Do you think Loki will cease to be Loki if he had lost his voice? For instance, post-IW Loki becoming mute after being held in the neck by Thanos? Would Thor feel better or worse to have his brother alive, but silent next to him?
I really like this scenario and would love to read about it happening in a fanfic. For Loki to lose his “silver tongue”, possibly forever, and be forced to communicate with Thor using sign language or writing or some other means would be a fascinating idea to explore.
I don’t think Loki would cease to be himself. Not ultimately. But it would be frustrating for him at first, I imagine, relearning how to communicate, and then trying to speak as effortlessly as he used to, which might be impossible. His hands probably can’t keep up with everything he wants to say, and this would understandably be the source of a lot of angst for him.
Thor might also be prone to talking over him before he learns to be more mindful of Loki’s disability, and realize that he does still have a voice—an inaudible one, but still a voice—that deserves to be heard. Perhaps this might make Thor more conscious of some of the inequalities that existed between him and Loki ever since they were children. A fault confessed is half redressed, as the saying goes.
I can see many single-voiced fights between them as they struggle not only with this matter, but also the matter of learning to live with each other again after so many years at odds in addition to rebuilding Asgard following the Snap, and eventually teaming up for the Time Heist. Loki’s skills would be very useful to the Avengers for this task, but his muteness might be a risk. Perhaps Scott and Tony could develop a special communicator for the quantum suits that doesn’t require speaking.
But I see Loki eventually getting the hang of being mute, using his words thoughtfully and effectively, and finding that they suddenly have more value and impact because of the nature of their delivery and the energy it takes to produce them. Thor becomes more attentive and quiet. He learns to be a better listener. Loki measures his words carefully. Gone are the thoughtless comments, the hurtful remarks, the useless retorts, and the wasted breath; what remains is a distilled, purified form of communication between him and Thor, open and honest, and they speak to one another now as they have never been able to speak before. Truthfully. Fervently. Meaningfully.
And once they reestablish this connection, it’s as if Loki’s voice was never really gone. He and Thor sign with one another comfortably and easily. They laugh together, bicker together, cry together, speak tenderly to each other. Thor learns the importance of nonverbal communication and is more conscious of his body language. Loki learns how to better express himself as time goes on. And in the end, nothing is lost between them.
Losing his voice changes Loki, but in many ways, it may be one of the best things that has ever happened to him. It’s brought him and Thor closer together. It’s helped him turn over a new leaf, make new friends and allies, and repair his tarnished image. And being mute is certainly better than being dead. Loki reminds himself of that every time he dissolves his illusion and studies the faint scars on his neck left by a mad titan’s glove.
How close he had come to dying that day. Thank the Norns that his journey hadn’t ended there, dangling lifelessly from Thanos’s fist.
And Thor, he still misses the sound of his brother’s voice: smooth and deep and velvety when he’s pleased, lilting and sweet when he’s playful, sharp and acidic when he’s angry. Perhaps he will always miss it. But having Loki with him now, alive and happy, finding his own peace and sense of purpose again—and still managing to be his cunning, mischievous self—is more precious to him than any voice in the universe.
