Chapter Text
"This brings back memories."
Thor looked dubiously across at his younger brother. It was true, of course. Standing in the anteroom, waiting to be called dressed in their ceremonial armor, it was impossible not to remember the coronation that never was. It was not a time that Thor particularly wished to remember.
"Should I go first, so you can make a grand entrance?" It seemed Loki at least did not shrink from remembering that day. Compared to then their positions were reversed. Now it was Loki full of boisterous enthusiasm, or at least, boisterous for him. It was uncharacteristic. It made Thor nervous.
"You are very quiet."
"I am concerned for you," Thor said bluntly. In truth, concern for Loki had been Thor's constant companion since he had first learned he was on Midgard. Usually it lay dormant, rising like a monster from the depths at time of crisis. When Loki wavered between going home and staying on Midgard, for instance, or when he hovered between life and death as a cat, or was so weak when restored to his own shape that he could not stand. Thor had sat by his bed for days in the Halls of Healing. He still remembered the joy when Loki spoke his first word. "Brother." The word had soothed his concern to sleep, but the monster was awake once more.
"Don't be." Loki stood, hair clipped and neat, the harsh gauntness softened from his face, looking every inch the prince who had waited for Thor's coronation. Identical, in fact, as long as you did not look too closely at his eyes. They stood in silence, waiting. Loki was plucking at his palm, a gesture that reminded Thor of Frigga.
Frigga had come the first day to the Halls, regal as she entered and dismissed the attendants. But when they were alone and the doors were closed she ran to the bedside like any mother. Loki would not look her in the eye, but she hugged him and wept for joy all the same.
The day after Loki first spoke, he lifted his head as she walked in and watched her as she sat in her place. "I am reborn," he said eventually, picking at his palms just as he did now, "brought from another world by Thor and placed in your hands, to accept or reject as you will." And Thor realized with a jolt that Loki truly did not believe they accepted him.
Frigga cupped Loki's face in her hands. "Know this," she said, "You entered my heart when Odin first placed you in my arms and there you have stayed and never left, despite all your wanderings." Thor left then, to allow them to talk alone until Loki's voice gave out.
"You are still silent," Loki pointed out.
"I am reflecting," Thor said. "I am aware that is unusual."
Loki looked sideways at him, one corner of his mouth turned up. "I think Midgard has been good for you, brother."
"I am changed since the last day we stood here together," Thor said. "And so are you." It pained him to admit it. They had all thought that the Loki of old had returned. But standing here, Thor saw that was a fantasy.
The half smile slipped from Loki's face. "You are right, brother. I am not the same."
"And you keep your own counsel?" Thor knew something was going to happen. It would be pleasant to know in advance what it was.
"In that, I am unchanged, for I always did. But know this, brother," and Loki was turned towards Thor, his face serious, "I told you before not to doubt that I loved you. Now I tell you plainly, I bear you no ill will."
"Now I am truly concerned," said Thor half in jest. "But now we must go. It is time."
They walked forward together, side by side into the golden hall. The people were gathered, the soldiers formed an honor guard, but the atmosphere was solemn rather than jubilant. Slowly they walked until they reached the foot of the steps, where both removed their helmets and knelt. Frigga stood alone at the top of the steps, dwarfed by the golden bulk of the throne where the All-Father sat, silent and unmoving.
He waited until the rustling and murmuring of the crowd died away. Then the All-Father spoke.
"In the past two years Asgard faced perils such as we have not seen for millennia. This palace was attacked by an old foe, breaking centuries of peace. The Bifrost was destroyed. And my youngest son, in facing these threats, was lost." The king's voice dropped on the last words. He paused and continued more loudly.
"Thor was sent to Midgard, the crossroads of the Realms, where he won back the Tesseract for us, a treasure long thought lost. We rebuilt the Bifrost, which shines brighter than ever. And every day since that day we restore order to the Realms who without Asgardian aid sank into chaos and despair." As a counterpoint to the king's raised voice, Gungnir slammed against the floor and a murmur of assent rippled through the crowd. Thor glanced at Loki's face. It was blank and unreadable.
"Yet Thor's duty was not done. He returned to Midgard as its defender, and in so doing obtained yet another blessing." His voice, clear and even, paused. The crowd were silent, waiting for his words, which came in a crescendo. "He returned to me my son!"
A low cheer started, then spread around the room. The corner of Loki's mouth was raised sardonically for a instant.
Odin shouted over the rising din. "Tomorrow we will fight again. But today is a day of rejoicing. Today the sons of Odin return to Asgard!"
That was their cue to stand and turn to face the crowd. A wall of sound hit them, and through it all like a golden thread, a single name. Thor! Thor! Thor! Thor glanced at Loki involuntarily. Loki's face was filled with joy and humility, and concern clamped down on Thor's stomach with teeth of iron.
In Odin's private chambers there was tension in the air. Odin had visited the Halls of Healing, but not on the first day and the visits never relaxed into informality. Odin sat, papers scattered across the polished wood table. Frigga sat by his side, serene yet watchful. Thor and Loki bowed and drew seats to the table. There was a silence no-one seemed anxious to break.
"That went well, didn't it? History neatly rewritten." Well, except for Loki. Thor winced, but the king and queen remained impassive.
"It is good to see you, Loki," Odin said calmly, "though your time on Midgard seems to have hurt more than mended your manners."
Loki's demeanour changed instantly. "Forgive me, my king," and he half bowed in his seat, his fist clenched to his chest, apparently entirely sincere.
"I have called you here," Odin said, "to arrange what is to be done. The Realms have been in turmoil too long. Muspelheim is torn apart by conflict. Vanaheim is under attack by marauders. This cannot stand.The soldiers need a leader, someone to lead them to victory. You have one more week here, and then you will go and rid us of these vermin once and for all."
"Very well, Father," Thor said, bowing his head.
"I am very much afraid," and there Loki paused while the king directed his attention to him, "that I must decline, my king."
He bowed in his seat, as before. Silence fell across the table.
"Might I enquire what is more urgent than bringing peace to these Realms?" Odin spoke mildly, more mildly than Thor would have expected. Frigga looked untroubled, and Thor realized that to her at least, this refusal was no surprise.
"I owe Midgard a debt. In all conscience, I must repay it."
"And what of the debt owed to the Realms ravaged by war?" Odin enquired.
Loki's fingers met, forming a steeple beneath his chin. "I owe them no debt. Their misfortune was none of my doing." Thor understood, bit his lip and was silent. This was not the time.
Odin paused, and leaned back in his chair. "The fate of Jotenheim, however, was entirely your doing. If you have debts, you should look there first."
"And so I shall," Loki said, "If they wish it. But the lives of the mortals are short. I should repay them first, lest no debtors live when their turn comes."
Thor was suddenly struck by the resemblance between Loki and Odin as they sat at either end of the table, playing with words as they might play Kings Table, making move and counter move. Yet the gifts they shared were not those Odin valued.
"And what do you owe these mortals?"
"Five score or more died by my command, people of the Realms I swore in the past to protect. A year for every life I cost seems a small price."
Odin nodded. "A small price indeed and one that can wait. The need of Vanaheim and Muspelheim far exceeds it. We must turn to the greatest danger first."
Loki paused. The next move was clearly a risky one. "There is a greater danger than marauders."
Frigga moved for the first time, her head dipping in a brief nod. Odin glanced at her, then back at Loki.
"What is this danger?"
"I am," said Loki, as it were a straightforward matter of fact.
Silence fell again. "Explain, my son," Frigga said softly.
"The greatest risk to the Realms is my reversion to what I was. I have learned much. If I wished to acquire a throne again, I would be a formidable foe."
Thor shook his head, laughing, not in mirth but in disbelief at what he was hearing. "Are we truly meant to believe this? You would not do such a thing!"
Loki turned his head. "But I did," he said. "You wish me to be what I was at your coronation. That day for the first time the frontiers of Asgard were breached, due to me. That was what happened before. Do you truly wish it to happen again?” He looked back to Odin. "And I am not what I was then. In some ways I am more dangerous."
Odin's pose echoed Loki's, fingers steepled and eye keen. This was a duel, thought Thor, as deadly as any on the battlefield. This was a skill he would have to master to truly become a king. The prospect was not pleasant.
Finally Odin made his move. "You are saying that we cannot trust you.”
Loki considered, then spoke. "Not living as I did before, no. Not on Asgard." Thor recognised the truth in this, bitter to the taste. Past hopes died without a struggle.
"But in the dungeons? There I think we would trust you." Odin said, far too coolly and lightly for Thor's taste.
"Then you would be fools. Alone, feeding on my own hatred and resentment? A cancer at the heart of your kingdom, requiring always to be kept in check lest I overwhelm it all?" Loki waved a hand in respect and acknowledgement. "You are too wise to chose that option if others exist."
"Flattery," Odin rumbled.
"Truth," Loki said. "I have no reason to flatter you." His eyes met Odin's and they fought a silent battle over the table.
Odin looked away first. "Do you realize what you are saying?" he said, leaning forward again. "If this is true it would exclude you from ever being King of Asgard, perhaps from ruling anywhere in the Nine Realms. Do you accept this? Think carefully."
Loki was silent. To Thor's eye the war fought now was inside Loki's head. It ended as he raised his eyes back to the king.
"I do accept it."
Odin sat back in the chair. "Then what do you propose?"
"I propose you send me, with Thor, back to Midgard. Let me repay my debt. If not...I will refuse to fight in Asgard's army and you may try to visit any punishment on me you wish. Choose wisely." And Loki sat back, a mirror image of the king, the air crackling with tension. The game balanced on a knife edge.
"No." The tension broke, both heads turning sharply to look at Thor. Frigga smiled gently at him, a smile of approval. Thor smiled back, and ended the game.
"My place is on the battlefield. I will go to Muspelheim, but Loki must go to Midgard." Thor could see frustration seeping through Loki's impassive mask. Odin spoke with mild curiosity.
"Why, my son?"
Thor gathered his thoughts. "Because Loki speaks truth. Because I owe a debt to the Realms: I, not Loki, was the one who destroyed the Bifrost. Because I owe Loki a debt. Because you owe a debt - you never told me what changing Loki's shape would do to him."
"He knew," Odin said dismissively.
"Aye," said Thor. "But I did not. I would not have agreed to it. So for these reasons Loki should be let go, and because it is the right thing to do."
Odin nodded slowly, then turned to Loki. "What if these Midgardians will not accept your aid? What then, my son?"
"Then I suppose I must return and I will be at your command," said Loki, lightly. "But if I might be so bold, my king, Muspelheim would be a wiser choice than Asgard."
Odin deliberated, nodded decisively then rose. "Very well. At the feast it shall be proclaimed that Thor shall lead the final push on Muspelheim, and Loki shall return to Midgard and offer himself as its protector. In a few days, you will go your separate ways."
"If it's all the same to you, my king," said Loki, rising with a single elegant movement, "I would rather leave at once." A gentle sigh left the queen's lips. Odin looked at her then back at Loki.
"After the feast, boy. You owe us that." Then Odin turned and left the room.
Frigga stood and crossed to Loki. She cupped his face in her hands and half reached up to him, half pulled his head down to kiss his forehead. "I will miss you, but you are right. This is not the place for you." She looked across at Thor. "You did well, my son." She stepped back and nodded to them both. "You may not believe it, but Odin grieves. I must go to him. Do not go without saying goodbye."
When she left, Loki turned on Thor. "Why did you interfere? I had him in the palm of my hand! Do you not wish to return to Midgard?"
"I wish it with all my heart," Thor said. "But the risk was too great. Sometimes playing Kings Table, one must sacrifice a man to save the king. Is that not so?"
Loki raised his eyebrows. "Never as you played it, brother."
"Even I can learn. Besides, I had my debt."
"You owe me no debt," Loki said, dismissively.
Thor shook his head. "Remember your words on Midgard before you told me where the Tesseract was? That you had lived in the shadow of my greatness? That darkness is my debt."
Loki's lip curled. "I was half-insane. I said you hurled me into the Abyss. Is that your debt too?"
"No, because that was a lie," and Thor took the single step that separated him from Loki and took his arm. "But the shadow, that was true. It is time for you to step out of my shadow."
Loki looked sideways at him, face almost too blank to be readable, but Thor thought the eyes had softened. "At the price of your Jane?"
Thor thumped Loki on the back. "What danger is there of that when I have Silver Tongue to sing my praises?" The blank face turned into one all too familiar, the one that said dolt. Thor became serious. "Please, tell her that I love her, and think only of her, and will return to her as soon as I can."
"You may be sure that I will," said Loki, equally serious. "And now I must speak with mother."
Central Park was silent. Even the air was still now the light had faded. The lights of New York shone in the distance, but the foreground offered only the red twinkle of laser sights. The darkness was moving. He was surrounded by a ring of agents, all in black, all with guns pointed directly at him. He had expected no less. Loki, dressed simply in black, stood still, held his hands palms turned outwards and waited.
Eventually a man came forward, in a suit and tie rather than fatigues. A familiar face.
"Agent Coulson. I see you have been expecting me. I have a message for Jane Foster."
"That's nice," said Coulson without a flicker of emotion. "But you have to talk to me first."