(LokixReader) The Fourth Wall

Chapter 1

Ever since Thor and Loki returned from New York, Loki had been locked up in Asgard's prison to atone for his crimes. Thor made an effort to visit his brother when he wasn't preoccupied. Though Loki didn't enjoy these visits, Thor still continued to stop by and see him.

Loki wasn't doing so well since his return to Asgard. In his eyes, his return was going to be slightly different than how it actually went down. Coming back to Asgard bound wasn't a part of his grand return. He had taken a hard hit mentally. His raven black hair was messier than usual. His skin was more pale than it usually was. There were bags under his eyes, and his eyes were also bloodshot. In a fit of anger, he covered his cell in debris that was once furniture.

Loki sat on the floor, laying his back against the wall. The other heathens around him were making a ruckus, but he was too engaged with the book he was reading to take notice or even care.

But Loki did notice when Thor came into the prison chambers. How could he not notice? Thor had quite the entrance every time he came to visit. It mostly consisted of enraged yelling from the other imprisoned criminals.

On this particular day, Thor seemed to have his mind in another place. Whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, Loki knew he would hear about it regardless. And he wouldn't be able to avoid listening to it.

Loki let out a very audible sigh as Thor came up to his cell.

"Glad to see you as well brother," Thor replied with a smile on his face. He stole a glance at Loki's cell, which was littered with broken furniture.

"I am not your brother. Stop referring to me as your brother," Loki muttered, trying to contain his anger. He didn't want to give Thor the satisfaction of seeing him stoop any lower than he already was.

"Loki, I've been thinking-"

"Oh great. I am ever so eager to hear about it," Loki scoffed in a sassy tone as he turned the page of his book.

"Spare me your attitude, brother. It occurred to me that the Avengers have yet to come to Asgard," Thor hummed thoughtfully as he looked over at Loki. His brother didn't seem too interested, and Thor knew this but continued to talk regardless.

"I shall invite them over for a feast! A large feast with the best meat I am able to provide!" Thor declared, looking at his brother for support.

"You must stop visiting me while I'm imprisoned. I do not enjoy your company," he mumbled, not looking up from his book.

"You put yourself in the cell, brother," Thor shrugged. Loki simply let out a self-depreciating chuckle in reply.

"You will accompany me as well," Thor decided. This comment was the one that finally caught Loki's attention. He finally raised his eyes to meet Thor's.

"And why exactly will I be joining you?" Loki asked.

"Because you must apologize to them. Maybe if you are successful in making amends, you will be set free. Brother, understand that you deserve a better life than this. You are currently at the same level as all these criminals that surround you. Is this really how you want to spend the rest of your waking days?" Thor asked as Loki stared at him with an expressionless face. He was unable to tell what Loki was feeling or thinking. But it's not like that was an easy task in the first place.

"How will you even receive permission to take me out of my cell?" Loki pondered. Thor hadn't gave that much thought.

"That will be a bit of an obstacle for us, won't it," Thor replied as he knit his eyebrows. Loki went back to giving his full attention to the literature in his hands as Thor stood there silently thinking to himself.

"Perhaps father will agree as long as there are exceptions. I could bring you with me as your hands are bound. That would make it easy for me to keep a close watch on you," Thor suggested, looking up at Loki.

"Hm... I shall return soon when I have worked through all the flaws in my plan. Until next time brother," Thor smiled weakly at his brother who wasn't looking up at him. Thor made his way to the exit and left, causing the surrounding criminals to cease their yelling. At least until they got bored once again.

Loki was left alone to think about Thor's idea. Did he really think it was a smart idea to take Loki back just after he tried to take over the world? Even if his hands were in chains, it wasn't the brightest idea Thor's mind has conjured up.

Loki closed the book in his hands and laid it on his lap. He glanced around the prison chambers, looking at each criminal that surrounded him.

"You are currently at the same level as all these criminals that surround you."

Thor's words repeated themselves as he looked at each lowly criminal.

"Is this really how you want to spend the rest of your waking days?"

Loki hung his head as Thor's rhetorical question came into his mind.

"No Thor, this is not how I want to spend my life," Loki began, whispering to himself, "I made a vow to spend the rest of my days becoming your equal. To finally get out of the darkness of your shadow. I want to spend my life making a mockery of you, just like how you've made a mockery of me," Loki yelled as he used his magic to shove the debris around him into the cell wall.