more things to throw at him.

"Say something!" Loki demanded.

"What would you like me to say? You faked your own death, you stole the throne, stripped Odin of his power, stranded him on Earth to die, releasing the Goddess of Death. As a result, my hammer was destroyed and now we're stranded here with no hope of escape. I'll likely never see Dean again. All of that is on you. Have I said enough, or do you do you want me to go further back than the past two days?"

Loki's eyes narrowed in rage. He stared across the way at Thor and began to chuckle. "You know, I haven't seen this Beloved Champion he talks of, but I've heard he's astonishingly savage. I've placed a large wager against you tomorrow. Don't let me down."

Thor shrugged. "I don't care. Just another bastard for me to vanquish."

"By the way," Loki said as he drew nearer and stared intently into Thor's eyes. "Your Fair One? He's here."

Thor looked up, now interested in Loki's words.

"That's right. He came here to find you. Odin knows how he knew where to look."