Hellfire

Jailbird

'So you decided to return.'

Loki shivered as Thor's voice thundered through the hallway, his heart beating loudly, tears threatening to escape.

No greetings, no formalities. Loki turned around, meeting his brother's dark and cold gaze. He froze with fear, 'Thor, I-'

'You were supposed to stay here,' The Allfather stormed towards him, steps big and heavy. He grabbed his younger brother by his shoulders, his fingers wrapping tightly around his skin. He shook him like a ragdoll, teeth gritted in fury. 'You kissed him! You left, and you kissed him!'

Loki let out a sharp cry as Thor's fingers dug their way into his burned flesh, his cloak covering the wound. 'I-I can explain!'

The Allfather quickly let go, his eyes wide in shock. He looked at his hand, warm and wet with the trickster's blood that had soaked through the fabric. 'What happened to you...?' He looked his baby brother up and down and slowly pointed at his cloak, 'take that off.'

'Thor, I-'

'Take it off!' He ripped the piece of fabric from the trickster's body as he was too impatient to wait for his brother to do it himself. His eyes widened, breath stuck in his throat as he saw blood trickling down his arm and dripping from his fingertips.

'Brother listen to me,' Loki spoke carefully, choosing each word with extreme caution. 'It is not that bad, it will heal.'

'You could have died...' Thor whispered under his breath. His body turned static as he realized he could have lost his baby brother forever, joining his loving father and mother into the eternity of Valhalla. 'How did this happen...?'

Loki frowned in confusion, as for a moment he swore he saw actual concern and hurt shimmer through in the Allfather's eyes. It reminded him of his brother who he once used to know. Who he once loved and adored. 'Thor...?' He took a hesitant step forward, moving cautiously as if entering a beast's burrow. 'I am alright. I will be fine.'

'Where is the mortal?' Thor set a step forward and Loki froze. 'He was supposed to keep you from harm, to keep you here! Where is he?!'

'Thor, I truly regret leaving the palace without your permission.' He had no idea where he had found the courage to speak, his voice hardly under his control as it wavered in fear. He had to change the subject, he had to get Thor's mind off the captain.

The trickster placed his hands on the Thunderer's cheeks, smearing dirt over his sun-kissed skin. 'I wanted to surprise you. To bring you a gift for your return, just like you have always done for me.'

Loki quickly forced on a smile as Thor remained silent, clearly waiting for him to elucidate. A shimmer of hope sparked deep within his core as he now at least got his brother to listen.

All he had to do was lie. To trick his brother with words, like he has done so many times before.

'Mother's garden, it is dying,' he continued as he pressed his cold and soaked body against that of his older brother. 'I wanted it flourishing for your return. However, just like you have said so many times before, I am weak. Too weak. I cannot sustain her work any longer. I have no strength left within me, my Seiðr barely enough to create the simplest of trickeries.' He opened the satchel that was still hanging from his shoulder, showing with apprehensive pride all the critters and insects that were squirming in their designated bottles. 'But I can still save it. I went to the southern forest and collected these to create a potion so powerful it will keep the garden alive for many more years to come. It has taken me all day, however-'