Morning light drips into the large room. Their father is sitting on his throne, in a state of lethargy. He was slimmer. Unhealthily so. One silent guard on the right of him. Thor is off to the side, not seen nor heard, but his presence is known to all there.

Loki is in the center of the room, on his knees. Hands cuffed. Mouth un-gagged. Weaponless.

"Loki, Prince of Asgard," the guard practically spits, the taste of sour grapes in his mouth. Loki is no more a Prince than he is the King.

Loki's eyes bore into the floor. If there were anywhere he could be, this wouldn't be it.

"You are charged with the killing of a city of people, treason, and attempted murder of an entire race."

A muscle in Loki's neck twitches. He wants to shift his legs, but he can't get himself to move. At all. He wants to speak. To scream.

I am King!

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

But no words come.

Thor watched in agony. Why couldn't he despise his brother as Loki so despised him?

Because he's your brother.

Minutes tick by. Agonizing minutes.

What Loki has done. The rules and laws he's violated. And finally, what will be done about it.

"You will be burdened with the task of assisting a mortal in whatever he or she might require."

At this, he can look at his father.

"What?" Loki asks, dumbfounded.

"You must help someone in need until you are deemed worthy enough to stay here in Asgard."

"That's what you're giving me?" His face is one of extreme surprise.

"We may change it to a harsher sentence if you wish, my son," his father continues.

"No, no," Loki's eyes drop back to the floor, "I am grateful for your kindness."

"Stand."

He does as he's told, green eyes burning into the brown and gold tiles.

"In addition to this punishment, you are not allowed to use your magic to help you."

Loki's left eye twitches.

I don't need his sympathy. For all that I've done, he gives me the trivial task of Midgardian community service. I am not his son. I am not a citizen of Asgard. I do not want to be deemed 'worthy' enough to return here.

Where I am just a nightmare, that everyone wants to avoid.

This is not home. I have no home.

So, what else have I to do than this?

"I love my brother," Thor says when he and his father are alone. Loki had been removed and taken to a healing room so he could begin his tasks in a healthy state.

"But," Thor continues, "I do not see how this punishment is harsh enough for what he has done to Midgard."

"In good time you will see how this is indeed punishment enough. I have no doubt that it will end as planned."

Thor makes no attempt to try to understand further.

"You will tell your 'Avenger' friends not to interfere with Loki while he is under his sentence. Is that clear, son?" Odin asks, a fog clearing his eyes.

"Yes Father." Thor nods, and turns his head to where the two huge double doors are being re-opened.

Loki flows into the room with his strangely elegant stride; no longer wearing his hand-cuffs, and the cuts that had been on his face before had completely vanished.

He has that expectant look on his face. What must I get out of next?

"Now, to your first task Loki," Odin says, motioning to the Tesseract, "I don't know what it will be. It comes from your mind alone."

Loki looks to the blue cube. His only way out.

"What you need, is what you will receive."

The only way to get out, it to complete what you're given. So you complete it as quickly as you can.

"How long is my sentence to be?" Loki asks, more confidence in his demeanor now.

"That is not for me to decide."

"Then who is to decide how long it is to carry for?" Loki's green eyes are wide with confusion.

There's a silence, before Loki spits out the question, "Thor?"

"No brother," Thor dismisses it entirely.

"It is you who are the sole creator of your punishment," Odin clarifies.

"I don't understand," Loki grudgingly admits.

"You will."

Loki tries to let that sink in.

"Something else before you leave, Loki," Odin sits up straighter, "Whoever it is that you will be helping will be wearing a ring, like this."

Odin tosses a wide silver band down to his younger son. Not only is it quite heavy in his palm, a golden X crosses over and around it, adding even more weight.

"There are a few things you may need when spending time in Midgard," Thor says from his spot standing beside Odin.

Loki doesn't dare ask what, for fear of not being able to hold his tongue.

"This small card," Thor continues, walking down the stairs, meeting his brother, "will pay for anything that you wish to buy in their world."

Thor hands Loki the plastic card, and the latter puts it into his front pocket.

"Shall I be going then?"

"One last thing before you go," Odin intercedes, "That ring."

Loki looks down at it from his palm.

"That ring will get you back home if need be. But only," Odin emphasizes, "If need be."

Loki nods his head and avoids eye contact with Thor, "I understand Father."

"Very good then. Put on the ring and your punishment shall begin."

This is my attempt at beginning a Loki fanfic. I have tremendous plans for this. HUGE plans. Amazing plans.

A BIG thanks to The Pearl Maiden for giving me Odin's punishment line. You were totally right, it was ooc. Thank you again!

So, how about you review and tell me how it's going so far? :D