Chapter Text
It was rare for someone as powerful as the God of Thunder to feel so helpless. Within his lifetime, he could remember exactly three. There was the time the All-Father banished him to Earth in order to learn a lesson. He knew now what Odin did was for the best of everyone; had he been allowed to become king with that mindset, it would have ended in a bloody and tragic war.
The second time was his first coupling with Loki. While he knew they both had enough partners to know the finer points of being intimate, he still found himself to be on edge. Loki was more than willing to lead him through it with a smile and a tease about the Thunder God suddenly turning into a blushing virgin. It didn't take long for Thor to regain his bearings and take his proper place as the dominant to Loki's demanding submissions. The night, although began with clumsy movements and too many questions, will still live in his memory as one of Thor's most favorite moments. The moment he finally had Loki exactly how he wanted him.
But then there was the third moment of helplessness. Standing behind the All-Father, in the court with Loki on his knees and awaiting the order of death or torture. Odin's booming voice made Thor numb and for a moment, he wondered if he dreamed the entire thing. “Loki Laufeyson.” Both the accused and the thunderer flinched at the surname. No longer was he named under Odin. “I hereby sentence you to live out your days in Midgard within the confines of the mortals, until such a day comes you remember your heritage. If this day does pass, you will be summoned and trials will begin anew.”
Thor kept his eyes on Loki. With his black hair hanging in his face and his naturally thin form looking especially starved, Thor bit back the urge to demand mercy. But he knew he was too involved. Loki was his lover, after all. It was impossible for the thunder god to get much closer than that.
Because of this, he knew Odin would take his words and cast them aside. He was not to allow his emotions to overrule his judgement. Even if Loki was the one in his bed every night, he was still also the reason behind much destruction in three out of the nine realms. Banishing him to Midgard, with his magic and memory sealed, would be the most humane. Some may thing just a little too humane.
Thor sucked in a breath and looked away as the sentence was carried out. Loki finally looked up at Odin only to feel a sharp sting corse through his veins as his precious magic was sealed and forced deep within him, out of his reach. He tried not to scream as his insides seemed to implode as one of his greatest gifts was readjusted and toyed with. He refrained from begging for this to stop, knowing it was too late to try and appeal to that side of Odin. He'd long since lost the All-Father's trust and now he would pay the price.
He shook and looked over at Thor, willing the god to look at him with what little magic he managed to pull before he lost connection with it completely. He held Thor's gaze in his own as he was forced to his feet. His blank stare was something unnerving to the court but he knew Thor would understand. While his adopted brother was lost in many fields of knowledge, Loki knew he understood movements and expressions. Anything that even remotely related to combat, Thor could read. And even if this was Loki's surrender, they both knew this was far from over.
It was then the trickster had the nerve to smile. Once more, something that would be lost to everyone but the one who mattered. Thor's eyes softened a fraction, but otherwise his expression didn't change. He stood solid as Odin banished Loki. A light surrounded his thin frame and engulfed his entire being. But the smile didn't fade. Thor stared at him until he couldn't see his face anymore. He knew what this was. He knew this would be another game at first. But Odin wouldn't settle for just the game. He wanted this lesson learned. He wanted Loki redeemed at any cost. And that was clear in this punishment. Odin turned and gave Thor a tired look. Thor looked back at him, but couldn't find himself with any emotion to offer his father. He was hollow. A piece of him was cast from Asgard on this day and as much as he couldn't admit it to anyone, it was the truth.
The court was completely oblivious to the true dilemma. The murmurs of the crowd continued as everyone left. Only one voice echoed in Thor's head, whispering the words his smile left unspoken.
Come find me.
Thor took what little he knew about magic and applied it to finding the people who would become Loki. Considering the growing amount of people on Midgard coupled with the face that Loki's own magic laid dormant and untraceable, it was worse than trying to find a needle in a haystack. Then, an idea struck. He took to the streets of Midgard, uncaring about the strange looks he would get for his garb. If anything, maybe the look would reignite something in Loki's mind and bring him to follow. Even if it was only a subconscious feeling, he could work with it. He notice a child reading a thin paper book with pictures and words. He frowned. “What is this you read?”
The kid looked up at him, gave him a confused look and responded. “Ain't ya ever heard of a comic book, mister?” He watched as the child turned back to it. A colorful cover with a muscular man in red and blue flying up above buildings with a fist pointed to the sky. Thor tilted his head and took in the title, simple and to the point: Superman.
It was then Thor returned to Asgard and took a lesson in subtly. If he was to attract Loki, he would have to give him something familiar without trying to shock his system, at least at first.
He dropped the idea in the mind of a mortal through retellings of myths and his own experiences. While the story was a little stretched, it would be enough to attract all manners of people. Hopefully, Loki hadn't aged enough already to miss the childhood curiosity. If so, he could only hope either he has children to bring them to him or his death loops back and he picks up the comic at the next turn. While his little bud became a flower, he used the scrying tools Loki left behind to peek in on Midgard.
He could only marvel at how fast his story spread. They chose a good name for their company. But this was also a curse. With so many people looking at them, it was hard to keep track. None of them seemed to look deeply enough. There were plenty of people who picked apart each and every word, but none in the way he was sure his brother would.
He began watching as more forms of media caught onto his story. He focused on the voice actors who portrayed his brother. Many only gave him the cackling madman approach that was so appealing to the many looking for good to win. He searched their faces and found nothing. No sign of his brother in any of their eyes.
Then he heard they were to become a motion picture. It seemed they were held in a high regard in this particular time. As soon as he heard, he shifted his focus completely. They already found a man to play Thor himself; a man much too small in his opinion. He didn't waste his concentration as he focused on his brother's role. No doubt it would at least pull him to the surface whether he got the part or not.
He found another dead end for his troubles.
Thor groaned to himself, tired after years of working non stop with tools of which he knew little. He wanted to throw the water bowl and possibly would have done so if it weren't for its previous owner.
He sucked in a breath and decided to humor himself with a bit of narcissism. With a few murmurs into the water, he looked to the actor that would portray him.
“-really think you would be better suited for Loki. Is there any way you could lose all the muscle?” The Thunder God blinked and took a better look at the other man.
He was exasperated, but otherwise caught in good humor about the entire event. Through the neatly shaven beard, Thor could tell was a very defined face of a man from another time, with eyes that screamed of intelligence. While his hair was a blond mess, he wondered about the curls straightened, black and firmly tamed. He had to have a closer look at this man who would pretend to be his brother.
That night, Tom found himself caught in a downpour. With little warning, lightening struck above and soaked everyone to the bone. He trotted through the storm to his hotel and shook off as much water as possible before entering the lobby. It seemed impolite to leave a pool of water right near the receptionist, after all.
He immediately headed for his room with only thoughts of bed. The day was a long one and finding out his work out routine had all been for naught was enough to exhaust him just far enough. Now, he had to work on losing that extra muscle mass to become the contrast of the character he originally aimed. Loki, although a very intriguing character, was not one who was known for his amazing strength.
He stepped into his room and paused as he realized the light was already on. From his position, he could only see the corner of the bed, the rest of the suite was completely out of his sight. Maybe housekeeping came in and forgot to get the light.
He stepped in slowly and carefully to find a rather large man sitting on his bed. From his studying on the part, he immediately recognized the hair and the bright red cape. Maybe that was the reason behind the almost overwhelming feeling of familiarity. He didn't feel any of the fear he knew he should. After all, there was a stranger in his hotel room, dressed as Thor, sitting on his bed.
Maybe he was simply hallucinating. “Excuse me?”
The man turned and there was a sudden jump in Tom's heart. Their eyes locked as the stranger stood and walked towards him. He was forced to look up at the man, a feat which not many have accomplished.
Tom stood his ground and swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I'm not sure how you got into this room, but this one is already occupied. I'm sorry if this is an inconvenience but..” He gasped when his chin was grabbed and he was forced to look away.
The man was strong, that much Tom could tell. But he held his face in his fingers as if he were afraid of breaking Tom's jaw. He studied his face, his neck, his shoulders, his eyes. It was only when the man smoothed out Tom's hair and stared deeply into the other's eyes that his own widened a fraction. “Loki...”
Tom was pulled into a hug. His brow furrowed in confusion as he slowly wrapped his own arms around the other man. There was no way for him to respond. After a moment, he pushed at the other's shoulders and looked up. “I think it's time for you to go now.” He kept his voice to a gentle coo.
He blinked and shook his head stubbornly. “No. No, I cannot. I have searched for decades. I have searched through many and I never let go of the hope that I would someday find you.”
Tom frowned and looked into the tall stranger's eyes. He was in no immediate danger, but he couldn't be sure this wouldn't turn to something out of his control. “Did you hit your head by any chance?”
“No?”
“Have a bit too much to drink?”
“No.”
“Are you here to audition for the part of Thor?”
He laughed a deep, hearty laugh. “I do not need such things for I am Thor, God of Thunder.”
Tom's lips pursed. “Right.” He didn't dare assume this man was kidding. He had a sneaking suspicion he wasn't. And if he wanted this situation properly defused, he thought it best to keep calm and just agree. “Well... Thor... I'm sorry, but I have to retire for the night and I cannot do that with you in the room.”
“But... Loki!”
“Please, call me Tom.”
Thor frowned. By his mortal name? But why would-? Then he saw it. He could already see the hints of Loki in this man's eyes. He knew in that body was the God of Mischief ready to resurface. But there was also a layer he didn't notice until now. A soft side Loki didn't have before. A humble bravado which must have come from years of being a god embodied in a mortal. But most of all, he saw denial. Loki wasn't going to resurface so long as Tom denied himself the identity of the god Thor could already see.
Thor nodded. “Yes. Tom.”
Tom offered him a smile and guided him to the door. “I'm sure we'll see each other. On set, perhaps.”
Thor nodded numbly and watched as Tom opened the door for him. “Yes. Until we meet again,” He took a small pause then added, “Tom.”
The smile didn't fade as he walked out the door. Thor looked back to watch it slowly and carefully slip into place and then he heard the sound of a chain slipping into place. He felt a kick to the stomach as he realized what it was; he was not welcome back in that room. The god sucked in a deep breath and headed down the hall. Now that he knew which body Loki inhabited, he could focus on freeing him and regaining his partner.
He resisted the urge to turn back to Tom's room in favor of another small mission; finding someone to help him communicate with the Loki he knew was in there.