Loki's Interrogation: Part 3

It took five months of that excruciating torture for Loki to completely, totally succumb to the agony. The acidic venom, which had made a normal route down the left side of his body, left a bloody coating, some dried and some new. Loki's weight had dropped dramatically, reducing him to a skeletal figure begging for the sweet relief that only death could bring him. He had become well aware he had only a few months of this torture left before the Valkyries, hopefully, came to claim his spirit. So, despite his constant writhing and screams caused by the venom, he closed his eyes and, like the true trickster he was, waited.

During this time the Avengers had become well acquainted with one another. Each had identified the strengths and weaknesses of each other and fought more and more like a well-oiled machine. Hence, they were all together when Thor got the call to go and retrieve Loki from his punishment. Without hesitation, or questioning from Thor, they all went along. They traveled to Asgard as before, and then Heimdall resent them to the bottom of the Nine Realms.

Thor was first to enter onto the landscape of twisted roots, " Loki! I-we have come to bring you home."

A controlled calm, but gentle, voice responded, " He can't answer you. I've been trying for some time now."

" Who's that?" Hawkeye asked, drawing his bow.

" Sigyn, Loki's wife. Sigyn, where are you? Why are you here?" Thor's voice echoed like thunder on the rocks.

Sigyn stepped out from behind a root of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. When the goddess bowed her long, wavy, light reddish-brown hair spilled over her shoulders. " Odin told me that Loki was being freed, and he told me... to assist." Sigyn indicated the shallow bowl in her slender hands.

Thor nodded and led the group inside. The lot of them froze when they saw the condition that Loki was in. Sigyn, without a thought of hesitation, raced forward and stopped the stream of venom. Her crystal blue eyes filled with tears.

Loki became very aware of the lack of pain, and with much difficulty, opened his emerald eyes. It took him a moment to actually be able to see, but when his eyes cleared he couldn't believe his eyes. " S-seg...i-in." His voice was less then a whisper.

One hand went to her mouth as she nodded in a laughing/crying sort of way. " Yes, Loki, my love, it's me. We've come to free you. J-just wait a moment longer." Sigyn returned her attention to the bowl that was filling rapidly.

Iron Man looked Loki up and down and said to Bruce Banner aka The Hulk, " I've seen dead people look more alive then he does."

Banner nodded, " I wonder if this is the result wanted or if this was an accident."

" Look at the guy! He looks like an f-ing skeleton."

Thor over-heard the conversation and stopped abruptly in front of them. " Help untie my brother and you will soon see him in all his glory."

Hawkeye and Black Widow had already started to work at the bonds on his leg when Cap called Thor over. He showed Thor the skin rubbed raw by the writhing that Loki had done.

" Thor," Black Widow said. " It's like this all the way down. It cut straight through his pants and into the muscle."

Sigyn looked over the edge of the bowl. Seeing that the venom was nearing the brim, called out, " Everyone take a step back. I need to pour out the venom before the bowl over flows onto him." Once they all took a step away from untying Loki, she pulled the bowl away and whispered to Loki, " I'm sorry." The poison dripped down its familiar trail on Loki, with him releasing a harsh, pained cry and thrashing about. Sigyn rushed back, and the Avengers continued their work.

Once they undid his legs fully, they became aware of how much damage it really did to him. Thor and Cap worked at his arms, trying as best they could to remove the rope bonds deeply embedded in his pale skin. Once Loki was fully freed, his limp body slid off the rocks he was bound to. Thor pulled Loki away, allowing Sigyn to drop the bowl and come to the aid of her love. When everyone was clear of the venom Hawkeye notched an arrow and skewed the snake to the rocks.

Sigyn gently placed Loki's head in her lap, stroking his matted hair. He half opened his eyes, trying to stay conscious, his breathing was less then a sigh. Thor inspected the bloodied side of Loki, but found nothing, but realizing that the blood had come from the venom constantly pouring down his body, leaving behind a bloody trail. He laid his hand on Loki's emaciated shoulder. Loki's eyes slowly shifted to his, and Loki tried for a smile, it was brief, but a conformation that he was still there. Bruce Banner bent down and took Loki's wrist in his hand, checking his pulse. " Thor, we need to get Loki back to Asgard or a hospital. He is very close to the end of his rope."

Thor nodded and slid his left arm under Loki's legs and his right at the small of his back, lifting him away from the cold ground. Upon this close examination of Loki in light, Thor saw the darkest bags under Loki's eyes, and became aware that throughout the entire punishment Loki hadn't slept. No wonder Loki barely said anything or moved, he was too exhausted to even try. Once they arrived at the place where the Bifrost would locate them, Thor needed to call out to Heimdall. He placed Loki's legs on the ground and stopped his support of him. Loki's legs gave out immediately, and he landed on his knees, his arms shaking rapidly from trying to support himself. Sigyn was at his side in an instant, allowing Loki to lean against her. She noticed that there were long gashes on Loki's back, most likely from him thrashing around on the sharp rocks.

" Here, I'll take him." Iron Man said, bending down to carrying him. Sigyn nodded, and Loki could offer no protest.

Thor called out to Heimdall, and in an instant they were back at the observatory in Asgard. Even with their hatred well known, Heimdall looked upon Loki with much sorrow. No one should ever experience a pain like Loki had, and the fact that he had survived it showed that he had more strength then anyone knew of. The group quickly arrived at the palace, and brought Loki to his room.

They stripped him of the blood and venom soiled clothes and put on Loki's long silk green pants used for sleeping. They laid him on the soft green fabric of his bed, and started to clean away the blood. Sigyn started to brush out his hair and clean out the cuts his face. Loki couldn't stay awake any longer, especially after Banner injected Loki with a sedative to help him get over the pain. The last thing Loki saw on the day of his freedom was Sigyn wiping away the blood on his forehead, then his vision started to darken, and the sweet embrace of sleep took him.