Hellfire

The Mortal

Notes:

Hi everyone and welcome back!

I just wanted to let you know that this chapter will start off where the previous chapter ended (the bathroom scene)Also, I would kindly like to remind you that Thor will not become any nicer as the fic progresses so... yeah, keep that in mind, please ^^

Now, without any more delay, here is the new chapter!

The Mortal

The bathing room was slowly filling up with steam coming from the hot springs. Drops of water trickled down the marble walls and pooled on the cold floor.

Loki's chest was slowly heaving as he was sitting on Thor's lap, the humidity in the room becoming almost too much for him to bear. His hair was sticking to his face, a drop of sweat moving down his temple and mixing with the scented water.

'You are of inestimable grace,' Thor whispered as he placed his hand on the Trickster's cheek, his thumb caressing his lips. 'Not even the skies are your limit. That is, if it was not for this...' He tapped against the leather eyepatch his brother was still wearing, knowing Loki hated it, knowing it hurt.

Loki jerked his head away in shock, his fingertips touching his eyepatch after which he quickly looked down again. 'I cannot hide this, not even with my Seiðr... I have tried but-'

'Take it off,' the god demanded.

Loki swallowed thickly, the heat of the bath starting to daze him. 'I- I do not want to...' He tensed as he felt Thor's muscles straining under his hands.

'What was that now?' Thor's voice was low, a certain earnest in his words that left Loki shivering.

'I do not- I do not want to remove the patch.' He tried to swallow down the shame that brewed in his stomach. 'I do not wish to disgust you...'

Thor's fingers dug deep into his brother's small waistline, causing Loki to yelp. 'Take. it. off.'

The raven's trembling hands lifted from the water and reached for the piece of fabric that offered him his last covering. He removed the black leather and gulped, the wound that Thor inflicted on him now bared and for anyone to see.

Thor pulled a nasty face as he looked at the gaping eye socket. 'You truly are revolting,' he stated coldly, the grimace on his face hiding nothing of his repugnance. 'Look at yourself, brother. Look into the water,' As Loki did not seem to do as he commanded, Thor grabbed the raven's hair in a tight fist and yanked his face just above the surface of the water.

The trickster flinched at his own reflection. 'Please Thor,' he whimpered softly and closed his one emerald eye. The memories of Thor ripping his eye out and the excruciating pain that came with it still all to fresh in his mind. 'Please let go of me...'

'Look,' Thor growled as he tugged at his brother's hair until the raven did as he was told. 'You see that, Loki? That is the reason why people are avoiding you. That is why people whisper behind your back. No one will ever see you as anything other but the pathetic grotesque that can't even walk the stairs on his own.'

The thunderer smiled as he saw the water surface break and wrinkle with the raven's tears. He wrapped his strong arms around Loki's body and held him close. 'You must understand, brother, that I am merely doing this for you. You must know how much I love you. How much I have to bear with to be with you. For without me, what would be left of you? Who would you turn to?'