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Chapter Text

Predictable

The last Thor remembered before the emptiness of the space sucked everything, was clinging to his brother. Then there was nothing but darkness.

The next thing he registered was lying on the floor of what seemed to be a space ship, not his spaceship, with a bunch of multiracial strangers leaning over him. He was on his feet in an instant, stumbling as his numb, half frozen legs almost refused to carry his weight. Backing away as far as the cramped ship allowed, he took in his surroundings. He found the lot staring at him.

Straightening, Thor returned the stare, turning his head to acknowledge them all. There was a Midgardian man and a short furry creature that looked like some kind of animal. Another man of bulky posture stood to the left, accompanied by a green-skinned lady with fiery red locks. A strange young woman with glowing antennas stared with her eyes wide open, and behind her a young flora colossus observed him from over a game pad of sorts. Together, they probably made the strangest company Thor had ever met.

“Who the hell are you, guys?” He asked in confusion. Lightning cracked between his fingers, readying for the fight that could possibly come. His experience with the strangers of late had not been overly positive.

"Woah, easy, man!" The Midgardian raised his hands in an universal peaceful gesture, while the strange furry creature at his side pulled out a blaster. “Rocket, not here!” He chastised. The creature rolled his eyes but lowered his weapon, if slightly. The others just watched Thor, apparently still surprised by his awakening.

“Not exactly a thank you we could expect,” Rocket muttered with reproach. “You know, we have just literally picked you up from the fuckin’ space. Mantis there woke you,” he made a vague gesture towards the woman with antennas.

That was when Thor realised what he was missing."Wh-where's my brother?"

"You mean the stiff over there?" Rocket pointed to his left. As Thor turned his head to follow his hand, he saw the familiar form laying on the floor. "You two were kinda tangled. Not much we can do there, sorry."

"No..." Thor’s knees buckled treacherously and the lightning sparkling around his fists shot uncontrollably, crafting a smoking hole right next to a control pad.

“Whatever you’re doing, don’t!” The Midgardian cried. “You’ll blow up my ship!”

“It’s my ship!” Rocket huffed in annoyance.

But the lightning disappeared just as quickly, Thor’s energy already spent in the battle with Thanos. He barely had it within him to stand. He forced himself to move towards Loki, grasping at whatever he could find within his reach as his legs threatened to cease carrying him.

Mantis got there first. She knelt by the unmoving figure and rolled him on his back. "He's not dead," she gasped, a hint of surprise visible as her black eyes blinked.

"Holy shit, what?!" The Midgardian choked. “How the hell is this possible?”

“Not as beautiful and strong as this one, but perhaps his strength lies elsewhere,” mused the bulky man. The comment made Thor stop for a second, so out of place it seemed.

“Drax, not now,” someone muttered, but Thor didn’t pay attention who.

"Not-" He stumbled again in his eagerness to reach his brother, desperately clinging to the tiniest string of hope.

"He's terrified and hurting, but not dead, Peter.” Mantis said to the Midgardian as she kept her hands hovering over Loki’s head. “I can wake him too."

"No, wai-"

But it was too late. With Mantis's gentle touch Loki jerked awake. A scream caught in his throat and his hand flung up. He coughed, his breathing coming in hitched gasps, and kept pulling frantically at the collar of his gear, unable to grasp a lungful of air.

Thor fell on his knees beside him as Mantis scrambled away. "Lo- Loki, stop!" He grasped his wrists and pinned them to the floor, leaning forwards so that he could be seen. “It’s alright!” His voice carried the edge of hysteria that contradicted his words.

It didn't work. Loki made a pained noise and his left hand froze, but his breathing was just as hectic. “Th’r,” he wheezed and Thor sighed in relief that at least his brother seemed to recognise him.

“He’s gone for now. Thanos is not here,” Thor promised hastily. Whoever these guys behind him were, they seemed friendly enough, or at least not too willing to kill them on sight. Thor didn’t have much energy left to spend on dwelling whether they could have had some ulterior motives and had picked them from the space for their own benefit.

“Thanos?” The green-skinned lady, who kept silent so far, repeated slowly, her voice distant.

“You know of him?” Thor let his eye fall off Loki and he turned to face her, cursing internally his inability to see the whole room without moving. It was a disadvantage he had yet to work on in fight.

“Gamora is the daughter of Thanos,” the big guy called Drax offered.

At that, Loki bolted upright. He managed as far as to a sitting position, but conjured a pair of daggers even as Thor placed himself between the strangers and his wounded brother. Loki’s left hand seemed useless and the knife fell from his grasp, so he clung to the other, desperately trying and failing to haul himself up.

“Thanos slaughtered half of my people and almost killed my brother!” Thor growled and dragged himself back to his feet. Crackles of lightning danced around his fists and shoulders.

“No, no, wait!” The Midgardian, Peter, rushed forward. “She wants him dead as much as you do!”

Thor glanced from him to Gamora, who nodded. He was trying hard to take her word for that when his brother looked at her with what bordered to outright fear. Loki’s posture screamed of mistrust, but Thor could also see hate and determination that steeled Gamora’s gaze as she looked him in the eye. Hesitantly, he let his arms drop and the lightning subdued.

“There are no friends of Thanos here, alright?” Rocket stepped firmly in front of the woman. “How about you guys sit down and take a breath?” He offered, which earned him a wheezing half-sob, half-laughter from Loki.

So Thor found himself sitting on a bench with a thick blanket around his shoulders, slowly de-freezing with a bowl of hot soup in his hands. He was left with bone-deep exhaustion and a pounding headache, a courtesy of a close touch of the Power Stone, but he was alive and breathing. And he was not alone.

Loki was slumped to his right, leaning against his shoulder. It had taken some manoeuvring to get him there, as he had let no one but Thor so much as lay a finger on him. He looked no better than when he had been woken and was still half a step away from passing for a corpse, if not for his shallow, wheezing breathing. He cradled his left hand at his lap, but dared not close his eyes and go into a healing sleep. His gaze never left Gamora, even as she withdrew to the farthest part of the room.

Thor listened as Gamora talked about Thanos and his goal to wipe out half of the universe. His anger would have boiled untamed, had it not been for his exhaustion. The Thanos he faced had wielded only one stone, and still he had managed to slaughter all those who had not escaped in the pods with the Valkyrie. He had bested the Hulk. Had bested him.

A shiver and a pained gasp drew Thor’s attention from where he mulled over his soup. Loki seemed to be struggling to breathe again, his good hand hovering over but never really touching his swollen throat.

"Why is it not healing?" Thor frowned as he realised Loki’s left wrist swelled and bruised instead of getting better.

Loki's mouth stretched in a mirthless smirk for a second. "All... I... Have... Goes... For. Not. Dying," he rasped. His eyelids fell for a moment, but he snapped them open again and looked around.

"You'd better not," Thor muttered, careful not to voice too much concern about Loki's statement. His admittance alone was alarming, and in the presence of those strangers, especially Gamora, it was likely all Thor would get. Still, he had to ask. "Do you need anything? Are you hurt elsewhere?"

A minute shake of head was all response he got.

"You guys are creeping me out," Quill startled them both. "We pick you up from NOTHING, the stiff there definitely choked and dead... -ish. And now he's talking already."

"We are not easily killed," Thor offered and he wished he could feel the conviction he heard in his own voice. If anything, the most recent events had taught him that there were forces in the universe stronger than an army of Einherjar, forces that could overpower Asgardians as strong as him.

"Creepy or not, it seems you are short on whatever it is you are using to stay alive," Rocket addressed Loki as came over with a couple of small packages. "So maybe try the good old-fashioned way?" He dropped them at Loki's knees, completely ignoring how tense and utterly still he went.

Loki stared down with a frown.

"Oh, you know? Cold for the swelling?" The raccoon rolled his eyes. "Can't hurt to try. Then you can go on with the magic thing you are doing."

“Thank you,” seeing that Loki would or could not answer, Thor nodded to Rocket and wrapped the cold dressing around Loki’s wrist. “Is there a place where we could rest?” He asked, knowing well his brother would not let his guard down unless they were alone. The proclaimed hatred towards Thanos didn’t seem enough for Loki to trust them and let himself rest. If they were to go against Thanos, Thor needed his brother back in form. And, as much as he loathed to admit it, he himself needed to be able to formulate a trail of thoughts without having his head split in half.

“Oh, yeah, we could probably spare you a room for now,” Quill nodded.

“I am Groot?” The flora colossus nudged Thor expectantly. His input was unexpected, as for the whole time he seemed entirely preoccupied with his game.

“Thank you, young friend, but there’s not much you could do to help,” Thor offered him a warm smile, but Groot ignored him and reached for Loki’s wounded wrist.

Unable to back away, Loki attempted to pull his hand free and yelped. Groot ignored him too and held his hand in both of his own, concentrating. Thor was about to react and drag him away from his brother, but Groot’s efforts paid off and tiny sprouts sprang from his hands. Both brothers watched in amazement as the branches grew, entwining, and soon weaved a brace around the damaged wrist.

Cutting himself off the brace, Groot looked up back at Thor and smiled brightly. “I am Groot.”

“That was brilliant!” Thor felt a genuine smile lighten his face and he stood up, this time hauling Loki along with little effort. Wrapping his arm around his brother’s back, he tossed Loki’s good hand over his own shoulders and smiled to himself at the position he placed his brother in.

Clearly Loki recognised it too. “No. Get. Help.” He whispered and his fingers dug into Thor’s bicep.

“Well, you need it, brother,” Thor chuckled softly. Loki’s nails dug deeper.

Rocket glanced from one to the other, unimpressed. “Ugh, whatever you say. Sleep it off, guys. Over there,” he waved towards the doors to his right.

“Thank you,” Thor nodded and led Loki to where he could possibly rest. “Wake me up when it’s time to split.”

Loki shot him a confused glance. Apparently some of his conversation with the group must have slipped his attention.

Adjusting his grip on Loki’s waist, Thor answered the unvoiced question. “We are going to Nidavellir, brother.” That, at least, was a fixed part of the plan they had yet to form.

Chapter Text

One would think that dying, or almost dying, should have been getting easier with each time. That the growing cold and darkness creeping on as the life poured away would become a welcome familiarity.

Loki begged to differ. He had no desire to let his life end. Not when he was finally trying to find his place in this new reality without Frigga, without Odin and his lies, without Asgard... And alongside this Thor who seemed both so strange and so familiar. The one Loki could once again call his brother without venom in his voice, without this overwhelming feeling of betrayal and abandonment. He had actually worked for this chance to happen and he was not about to let it go to waste.

And besides, dying on Thor, again, on top of all his brother had already lost, seemed too cruel a joke. Even for him.

So Loki put every spell he could think of to protect himself, like he had once shielded his heart on the deserts of Svartalheim, and pulled out the strongest, most solid illusion he could muster with the Titan's hand slowly cutting off air and blood from his brain.

Thanos almost went through his spells, almost, but instead of of breaking his neck, he crushed his throat and dropped him at Thor's feet like a ragged doll. Had he used the Power Stone on him, Loki's spells would not have held, but the Titan had not needed that to destroy the one who had one failed him. Or so he thought and Loki had no desire to let him believe otherwise, hoping desperately that his deception would hold long enough. Thor's broken sobs as he called his name made Loki hope for the sun he had promised his brother, before darkness swallowed him.

The sun was metaphorical, of course. Apparently they couldn’t – he couldn’t – have one nice thing in this damn universe. There wasn’t even a planet with a sun. What he woke to was a confusing reality with pain addling his brain and the phantom echo of the Titan’s hand on his throat crippling him. Loki fought for breath, one at a time. And then another, and another, filling his lungs just enough not to pass out on this foreign ship full of strangers.

Crushed windpipes would heal, surely, as would his vocal cords, but as it was, Loki couldn’t even find the strength to lie to Thor about his current state. He could barely ensure there was air coming to his lungs and blood going to his brain. He desperately tried to watch his whereabouts, but while his eyes were locked on Thanos’s daughter, the conversation his brother had with their saviours escaped him. He broke from his stupor for a moment, when the young flora collosus grabbed his broken wrist and- and apparently grew a brace of twigs around it, but he was in every way ready to metaphorically drop dead the moment he could afford it. Not literally, preferably.

It was almost a relief when Thor dragged him up and half-led, half-hauled him into a mercifully empty room. It was cramped, various boxes stored by the wall suggesting its normal use, but there was a bed in the corner with enough space for both of them. Loki sank down, falling precariously to the side the moment his brother took away his arm.

“See? No tossing this time,” Thor flashed him a tired grin before sitting down next to him.

Loki wished he could find a snarky reply, but uttering a single syllable hurt more than he could deal with now. Instead, he nodded, which hurt marginally less.

“Do you need anything?” Now that they were finally alone, Thor repeated his earlier question, his concern plain on his face, just like all his emotions tended to. He rubbed the eye patch absent-mindedly.

Nourishment, Loki wished he could say. He was going to need food to restore his strength, but that was not going to be possible until he was physically capable of swallowing anything. As it was, he probably wouldn’t have been able to force even water down his throat.

Thor apparently had little patience left. “Loki, I need a sincere answer,” he prompted when he got none, and reached for his brother in the way they were most familiar with. Or had been, once.

The moment Thor’s fingers touched the side of his bruised neck, Loki forgot how to breathe. There was nothing but him, strangling him, squeezing the life away. Loki jerked back and his head slammed hard against the wall, his vision going black. No, no, nonono, not again-

A spasm of electricity shot through him and Loki realised there was nothing at his throat, nothing but his own hand tearing the collar away.

“H-hey! Easy!” Thor was shaking him now in panic, his hand grasping firmly Loki’s shoulder, away from his neck. “No, no, don’t freak out, it’s ok, don’t freak out, don’t....” He was making no sense whatsoever, not that Loki cared much at the moment. He barely registered his brother’s presence as he fought to knit back together the spells that were keeping him more or less lucid. His chest heaved in gasps, his heart racing. Once he was sure he would not choke, Loki locked his gaze with his brother’s eye, his breathing coming steadily slower. Thor kept babbling with infuriating persistence, until Loki could no longer bear it.

“Shut up.”

His brother let go of him once he was sure Loki would not slip from the bed. He seemed shaken, weak sparkles still cracking around his knuckles. “Sorry, I didn’t think.”

“Hardly... surprising,” Loki whispered before he could help it. Talking hurt, but it was also grounding him.

“Hey!” Thor looked indignant, but sobered soon. “Please don’t make a habit of dying. I told you you’re becoming predictable, but I really don’t want to do something like this ever again.”

"Have- an ace... Or two... Up my... Sleeve." Loki promised with way more conviction than he felt. In truth he would be glad to never go through this almost-dying business for the rest of his life.

Thor seemed unimpressed. "And a bunch of twigs," he pointed out, his eyebrow raised. “Do you think they will bloom?”

Loki rolled his eyes. As ridiculous as that brace looked, it brought him relief the moment his wrist was finally supported. Since he was unlikely to do anything about this injury in the following hours, he was going to accept whatever weird thing this bracing could evolve to, provided that it was still capable of changing after having been cut off from its creator.

“Still waiting,” Thor reminded him. “Do you need anything?”

“Just... rest. I’ll be... fine. Really.” Loki sighed and carefully prodded at his throat. It seemed as tender outside as it was on the inside. After a moment of consideration, he looked sideways. "You?"

"Me?" Thor repeated before grasping what his brother meant. "Yeah, I'm okay. Would've been better if Thanos didn't try to fry my brain."

Loki grinned despite the dread at the mere mention of the Titan. "Suggests- there is- som'thin' to fry." Bantering with Thor was something eternally familiar, half-hearted as it was now. They had done that thousand times in countless situations. It was as easy as normally breathing was.

Thor smacked him lightly and stood up. He fumbled with his breastplate, but as he offered his brother to help him with his, Loki just shook his head and dragged his feet up on the bed. He couldn’t be bothered with undressing, and besides his sleeve was successfully trapped under the brace. He nestled himself by the wall and forced steady breaths as he listened to Thor dropping off his armour.

Finally the fussing stopped, but Thor didn’t join him. When Loki opened his eyes again, he found his brother still on his feet, frowning. “What?”

“Drop the illusion, Loki. What’s the point of that now?”

Loki stared. “Wha- Thor, I have... no-,” the rest he tried to say was cut off as he gasped for air. If something as simple as talking was a terrible idea, especially when lying down, how Thor could even think Loki would amuse him with projecting another miserable self?

The frown deepened. “Then why do I see you in double?” Thor squeezed his eye shut and rubbed his temples.

Oh, shit. Sadly, there was nothing Loki could do at the moment. “Fried... brain,” he muttered.

“I thought you claimed there is nothing to fry?” Thor sat back on the edge of the bed and poked him tiredly. “Move.”

Loki didn’t bother answering, just rolled towards the wall. None of them had had a chance to sleep off the battle with Hela and the destruction of their home before Thanos showed up. And since their fight was far from finished, it was best they caught as much rest as they could.

Chapter Text

At first Thor didn't know what woke him. Perhaps it was the hum of the engines, perhaps the lights he hadn’t bothered to turn off. Unfamiliar as it was, the room was still a welcome change to the ruin of fire and blood he had been reliving mere moments earlier. Heart racing in his chest, Thor laid still and listened to the ship, fighting to get the images of the last nightmarish days away from his mind.

He had dreamed of Ragnarok before, the vision plaguing him for many months, but it had always been just that – disturbing and maybe foreshadowing the future, but nonetheless just a dream. Yet now it was his past, the reality he had faced, the destruction of his home that had come by his very own order. He had watched his people being slaughtered first on their homeland, then on the ship that became their refuge. Those who stayed behind with him to secure the escape the Valkirie led, fell one by one until there was no man or woman standing.

The first time the noise came, Thor thought it was his own imagination reminding him of his frightened people crowded on the bridge. But then it came again right next to him, startling him and making him bolt upright. A pained gasp, hitched and muffled, as if Loki was trying to control it even as he slept. A cry that followed was hardly louder, yet full of anguish.

"Loki?" Remembering his brother's violent reaction from earlier, Thor grabbed his forearm and shook him, keeping away from his face. "Wake up!" Whatever his brother was dreaming about, it was likely just as unpleasant as his own dreams. Loki rolled to his left and Thor winced as he saw the way the bruises around his neck blackened, sticking out against his pale skin. If that was what was keeping his brother so wrenched in his dream...

Another muffled scream broke the lull of the humming engines.

"Dammit, Loki, come on!"

Loki flung his arm blindly in an attempt to push him away, then groaned as he hit the wall. His eyes were wide and unfocused for a brief moment, before he noticed who was leaning over him. Thor was amazed how quickly Loki schooled his features, seemingly blank and uncaring. The only thing he could not control was his hitched breathing. He also seemed perplexed to see Thor sharing his bed.

"Wha-," he startled at the sound of his own voice and fell back. "Tell me- we didn't- blow- Asgard to pieces," he whispered to the ceiling.

“I’m afraid so, yes.” Thor let his arms slump a bit. Saying it aloud, confirming, somehow made it even worse.

They were spared from vocalising the rest of horrid things that had happened. The door opened and Rocket peered inside. "You up? Good, time to split up."

"We'll join you in a minute," Thor nodded and reached for his armour. He took extra moment fastening the straps and observed discreetly as Loki sat up and dragged himself to the edge of the bed. His brother swallowed visibly and winced, his eyes squeezed shut. He prodded at his wrist between the twigs and sighed, then stood up. It seemed he was unaware Thor was watching him as he slowly made his way to the doors.

Thor decided not to comment. It was obvious neither of them got much of real rest, but at least Loki was able to move on his own. Grasping the sorry remains of his Sakaarian cape, Thor followed.

There was a buzz of the Guardians wishing each other luck and exchanging last minute advice, but neither of the brothers paid much attention. The moment Thor joined him, Loki fell to his right side. It was unnerving that with just half a step back, he could disappear completely from Thor’s view. It was becoming a habit, he realised, and as much as he hated not having his brother always within his sight after what happened, he supposed it was best to have his blind spot covered by someone alongside whom he was familiar fighting. Still, it made him crane his neck every time he wanted to speak to Loki or simply check if he was still standing.

Not that there was much to speak about as they parted with the rest and went into the pod they were taking. It was weird, Loki simply following his lead without questioning his every move, without commenting and pointing out every single detail he did not like about Thor's plans.

As it soon turned out, it wasn't the matter if Loki was going to question his decision. It was the matter of when.

"Why Nidavellir now?" he asked as Rocket pulled the lever and the small ship separated from bay locking it with the main one. Thor wasn’t sure how his brother ended up on the second pilot’s seat.

"Except it is the place known for its legendary weapons?" Rocket eyed him, his tone clearly suggesting what he thought of Loki’s sanity.

Thor really didn’t have to look at his brother to see him roll his eyes at that. “I do need a weapon that could match Mjolnir,” he said. “There is no other place like Nidavellir.”

"You don't need- weapon to hit with- lightning.”

"I also cannot channel lightning in closed spaces! OR in space," Thor retorted, the well-known irritation of verbal sparring with his brother rising before he knew it. “Alright,” he crossed his arms. “What would you have me do?”

Loki looked at him as if he was genuinely surprised he was being asked that. And of course he had an answer ready. “Where are your- people, your... majesty?” The hoarse whisper lacked the sneer Thor expected to hear. “They won’t reach- Midgard in those- pods.”

Loki did have a point there. What was left of Asgard needed to keep together, but perhaps being scattered would keep them safer, should they come to face another slaughter. Still, Thor was the king and he was responsible for every single one of his remaining people.

But Thor had his reasons too. Yes, he could summon the lightning with or without his hammer, but directing it without something to channel the power was a struggle, especially now with his aim hindered by the loss of his eye. He would master it in time, of course. Time was something they did not have and sadly making Loki see his point had always been a challenge. He had to try, though.

"Listen, I cannot rely on lightning alone. I need to be able to protect my people. I need that weapon. Thanos proved to be a threat and he will be a threat to Asgard, Midgard and the whole universe, unless he is stopped once and for all. Surely you can see that."

Loki seemed taken aback. He stared at Thor with a mixture of horror, fury and something dark Thor couldn't exactly name. He looked as if he wanted to answer, in fact as if, once he had started, he would not stop talking, something desperate bubbling right under the surface. But then he just shut his mouth and looked away, and his expression closed again.

"Fine. You get- new hammer. I find... Asgard," Loki whispered, already facing the control panel.

Thor was left with a feeling he was missing something Loki desperately wanted him to see, but there was no chance for a moment of privacy in the tiny pod they were travelling in. Whatever it was, it would have to wait. Instead, Thor searched through the food rations until he found something liquid. Not bothering to dwell on whatever it was, he dropped the bag in front of his brother. If Loki was well enough to speak, he was probably well enough to eat.

***

Something was wrong. The star was dead, the forge dark and abandoned. Loki could feel his instincts screaming as they approached the star which no longer shined. The feeling did not leave him when they landed on the outer ring and ventured into the empty halls. Their steps echoed too loud in the crippling silence. Tools and unfinished projects laid scattered around in the place that had not gone cold for ages, for as long as Loki could remember.

“Thor.” Loki froze, his eyes widening as they fell on the steel prototype of the gauntlet he had seen on Thanos’s hand.

His brother saw it too. “Loki, get them back to the pod,” he said, vary. A moment later he was shoved from his feet and sent flying.

Loki grasped Groot and pushed him aside and summoned his daggers, but before he could go after their attacker, he recognised Eitri. No second blow came as the dwarf too realised who they were.

The ability of Groot to stand aside and play his game no matter what was something Loki had trouble processing. Here they were, in the dead forge with the last dwarf recalling what had happened, and yet the boy seemed to care only for his plaything. From the way Rocket rolled his eyes at that, Loki suspected he too was exasperated. Turning away from Groot, Loki hid his weapons and listened what his brother planned to do.

Of course Thor would restart the star. Why wouldn’t he? It was hardly the strangest thing Loki had seen his brother do. He stayed behind with Groot in the workshops and watched as Thor spun the rings back to life. But even Loki was not prepared to witness what his brother did next.

Screaming was the last thing Loki should be doing. A part of him knew that, but this reasonable part had been shoved away when his idiot of a brother decided to become a part of the forge’s mechanism. Loki screamed himself raw as he watched the heat and power surge from the heart of the star right through Thor. He couldn’t do anything. Loki might as well have left his brother to die on the Statesman. Why trade the Tesseract for his life when Thor was just going to throw it away?

At last the mechanism snapped closed again and the impact sent Thor falling down. With what little energy Loki had to spare, he slowed the fall and grabbed his brother before he smashed against the rubbish. He could see the burns, Thor’s body almost too hot to touch.

“Don’t you dare,” Loki hissed and winced at the sound of his own voice, so broken it sounded. He called for his remaining strength and pushed it towards his brother’s failing body. Whatever idiocy Thor planned next, he simply wasn’t allowed to die on Loki.

His vision swam and breathing again became a challenge. Loki was vaguely aware of Rocket yelling something to Eitri, but all he could grasp was the air of urgency. He simply focused on task at hand, hoping he would stay conscious long enough.

The Norns smiled at him for once. The axe they were trying to make came flying to Thor’s open palm and suddenly Loki felt raw power running along his own struggling magic. Pulling backwards, he fell to the side, heaving and gasping. It seemed Thor no longer needed Loki’s aid and indeed a moment later he opened his eye and grasped the handle. The glow of the axe subdued as it cooled down, much more quickly than any metal normally would. Only now did Loki realise the handle was made by Groot.

Thor laughed and jumped to his feet, summoning the lightning and his battle gear. Crackling light danced around his fingers and for but a moment it seemed all the burdens weighting him down were gone.

Loki followed him less gracefully. His head was pounding, his vision still swimming and his throat was a mess of raw flesh. “You- damn- fool!” he rasped and swayed. “Could you... just once- stop- and think?!” His knees gave out and he grasped the nearest solid thing to keep himself upright, namely his brother. Despite his weakened state, Loki was boiling mad. If they had told him what the issue with the mechanism was, he might have been able to force it open with his magic. From afar. He had no idea if he would have been able to hold the spell long enough for the metal to melt, but at least he could have tried before Thor decided to fry himself.

“You ok?” Thor steadied him, apparently oblivious to the fact that Loki had just exhausted himself trying to lessen the impact of the star.

“No!” Loki wriggled himself from his grasp, seething.

“That was kinda dumb thing you did, I give you that,” Rocket interrupted them before things got out of hand. “Now can we move on?”

Loki glared daggers at his brother, his voice again failing him. He nodded slightly to Rocket. “We need...,” he coughed and tried again. “The signal I picked... matches- Grandmaster’s... ships.” It was a long shot and he knew that, but he was also quite sure the pods the Valkyrie used to evacuate the people could not have travelled far. And the signal they picked was the only one in proximity to the Statesman. By now the Asgardians were either floating in space and sending distress calls like the one that had brought the Guardians to the wreck, or they were stranded on some planet or asteroid. Either way, they were likely in need of help and having Rocket on their side, Thor and Loki could try to assure that the aid was not going to be hostile.

“That’s more like what Quill likes to do, but yeah, it would be good to check that on,” Rocket nodded in agreement, throwing Loki off-guard for a second. “If some more lot like you are there somewhere, and they are still alive, they can come in handy.”

“I am Groot?”

“Yes... we need... a ship.” Loki answered the boy, his blind fury already subduing in favour of planning their next move.

Thor seemed to be listening only partly, most of his attention focused on the new axe in his hand. But he did listen, which was good enough. “And how do you intend to obtain a vessel suitable for all our people?”

Loki shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ll think when we... get there. Provided the- they didn’t get something.”

“Oh please!” Rocket flung his arms up in exasperation. “There isn’t a lock I cannot pick, so if we can’t get something the nice way, stealing a ship is likely to be child’s play.”

“Your majesty... disagrees?” Loki quirked an eyebrow at his brother, trying his best not to sound like Quill’s broken tape, to quote Rocket. Whatever tape he meant. “Well, you’ll be- there... to ensure our deeds-“ his voice dropped and it had nothing to do with the way his throat hurt. A sudden dread washed over him. “Thor?”

“Nope. I’m going to kill Thanos.” Thor tossed the axe and caught it swiftly. “And since you’re so dedicated to the task already, I’m trusting you to be the saviour of our people again. Find them, bring them to Earth.”

Not this again... Loki cursed silently, but the determined look Thor bore was too familiar. There was no reasoning that would stop his brother, yet Loki wouldn’t be himself if he didn’t try.

“Brother, you’re not-,”

“No, Loki, there isn’t time for this.” It seemed Thor was ready to use Loki’s struggle to talk against him. “If your friends,” he gestured at Rocket and Groot, “didn’t get the Reality Stone, Thanos will be coming for Midgard. If they did, he will either try to hunt them down, or he will come to Earth. In any case, the Avengers are going to need every help they can get.”

Open the Bifrost and take us as far away as possible, even back to the fucking Sakaar, Loki wanted to say, but he did know his idiotic brother. Reason was never something that stopped him and sadly that part of Thor had not changed a bit. Loki might as well save himself the pain of pointless talking.

“Then why send- me- away,” he huffed instead, his throat unbearably dry.

“You are in no shape to fight.” Thor placed his heavy hand on Loki’s shoulder. “And I did not forget about our people. They will need an Odinson to lead them and I know you will keep them safe.”

And who is going to keep you safe? There was no time to waste, that part of what Thor said was true. Loki didn’t miss that his brother spoke of their people, not just his. For good or bad, Loki was still a Prince of Asgard.

“Do warn mortals- we’ll be- coming,” he finally said before Thor raised his arm to rip the reality with that new axe of his. “Don’t want them... to shoot us down... before we explain.”

“Fair enough,” Thor nodded.

“And Thor?” Loki steeled his voice, hoping his throat would not betray him again. “Don’t die- or I will- kill you- myself.”

A soft chuckle that resonated in Thor’s chest as he opened the Bifrost must have been to a private joke of sorts, Loki deemed as his brother disappeared. Tugging absent-mindedly at his collar before realising the sudden tightness in his throat has nothing to do with his clothes, Loki turned slowly towards the ship.

The next moment a furry hand clapped him somewhere around his thigh. “Right,” Rocked looked up. “Let’s go steal some ship.”

Chapter Text

Chapter IV

With Thor gone, swept by a familiar-looking beam of light, Loki felt dread creeping back at him. There was physically no way he could have stopped his brother from going, but it didn’t make being left behind any easier. Leaning against the side of the ship, Loki forced a deep breath. He couldn’t so much as lift his chin without spasms of pain that made him nauseous. The muscles had gone stiff in the last few hours and the recent exertion did nothing to speed the healing. Loki wished he had had some kind of support, but the idea of asking Groot and actually letting him to touch his neck was simply out of question. He hadn’t been able to trust Thor with that, let alone a stranger.

“Hey, buddy, you ok?” Rocket stopped in the doors as he realised Loki didn’t follow him.

Absolutely. Loki fought the urge to laugh hysterically. Everything was perfectly fine, with Thor off to face one of the very few who had actually managed to bring him to his knees. Bracing himself, Loki nodded and staggered inside, hoping it wasn’t too obvious. He all but collapsed on the seat he had occupied earlier.

They had a few hours of travel before them, but Loki couldn’t bring himself to use the opportunity and rest. Instead, he just made himself as comfortable as possible and tried to reach back and reply to the universal distress call they had picked before reaching Nidavellir. To no avail. Perhaps they were too far away, perhaps the Grandmaster’s pods weren’t designed to pick his message. Either way, Loki was essentially useless, which left him with nothing to do but think.

Next to him, Rocket failed to contact the rest of his team. He was trying to play it down, claiming that Quill didn’t answer for thousand reasons, but Loki could see worry mirroring his own. Rocket gave up after another few tries and for some time the beeping of Groot’s game was the only sound in the pod.

Loki couldn’t stand it. “A ship,” he whispered. “We need one. You know... anyone... who could... help?” Stealing was always a backup option, but in order to do so, they needed at least someone to steal from.

“I am Groot,” suggested the boy behind them, proving that he was paying more attention than he let on.

“Who?”

“The Ravagers,” Rocket explained, his fingers already running through the panels before him. “Again, it’s more Quill’s area than mine, but since that bastard is not answering, we’ll have do.”

Loki didn’t know who the Ravagers were, his knowledge about the worlds outside the Nine – the Eight now – not being as up-to-date as he could have wished. While he had travelled more than most of the Asgardians, it was usually via Bifrost or the hidden paths between the Realms. Right now, since he was in space in a company of someone who space-travelled on regular basis, Loki didn’t mind letting Rocket try his luck with them; that would keep at least one of them occupied.

“I... I am Groot?” The tree called them suddenly, his voice confused.

“What is it?” Rocket sprang from his seat.

Loki tried to look behind, but a sudden spasm of pain made him double over. With one hand cradling his neck, he used the other to push the seat and turn it around, as Rocket’s calls were more and more frantic. Fighting down the rising nausea, he opened his eyes just in time to see Groot disappear. Just like that, the boy was gone, the brace around Loki’s wrist the only proof he had ever existed. No reason, no warning, nothing. Just gone.

For a moment they both stared at the empty seat, Rocket clutching Groot’s gamepad and Loki trying to comprehend what had just happened. Then the realisation hit him like a well-aimed blow in the gut.

“Thanos,” he rasped and squeezed his eyes shut.

“...What?!”

“He... won.” Blood drained from Loki’s face, leaving him ashen grey. He leaned back in his seat, his head suddenly spinning. If Thanos truly won...

“Then your brother did shitty job killing that bastard!" Rocket exploded, the gamepad sent flying.

"As did your friends- in keeping the- Reality Stone away- from him!" Loki snapped back, his ire rising. How dared he?

“Screw it, what good were any of you in the end?” Rocket stormed back to the radio. “Quill, dammit, answer!”

Loki said nothing. There was no way he could try to contact his brother, so he listened as Rocket called his friends one by one, changing the channels and trying in vain to get any kind of response. There was none and finally his companion seemed to realise that. He let the panel be and clenched his paws on the armrests.

The beeping behind them intensified, the game probably over and demanding user's action. Rocket lost it.

"Turn off this blasted thing!"

I can't, Loki wished to say. Instead, he pushed himself up. Whatever was going to happen next, for now he and Rocket were stuck together in this pod and considering Loki's current state and also the raccoon's eagerness to reach for his blasters, it was best to keep the things civil between them. Somehow Loki doubted Rocket would appreciate him accidentally smashing the gamepad with miscalculated telekinesis and with the way his hands were shaking, he knew he was inches away from losing control. This had not happened since his mother died, but it was a close call now.

He made it half way before his knees simply gave out. Reaching forwards to ease his fall, Loki realised a second too late it was a poor idea to let his broken wrist suffer the impact. Choking on a cry he couldn’t bite back, he curled in on himself.

“H-hey! Loki?” Rocket rushed back to him. “You’re not going to disappear too, are you?”

“Hope... not.” Loki didn’t move, the floor delightfully cold against his pounding head. It was tempting to just stay like that. If Thanos won, if Thor was gone, then it didn’t really matter. Maybe vanishing would not be too bad. Still, Loki looked up.

“Time to be the captain.” Rocket muttered to himself and his expression softened. His arms slumped slightly as he turned off the game and placed it carefully on Groot’s seat. “Hey, listen... Gamora said... She said Thanos wanted to wipe out half of the universe.” His voice was devoid of any emotion, but looking in his eyes, Loki wondered if his own reflected the same despair he could see. “So there is still a chance some of your people are there somewhere, right?”

There was indeed. Loki realised this hadn’t crossed his mind, his thoughts spiralling too much.

“Yes,” he whispered and pushed himself up, but a furry paw stopped him.

“Then we are going to find them.” Rocket declared with more confidence than Loki felt. “You gonna be ok here for now? There’s not much space for you to lie down elsewhere.”

Loki found out he didn’t really mind.

***

He must have fallen asleep at some point, for the next thing he acknowledged was Rocket calling his name. Still a little drowsy, Loki stood up and noticed he was no longer dizzy, though the muscles around his neck were still stiff and sore. Gone was the paralysing feeling that the next breath would not make it to his lungs, which was a huge relief.

Their ship was approaching a planet Loki did not recognise. The surface varied from yellow, through shades of beige to deep brown, suggesting the vast majority was covered with some kind of deserts. The first impression wasn’t exactly welcoming.

“Got some good news for you,” Rocket offered as Loki joined him. “I can pick a signal that matches your pods. There is at least someone left there from your people.”

“So they landed... Any signs of life nearby?” Loki leaned over to look at the screen and got his answer there. It seemed there was nothing around cluster of life that matched Asgardians signature. This meant both less danger of potentially hostile forces and fewer opportunities to find help.

“No. It’s not inhabitable, but I guess most cities are on the other side of the planet. But there’s more.” Rocket was visibly pleased with himself. “I have the Ravagers coming, I called in a favour. Quill’s going to be thrilled, but he’s always the one bullshitting about us being the good guys.”

“Thank you.” Loki was genuinely grateful. Whatever the Ravagers owed the Guardians, he hoped it was enough to ensure a safe travel to Midgard. After a moment of hesitation, he risked a question. “Any luck with your friends?”

Rocket’s face fell as he shook his head. Seeing that, Loki dared not ask if he even tried to contact Midgard. Instead, he used the remaining time to force a food ration down his throat. It was dry and tasteless, but provided him with suitable nourishment.

The pods were easy to spot once Loki and Rocket neared the surface of the planet. They stood out among the rocks in the plain ground. Soon it was possible to distinguish people moving within the circle formed by the ships, with very few stepping outside. The inner area was too crowded for Rocket to land safely, so he seated his ship a little to the side.

Rocket seemed eager to keep busy and as soon as the engines stopped, he jumped from his seat. Loki intended to follow, but a glimpse of his reflection in one of the polished sides of the panelling stopped him short. He knew he wasn’t at his best, but he certainly did not expect what he saw. Bloodshot eyes stared back at him, with dark circles cutting deep, but the worst were the black, ugly bruises around his still swollen throat. It did look as bad as it felt. Loki had no intention to show this vulnerability to everybody. With a bit of effort, more than he was comfortable with, he cast an illusion over himself. He didn’t bother with his clothing, leaving it battered as it was, but his eyes lost the haunted look and the skin on his neck was as pale as his face.

When he looked at his reflection again, he saw his normal, a bit weary self. He couldn’t do much with the brace or with the way his voice sounded, but it was nonetheless far better than the reality.

Rocket didn’t take it well.

“What the hell was that?!”

Loki couldn’t help a satisfied smirk. “Last minute metamorphosis.”

“So you’re like... fine, now?”

“I wish it was so,” Loki shook his head and regretted it instantly. “Let’s go.”

The moment they opened the doors, a familiar-looking sword was pressed against Loki’s chest. An equally familiar Valkyrie stood on the other end of the blade, her posture suggesting she was ready to attack within a split of second.

“I’m glad to see you’re taking your job seriously.” Loki welcomed her and pointedly pushed the blade aside.

“What are you doing here?” Brunnhilde lowered her sword somewhat reluctantly.

“Oh, the usual,” Loki shrugged nonchalantly. “Cleaning Thor’s mess, namely picking you up for him.”

“Where is he? And who’s this?” The Valkyrie asked as Loki went past her. “Hey! Where’s Thor?”

“Nice sword, any chance it’s for sale?” Rocket eyed the weapon, clearly not in the least intimidated by the Valkyrie. He also let the matter drop when Brunnhilde didn’t react to his question. “I’m Rocket. We picked the two of them.”

“Thor’s gone after Thanos,” Loki offered and hoped his feelings about this matter were not too obvious. “Did you manage to get everybody here?” He headed towards the ships, doing his best trying to fight down the urge to count the people he could see.

“Yeah, we landed all the pods here,” Brunnhilde nodded and followed. “But then... I don’t know what happened. People just...”

“Disappeared,” Loki finished for her. “How many?”

“Roughly? About a half, I think. I didn’t do the head count, and we hadn’t done that earlier, so...” taking a deep breath, the Valkyrie shook her head. “Everybody’s pretty confused.”

“Shit.” Rocket cursed behind them.

There was a growing mutter around as they stepped into the circle made by the pods, the people noticing their presence. The spaces between the ships were guarded by the few who had any kind of weapon, but it took Loki one glance to know that should anyone attack them, the defence would not hold long. He could see despair and weariness on all the faces around him. Some he remembered from the Statesman, some he probably knew from the court. It didn’t matter now. Courtiers or common folk, they were all the same now.

"Prince Loki! Oh, thank the Norns!"

Taking a deeper breath, Loki plastered a pleasant smile and turned around. He recognised the woman who called after him. She was one of the first who had stepped out from the crowd of refugees on the Statesman to bring forth their most pressing needs to Thor.

"Yes?"

"My prince, we feared... Where is the king?"

"The king has gone to Midgard to ensure we would be welcome." The words rolled easily from Loki's tongue, his voice barely louder than a whisper, but calm and convincing nonetheless. Seeing how the woman brightened with hope at hearing about Thor, he felt compelled to add. "We parted ways before people started vanishing, but in his absence I will ensure you all get there safely. The transportation is being arranged as we speak, so spread the word among the people to be ready when the ship arrives. You have nothing to worry about for now."

When the woman was gone, Loki realised too late he hadn't asked her name. He would have to inquire about her later, she was going to be useful. Looking to the side, he noticed Brunnhilde still watching him, one eyebrow raised.

"Thor really sent you?" she repeated.

"Believe it or not, he did." Loki walked past her, his pace quick. Having the Valkyrie behind him posed a threat of being stabbed, but he doubted she would do that in front of the remaining Asgardians, who at least currently seemed to look up to him in search of comfort.

Brunnhilde caught up with him. "What, and I am to take orders from you?"

"You're welcome to obey," Loki rolled his eyes. Stopping abruptly, he turned and grasped her forearm. "Listen. Do you have a better idea what to tell them? Thought not," he sneered when she didn't answer immediately. "So either you help me get them back to Thor, if he's-," stopping himself before the rest of the sentence left his mouth, Loki swallowed. By the startled jerk the Valkyrie made, he gathered his illusion must have faltered for a moment. "...or you are free to get the hell away from here. I don't care which." He did, not that he was going to admit it aloud. With their numbers so drastically dwindled, he could use any skilled warrior he could. And besides Thor would be upset, had he arrived without his newest friend.

“Alright,” Brunnhilde shrugged and looked around. “So what do we do?”

Chapter Text

Chapter V

By the time the Ravagers came, Loki knew enough about their current place to hate it and count every minute they were forced to spend on this Norns-forsaken planet. It was too hot, the area had little to offer and their supply of water was running short. Most of the people seemed to share his opinion, so once the ship landed, it was a matter of merely an hour before they could take off.

The work never ended. Loki left navigating to Rocket and the few Ravagers travelling with them to retrieve the ship once the refugees were settled on Midgard. He and Brunnhilde tried dealing with problems as they arose, and those seemed to come one after another. The people were scared and confused. There were mothers mourning their children and husbands, grieving individuals who lost entire families. And before even the first day ended, Loki was made aware of yet another issue.

Barely had he sat in what he picked as their operating room, when the familiar sensation of being watched made his skin crawl. A knife appeared in his hand as he turned around to scan the space for possible threats.

It didn’t take long to spot the intruder. There she was, at the back of the room, sitting on the floor between the shelves, with her knees dragged up to her chest. An Asgardian girl, looking lost and miserable like pretty much everybody on this damn ship. The clothes she wore were dirty, but suggested she was from the main city rather than one of the villages. The blue jacket she had over her dress was a few sizes too big, suggesting someone had given it to her against the cold.

“What are you doing here?” Loki frowned; the presence of a child was not something he expected. Realising he was still armed, he vanished his dagger before he could alarm the girl.

“It’s so loud everywhere,” she muttered, then her eyes went wide as she realised who she spoke to. “I-...” she stammered.

“This is precisely why I want to work here,” Loki pretended he didn’t notice and sat by the table in the way that allowed him to see the girl. He needed her gone. “Where’s your...” Loki stopped as he saw in her eyes the utter horror at the prospect of having to answer his unfinished question. “Is there anyone here you know? What’s your name?”

“Inga.”

That was the only answer Loki got, the others plain in the girl’s empty stare. Pushing her a little bit more would most likely end in tears and that was not something he wished to deal with among all the more pressing issues. With that in mind, he projected a white rabbit that hopped towards the girl and sniffed her shoe. Simple as it was, it cost him little and yet drew Inga’s attention. She reached to touch one of the ears and the rabbit disappeared, only to appear to her left.

“Oh!” She offered him a shy smile and reached for the rabbit again, but Loki made it jump away from her grasp.

“Hey, Loki, we have-“ Brunnhilde stormed into the room and stopped when she saw the scene before her. “Show off.” She snorted. “Don’t you have places to be?” she looked pointedly at the girl.

“Nobody needs me,” Inga shrugged. She didn’t try to touch the rabbit again, just watched it as it explored the room.

With a barest flick of his good wrist, Loki dispelled the illusion and turned to the girl, his expression serious. “Now that’s where you are wrong.”

He sent Inga to find Thyra, the woman who spoke with him earlier, with the task to gather all unattended children. Soon a group of over thirty orphans was formed and the women organised caretakers among themselves, who ensured the children were fed and preferably not left to their own devices, as the ship was hardly a safe place for them.

One problem solved inevitably led to another that required immediate action. At some point Loki poured most of his available magic into his wrist and prompted knitting the bones back together, deciding that he needed both hands for most of the tasks, and should the need to fight arise, he fought better with two knives than with just one. The down side of speeding the healing of his wrist was that he couldn't do the same with his throat. At least not if he wanted to have any strength left for emergency and those seemed to appear endlessly, so Loki had to settle with being able to breathe. He kept the worst bruises always hidden under a simple illusion and hoped whispering orders would be enough.

It seemed they were short of everything. They did have food, a courtesy to whatever deal Rocket made with the Ravagers, but the food needed to be distributed. The water had to be rationed as the ship was not meant to take so many passengers. There were wounded among the refugees who required attention, but out of five healers who had made it from Asgard, three vanished, leaving the remaining two drastically short-handed.

One did not spend centuries alongside Thor and his friends in various adventures and battles without picking at least some basic healing abilities, especially being the only skilled magic wielder in this company. Loki was far from being a trained healer, but he did know more than most folk and he had magic at his disposal, weakened as it currently was. So more often than not, when he wasn't trying to solve whatever seemed to be the problem at the moment, Loki would find himself at least trying to ensure no one else was going to die. That was, of course, until he was called back again.

Loki thrived on chaos only when he was the one causing it, not the one trying to wield it. Being on the receiving end was rather exhausting. Still, working himself to stupor was better than sitting down for a moment, closing his eyes and allowing himself to think. He dared not wonder what happened on Midgard, except that it somehow ended with Thanos possessing all the Stones. The possibilities were too...

No. He would not dwell on that. Loki had been appointed with the task of securing what was left of Asgard and for once he intended to keep to that. He had been doing well so far, pushing the treacherous thoughts and sleep aside.

***

It took them three days to reach Midgard. The last jump point they used was far enough to give them a few hours before they reached the atmosphere. The sight of the planet that was going to be their home made people excited. Most of the Asgardians had not concerned themselves with the other Realms, let alone technologically primitive Earth, so they didn't really know what to expect. Loki kept more up-to-date, if only to know what Thor dealt with during his time away from Asgard, but he too was unsure of the welcome they were going to receive. He used the first opportunity to withdraw to their operating centre, which gave him some solitude. But even there, he didn’t have the luxury of being alone for long.

"Thought I'd find you here." The Valkyrie stepped in.

"Is something amiss?" Loki looked up from the latest accounts of the survivors. Thyra had taken her job seriously and provided him with a complete list of their people, including their age and profession. Loki had been going through it for quite some time now, trying to plan how to best use this set of information. It was a good shot to use the help of a natural leader from the common folk instead of dealing with the remains of the court. Thyra was a practical woman and she did not question his orders, like the courtiers would likely do, once the initial shock of him being in charge had worn off.

"Except everything?" Brunnhilde rolled her eyes and dropped on the chair, an open bottle in her hand. Loki raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask where she had found a drink, since it obviously wasn't from the shared resources.

"You tell me." He crossed his arms.

"Actually, there is one thing." Taking the last, long swing from the bottle, the Valkyrie tossed it aside. "What are you planning to do if Thor is not there waiting for us?"

"We are not having this conversation,” Loki hissed and muffled a curse when he realised he lost track of the report he had been reading.

“I’m serious.”

Loki crossed his arms on his chest and leaned back in his chair. “What, one more sentence and I might get an impression you actually care.”

Brunnhilde snorted. “Don’t let it get to your head. But believe me, I've had my share of running away. I get it. And if Thor dragged me from Sakaar to leave me to deal with you and all this crap, I'm going to put that disc back on his neck and leave him electrocuted for good." Either Brunnhilde was obviously even thicker than Thor when it came to grasping an allusion, or she ignored it purposely. "Still, we are in this shit together. So what are we going to do if Thor's gone?"

"Like I said, you are free to leave," Loki snapped at her. "But since you are still here, you can make yourself useful now and try to contact Midgardians. I shouldn't be the one who makes first touch." Especially if Thor wasn't there, but he would not say so aloud.

Inga spared him trying to get rid of the Valkyrie. She came in running and halted abruptly, then apparently remembered her manners and curtsied. “My Prince,” she started a little out of breath. “Rocket sent me... Midgard is trying to reach us!” She blurted out, excited.

Loki raised his hand and snapped his fingers, stopping the upcoming babbling. “Thank you, Inga. Go ahead, tell them we’re coming.” He smoothened his features and offered her a minute smile.

The girl grinned in response, then curtsied again hastily and scattered. Loki grabbed the lists and vanished them in his pocket before following, ignoring Brunnhilde’s amused smile. After he saw Inga straying around their quarters again, he decided to charge her with some simple tasks. She seemed desperate for any kind of attention and she was old enough to carry messages.

What they came to in the cockpit was a discussion far more heated than Loki would have wished, the irritation on both sides too great to be missed.

“What are you doing?” Loki hissed to Rocket after he heard him repeat again his reassurance of having no ill will. The tone Rocket used was anything but friendly and harmless.

“Oh, give me that,” Brunnhilde rolled her eyes and came to the speaker. “We are not a hostile force and we have no intention to attack anyone, as I am sure you were told already,” she looked pointedly at Rocket, who simply shrugged. “We are the remaining people of Asgard and we are here to ask for refuge, as our world was destroyed. Our previous ship was attacked and blown by Thanos. We are here looking for our king Thor Odinson.”

There was silence on the other side, the Midgardians probably mulling over the new piece of information and Loki motioned Brunnhilde to continue. They didn’t get a chance to discuss in details what she was supposed to say, but she fell easily into the role Loki wanted her to play. It seemed that despite her oblivion time on Sakaar, the Valkyrie had spent long enough on Odin’s court to be able to fall back into the formal bearing when the need arose.

“We are running short of food and water and we have children among us. We also have wounded who require medical attention. We ask for permission to land.”

She was met with more silence that stretched far more than anyone was comfortable with. Loki caught himself massaging his freshly healed wrist and the temporary stiffness of the joint had nothing to do with it. He had to physically stop himself from tugging at his collar, knowing that this gesture would likely attract unwanted attention.

“This is Natasha Romanoff speaking,” came the reply finally. “You have clearance to land exactly where I lead you. Do not go astray. We have our security forces aim missiles at you. Do not give us a pretext to fire them. People are a bit jumpy here.”

“Understood,” Brunnhilde replied and turned off the microphone. “You know her?”

Loki nodded. “Good spy and a skilled warrior,” he answered. His memories from his unsuccessful conquer were somewhat muddled, but he had respect for Natasha Romanoff. He knew she wasn’t above playing dirty and she was a good strategist. In another circumstances, he could probably enjoy working with her.

“That went well.”

“Oh no,” Loki laughed mirthlessly. “The best part is ahead of us.”

***

As their ship lowered to the level of about eight kilometres, a single jet approached them. It looked ridiculously small in comparison to their vessel, but agent Romanoff paid no mind to that. She kept in touch with Rocket the whole time and led them over the ocean and vast areas of land to a base that seemed located far from any civilisation. The main building was long and surrounded by plain terrains from three sides. Another complex of smaller buildings faced a wide river. Loki suspected part of the facility was hidden underground, as he could see several gates leading into a natural hill.

They landed on the grass west to the main building. The people were eager to leave the moment the engines stopped, but Loki held them back. It was safer to keep the Asgardians together on board until he knew his ground.

The doors opened and Loki looked around. Captain America stood the closest, flanked by Bruce Banner, who kept glancing awkwardly. Agent Romanoff joined them from her jet. There were also a few other people Loki did not recognise, but overall it was a far smaller welcome party than he expected. They had been threatened with missiles, and yet no army awaited them.

And Thor wasn't there either.

Straightening, Loki motioned to Rocket and others to stay behind, and stepped outside. While he was probably the least welcome person from their company, at least he didn’t look alien to the Midgardians, which couldn’t be said about the mixed company of the Ravagers or the Sakaarian gladiators. They all agreed he and Brunnhilde would come to talk first.

"Loki of Asgard, lay down your weapons." Captain Rogers said in a clear voice before Loki touched the ground.

At least they were not surprised to see him, meaning they did get some kind of forewarning. This left only about a thousand other problems to solve.

"Oh. I come unarmed," Loki raised his hands to show his empty palms and walked down the stairs. He said nothing about Brunnhilde at his side, who didn't even bother trying to conceal her sword.

Steve Rogers seemed not amused. "You cannot really expect us to simply trust you."

Loki smiled. It was a pleasant smile, if one didn't count the rapturous glimmer in his eyes. "Believe me, Captain, the feeling is mutual," he said conversationally. “Hello, doctor Banner.”

“Yeah, hi.”

"Bruce?" the captain turned towards his companion. “What do you think?”

The doctor seemed uncomfortable with all the attention suddenly shifting towards him. "Him I'm not sure about, but her I trust," he pointed at the Valkyrie.

Brunnhilde grinned.

"I am acting on behalf of the King of Asgard, who I believe considered you his friends." Loki challenged them, his gaze stopping at each of them. He really had little patience left. "Thor trusted me to bring our people here in good faith that his friends would not deny him aid in his hour of need. Am I to understand he was mistaken?"

"He was correct, though I doubt any kind of invitation from our part would include you coming here." Agent Romanoff lowered her gun, but her pose did not lure Loki into a sense of safety. He knew she could react quickly, should he make one wrong move, and he had little desire to deal with any more wounds.

"Like I said, mutual, agent Romanoff. But sadly we are short of options.”

 “Bruce?” Natasha too turned again to her friend for confirmation.

"Thor was planning to come here with all his people,” Banner nodded. “Well, also to drop me back home, but yes, he talked about seeking refuge here. That is, until...”

“Until Thanos attacked our ship and slaughtered all who did not manage to escape with the Valkyrie,” Loki finished for him. “Doctor Banner here was sent to warn you and our Gatekeeper paid with his life for that.” While Loki didn’t exactly like Heimdall, he recognised his value to Asgard. “Thor and I agreed to split, and while he followed to aid you, I went after our people.”

"And what, you just came here obediently?" asked a dark-skinned man, whom Loki did not know.

"Of course." Loki's voice dripped with sarcasm. "It was a direct order from my king." Bracing himself for whatever answer he was going to get, he asked. "Where is he?" He didn’t exactly manage to hide his despair.

Was that a nervous exchange he witnessed? He certainly saw Steve Rogers looking to the side, then locking his gaze with agent Romanoff. Whatever silent exchange passed between them, Loki could not know. Finally coming to a decision, the Captain nodded slightly and made a vague gesture towards the compound behind them.

"Thor's inside. Come with me."

A thousand thoughts raced through Loki's mind as he pondered at the offer. If Thor wasn't among the vanished, why didn't he come to greet them? Was he wounded? Incapacitated? Dying? The Captain chose his words carefully, Loki realised with dread he refused to acknowledge. He might as well be led to a rotting body of his brother.

Or was it all just a trick to lure him out where he would not have the advantage of a spaceship full of aliens watching his back?

Chapter Text

Chapter VI

The moment stretched too long. Loki needed to act if he didn’t want the Avengers to know his suspicions, so he pushed his worries aside and nodded. The Valkyrie must have shared his doubts, for she followed the moment Loki moved.

"You're staying here, ma’am." Rogers said.

Brunnhilde just rolled her eyes at him. "Like hell I am." She moved closer to Loki, their arms almost touching now. While he was trying to maintain an open and non-aggressive pose, she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword and stared down at the Midgardians.

"So you're like what, friends, now?" Bruce asked in astonishment.

"Hardly," Brunnhilde laughed. "He still the Prince Regent, though. And he's been doing pretty decent job so far."

Loki plastered a pleased smile on his lips, hoping the glamour would hold as he struggled to keep his breathing even. He was glad the Valkyrie played along. He doubted her feelings towards him changed much, but they had been working together to keep everything going and they were quite efficient, given the circumstances. She was aware of his past with the mortals and understood that should Thor not be around, they were likely to try and imprison him at best. At worst...

Right now this too could be a trap, though somehow Loki doubted the righteous captain would steep so low.

“Please wait here with the people,” he said, hoping she would catch his gaze and understand that arguing with him in front of the Midgardians was a poor idea.

“Very well, your highness.” Brunnhilde’s hand dropped from her sword. It was the first time Loki heard her address him so. She crossed her arms on her chest and glared at Steve Rogers. “If he’s not back in a quarter, I’m going after him,” she stated, every inch of her body suggesting that none of the Avengers would want to face this possibility.

The captain’s pose didn’t change. His blue eyes met Loki’s. “No harm will come to you unless you pose danger to us.”

“I bear no ill will, but you won’t trust my word.” Loki forced another unpleasant smile. “Lead the way, Captain.” He strode past doctor Banner and agent Romanoff, his chin raised higher than he felt comfortable with.

The captain too showed nothing but cold indifference as he led Loki inside the compound. He made no attempts to continue their conversation and Loki couldn’t find it within himself to inquire further. They walked past two corridors leading to what looked like empty laboratories and climbed up to a spacious patio. Rogers made no attempts to hide anything from his companion and the first thing Loki realised was that the whole base seemed almost abandoned. Hundreds if not thousands of people could station and work here, and yet they met hardly anybody on their way to what turned out to be living quarters. Perhaps the other complex was more crowded.

They passed another open area with walls made mostly of glass and the captain stopped. Loki paid attention mostly to the way they went and the possible escape routes, the details of Midgardians’ style unimportant.

“In here,” Rogers pointed at one of the doors, then knocked and pushed them open, though no answer came from the inside. He moved aside with no inclination of coming in.

Heart sinking , Loki stepped towards the room. It that was a trap, he had to admit the Avengers had come at great lengths in their preparations. He risked a glance at his companion and wondered just what Steve Rogers saw in the glamour covering him, because Loki could swear his expression softened a bit.

Thor was there. Yes, Loki heard the Captain when he said his brother was in the building, but he dared not believe it wasn’t some kind of trick to lure him away from the rest of Asgardians. The Avenger did not lie, Thor was sitting there on the bed, breathing, unharmed at first glance, but he seemed... Dead. His expression was utterly blank and that alone was a stark difference to what Loki was used to. That empty stare was almost frightening.

Loki approached him slowly, his seidr reaching for his brother already, searching for any signs of bewitchment or any other form of control. There had to be a reason why Thor had not come to greet them, why the Avengers said no word about him. Why he seemed to be ignoring him, though Loki came as he had promised.

“Brother,” he spoke, unable to bear the silence any longer.

Thor looked up and for what seemed like eternity simply stared.

"You look better," he finally said in a casual manner, as if they never parted. As if the world had not fallen apart since they had last seen each other.

"I really don't," Loki laughed, because that was all he could do, his voice suddenly breaking. He dropped the glamour of his perfectly groomed personage and stood, exhausted, feeling dangerously exposed without the illusion of being strong and healthy, as if he was stripped from his armour and devoid of his daggers. Right in this very moment, he couldn’t care less.

That seemed to finally get a reaction from Thor. He stood up and the next moment Loki found himself in a crushing hug, his brother clinging desperately to him. And for the first time in what seemed forever, Loki clung back. He was just tired, so tired, he told himself as he leaned and rested his cheek against Thor’s shoulder.

"You're alive," Thor breathed somewhere around Loki's ear. "Oh. Gods, you're not..."

"Thor," Loki muttered under his breath. "If we don't go back there soon, the Valkyrie will hopefully come after me. As much as I would love to see her against your friends, we need to let the people off the ship." He didn't really want to pry his brother's hands open and the tight grasp was becoming uncomfortable. Instead, Loki cast the illusion back at himself and the flicker of green startled Thor enough to make him take a step back.

"I hate it when you do that," he said gruffly, but didn't comment further.

"It was either that or a knife to your ribs," Loki offered and forced a smile. A part of him was aware he was pushing his brother away again, but his prickly demeanour was something Thor was familiar with and that too seemed to tame that sudden outburst.

"You brought them?" The desperate hope in his brother's voice was again something Loki didn't want to deal with. He was used to joking and trading insults with Thor, more often than not balancing on edge between those two. Whenever Loki worried, Thor would carelessly brush his concerns away and as much as it infuriated him, it also brought a sense of safety. Now it seemed they no longer had such luxury.

"Didn't they tell you?" Loki rolled his eyes. "Yes, your people are waiting for you outside."

There was a moment of hesitation before Thor nodded. "How many?" he risked a question.

"One thousand, two hundred and thirty-eight." This at least was easy to answer. "Thirty-nine, including you. Now if you don't mind, I'm quite done doing your job for you."

***

It was like waking from the worst nightmare in his whole life. Or perhaps not quite waking, as the dread seemed to still be there, lurking and ready to spring, should he dare turn his gaze away or close his eye. Still, Thor felt like being closer to the surface of the waking world than he had been in the past days, and for that reason alone, he would not look away. The thought of slipping back into the dark dream was probably irrational and had he voiced it, Loki most probably would just have laughed. Or maybe for once he wouldn’t have, decided Thor as his brother looked unusually serious.

As they left the room and Steve led them back to the entrance, Loki strode by his side, left at Thor's insistence. The way he spoke brought forth the memories of Odin's councils Thor always despised attending, with too many courtiers and councillors bringing forth too many issues, boring him to death. Unlike him, Loki had thrived in delicate manoeuvring between the members of the council, pulling the strings often simply for pure amusement. Right now it seemed his brother fell back into the role he had never really played, but seemed to be made for. He showered his brother with so many details from the past few days, his voice calm if a bit raspy, that Thor was able to memorise maybe a half. Captain Rogers simply listened as they walked, but Loki behaved as if he wasn’t even there.

"-are you even listening to me?"

Loki stopped and turned so abruptly that Thor caught himself at last possible moment before knocking his brother off his feet. They were almost by the entrance to the building now, and it seemed his brother wanted him to know everything before they reached the rest.

"Of course."

Loki raised an eyebrow at him, but instead of pointing all the nuances Thor had obviously missed, he let the matter be. He schooled his expression again, but before he could continue, the captain stopped in the doors and turned to face them.

 “Let’s make things clear here.”

Thor sent Loki a panicked look. “Are you trying to tell me we cannot stay here?” He blurted and stepped in front of his brother protectively before he even realised what he was doing.

“No, no!” Steve raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Of course we will help you, Thor. But you can’t simply expect us to accept him, no questions asked,” he pointed at Loki. “I should arrest him at least.”

“Oh, I would love to see you try.”

“You’ve heard Loki, haven’t you?” Thor chose to ignore his brother’s comment. “Twelve hundred people, that’s all that is left of us. Will for now my word be enough that Loki will cause no trouble to you or your planet?” That was a lot to promise, but after all they had been through, Thor supposed he could have some faith in his brother.

“Shall we?” Loki still stood half a step behind Thor, his arms crossed on his chest as if he was waiting for them to finish. “I’m not cleaning any mess the Valkyrie is going to make.”

“Yeah, right.” Pissing off Brunnhilde was not on the list of things they needed to do now, so Thor simply nodded.

"Thor." The captain grabbed him by the forearm. " I mean it. Keep an eye on him. I see we have more pressing needs to attend to, but I can't simply trust him."

"Sure." Thor shrugged in reply. "We owe you an explanation, but our people come first."

Steve let out a sigh. "Just don't let him out of sight, ok?"

Chapter Text

Chapter VII

After having witnessed whole alien armies overtake Wakanda, after Thanos doing the unspeakable, one non-hostile spaceship parked literally at their doorstep made little impression. Or so Natasha told Thor when he remarked how easily she and the other Avengers fell into the chaos of organising food and shelter for over a thousand Asgardians, who were now ascending the ship in a more or less organised manner.

“At least here we can actually do something,” she said and the smile she offered was as broken as Thor felt. Then she was off to pointing the way inside, while captain Rogers left to inspect which rooms and halls could be most easily adapted for temporary shelter.

Having served in the army and being the only one without the major fallout with the authorities, Rhodey took it upon himself to organise provisions. The compound was well stored, but even Stark’s paranoid preparations had not taken into account over a thousand additional people to feed. They would be able to run on those provisions for some time, but soon they were going to need new deliveries. With everything in chaos after people suddenly vanished, this could probably take long.

Since Thor promised to keep an eye on his brother, he found himself helping transport the wounded to the med bay. Seeing Loki and Brunnhilde work together was a novelty Thor was not prepared for. While he had enjoyed the Valkyrie's company, not to mention his not-so-suppressed awe at her presence, his brother had seemed unable to get over whatever had transpired between those two on Sakaar. Yet somehow the pair managed to put their conflict aside for the time being.

If Thor was completely honest with himself, seeing Loki at all, much less thrown in the midst of their remaining people, was more than he had dared hope for mere hours earlier. It was something he would have expected from Heimdall - to have a steadfast friend watching his back, ready to offer his counsel and support. To expect it from Loki... It had once been how he imagined their future would look like, ruling in Asgard in all her glory. That dream had been shattered long ago, and yet...

"As much as I hate to admit it, your brother seems much more at ease with this all than you are." Natasha startled him, having approached too silently for him to notice. Thor put aside storage boxes they wanted to remove and looked across the room at his brother.

Loki did not participate in heavy lifting, but he seemed to be busy all the time, replying to all the questions he could or sending the Asgardians to Bruce or Natasha when he could not provide an answer. At first, when both brothers came to the ship, the people approached Thor, but as soon as it transpired that it was Loki who was more familiar with most of the running issues, they turned to him. Thor was more than happy to let his brother address the problems, as it would most likely be quicker this way. Loki only muttered something about not doing Thor’s job for him forever, then went about his business.

And obviously talking to Brunnhilde did not stop him from listening to Thor’s and Natasha’s conversation.

“Well, agent Romanoff, I’m flattered,” he smiled and went across the room to join them. “But it’s hardly surprising, considering I spent the past four years doing exactly that, ruling. Though I admit, the circumstances were far less dramatic.”

“No, no, wait.” Natasha seemed puzzled and Thor fought an urge to run his hand down his face. “Thor, you left HIM in charge of Asgard? Why did you tell us last time that he was dead?”

 “...Oh.” Now Loki looked almost sheepish as he glanced at his brother. “You didn’t tell them about that, did you.”

“It’s no longer relevant,” Thor shrugged. The issue of impersonating Odin was the matter to settle between the two of them and his Midgardian friends had nothing to do with that.

“I do want to hear the story later,” Natasha looked at him pointedly.

“Rest assured we will satisfy your curiosity,” Thor promised. “For the record, I did not leave him in charge.”

Once all Asgardians either descended the ship or were carried from it, the remaining Sakaarians stood out even more noticeably. The Avengers tried to hide their discomfort and wariness at the sight of a group of armed individuals, but it was plain they were at loss what to do. Thor was running through all the possible outcomes, ready to be an intermediary , when it transpired that there was no issue to begin with. The gladiators were not in the slightest interested in staying on Earth, and the Ravagers were short on crew, so the Sakaarians decided to join them. Korg spent some time with Thor, babbling about his plans for a new quest, then left to help refill water reserves.

Though the Avengers said nothing, it was plain they were relieved that the most alien looking aliens were about to leave Earth, possibly before the authorities managed to pay closer attention to them. Only Rocket decided to remain. He had a pod of his own, one that was much better equipped than the almost useless pods from the Statesman, and since he failed to contact anyone from his team, he said the Earth was as good a place as any to stay for the time being. He asked the Ravagers to stay in touch and keep their eyes and ears open, then joined the Asgardians.

Thor was in the middle of discussing with Bruce the best way to divide the Asgardians into smaller groups, when Natasha joined them after securing a place for the children.

“A family of yours?” she asked casually and motioned behind her.

“None except Loki,” Thor frowned, then realised agent Romanoff was pointing at a blond girl talking to Loki. He had seen her approaching him at least two times before and each time his brother sent her away. She strolled, pretended to be busy and returned when the prince was not talking to anybody. Now she seemed to have caught him again and judging by the mild annoyance visible on his face, she must have been persistent in whatever she wanted from him.

“And the kid?”

“I have no idea who’s this. Not a child of any of my father’s courtiers.” It had not been uncommon to see the children of the court members around the palace, playing or chasing each other along the halls. As long as they had kept away from the private quarters of the royal family, nobody had minded them.

Intrigued what the girl might have wanted from his brother, Thor came closer to listen and found out that indeed they seemed to be in the middle of an argument.

“-and I thought...”

“Not now, Inga.” Loki stopped the complaints. “Go with the other children, get something to eat.” He sent his brother a questioning look over the girl, but Thor just shook his head.

“Is there really nothing to do?” Inga pouted, apparently unaware she was standing between her king and her prince.

“Of course there is,” Loki answered smoothly. “Tell lady Bóthildr to prepare a list of what the guardians need most, especially for the youngest. Help them prepare sleeping arrangements for all of you. And if there is anything that requires the king’s attention, they can send you to find either of us.” He gestured at Thor. The girl followed his hand and her eyes widened.

Thor offered her as warm a smile as he could muster.

“Oh, alright,” Inga nodded, then curtsied awkwardly and ran after the group of children disappearing already in the compound.

“So, you recruited this girl to work for you?” Natasha asked as soon as Inga was out of earshot.

A flash of irritation passed through Loki’s face. “No, agent Romanoff. I offered distraction to an orphaned child,” he snarled, then with one breath composed himself. “Is that not what you mortals do as well? Provide care for your minors and elders?”

“It is.” Natasha confirmed. “I just didn’t expect you to be this sort of a person.”

 “There is much you do not know about me.” Loki did nothing to hide his contempt. “Do not presume otherwise.” He turned and strode away.

***

By the time everyone was located and had a place to sleep, with the food still being distributed in a hastily made up kitchen, night had already fallen. Midgardian medics, those whom captain Rogers managed to call, were taking care of the wounded along with the healers. The orphaned children were put together in one of the larger rooms and were hopefully going to stay there for the night, Inga included. Loki sincerely hoped she was kept busy by the women, as he didn’t really feel the need to trip over there every other hour.

Since Thor already had a place to sleep in the Avengers compound, there was little point in relocating him this evening to join his people. Instead, Thor had asked for another bed to be brought there. Loki wouldn’t mind in the slightest if they went right there right now. His head was pounding from the lack of sleep and excessive use of magic for the past few days, including the glamour and the way he kept amplifying his voice. He didn’t have a chance to stop and eat anything, and besides his throat hurt too much to deal with anything solid.

“Loki? Are you coming or not?”

Loki blinked and realised he was leaning against the wall while Thor was apparently talking to him. He pushed himself away and nodded, then ran his fingers through his hair and winced.

“I need a shower. And food. I assume you do have something edible here?" He also realised Natasha and Bruce must have left at some point and cursed inwardly. He was slipping.

“Which first?” Thor didn’t seem surprised.

“Food.” Loki answered at once. He seriously doubted he would go anywhere once he was refreshed and in a close proximity to a bed.

They left the part occupied by the Asgardians and climbed up the wide staircase leading among others to the Avengers’ quarters. The open living space Loki had passed earlier with the captain was completely empty, with most of the lights turned off.

Loki could see Stark's touch from the first glance in the kitchen. The long board resembled a lab with all the machinery, but it was apparent the users paid little heed to cleaning in the past few days. If it were truly a laboratory, any respectable scientist would have thrown a fit with all the dirty dishes and crumbles.

Thor seemed familiar with the premises. He headed straight to the fridges in the corner.

"Just pick and heat whatever you want," he suggested as he opened one of the fridges and pointed at various boxes stored there.

At this point Loki cared little for what kind of poison this Midgardian food could be. The boxes were white and each bore a branded name that could hide about everything under the lid. Hungry as he already was, he was going to risk something.

"Anything liquid?"

That seemed to trigger Thor. He turned to look at his brother, then apparently remembered the way Loki looked under his neat pretence. He dove into the fridge again and fumbled for a moment to reveal a plastic bowl which too carried a white lid and a name that was completely foreign. Thor placed the bowl in the microwave and only then did he face his brother again.

"Loki..." he said carefully. "You don't have to... Drop that illusion, would you? I'd rather see your face."

"This is my face," Loki pointed out, but at Thor's exasperated sigh the illusion vanished. "There." He threw his arms wide open in demonstration. "Are you happy now?"

"Far from that." Thor rolled his eye. He looked worried.

The microwave stopped heating and announced it with a beep. Loki stepped around his brother and fished out the bowl, ignoring Thor's stare burning holes in his back.

"Did you get any rest at all?"

Thor never shutting up was better than Thor being too silent, Loki decided as he sat on the nearest chair. Or would have been, had his attention not been turned entirely on Loki. The irony of this thought was not lost to him as it crossed his mind.

"Did you?" Loki shot back once he swallowed the first spoon. Whatever that soup was, it wasn't awful.

Thor ignored his remark. "You need anything else?"

"A painkiller would be marvellous," Loki admitted after a moment of hesitation. A bit of honesty wouldn't hurt here.

"Oh, no problem,” Thor simply nodded. “Wait here, I'll find you something."

Loki cherished the moment of peace while it lasted. He finished the soup swiftly and fished another from among the boxes in the fridge, one portion being far too little to sustain his healing body. Perhaps with a few hours of undisturbed rest, he would actually be able to do something about those damn bruises. And if Thor could actually find something strong enough to work on him..

He was half way through the second bowl, his mind already drifting, when he heard footsteps approaching. There was a shatter of glass and Loki jerked his head up to find Bruce Banner frozen in the entrance.

“Holy shit, what happened to you?” The doctor stared and Loki realised too late he hadn’t brought his illusions back up. “What is it? Some kind of trickery?”

“Oh, on the contrary. This is the truth in all its ugliness.” The smile on Loki’s face was far from pleasant. With a glimmer of green, he covered himself again. “Is this more to your liking, Bruce?” Being on first name basis with an alien god seemed to unsettle the Midgardian and right now it could serve as distraction.

“No, well... Shit.” Banner looked at the shattered mug at his feet. “I didn’t mean it like that. You don’t need to... Anyway, shouldn’t you be, you know, in med bay, or something?”

"I'm fine here."

Loki couldn't help but find the situation a little amusing. Perhaps he should not have been falling into illusory safety of being in not-too-hostile terms with the doctor's alter ego, but they had fought side by side and remained civil throughout their brief journey together. The Midgardian was very helpful during the day and maybe, just maybe he could be the least inclined to think Loki would turn on all of them in a blink of an eye. Or so Loki had thought when they worked and Bruce seemed not to mind his presence, but now the doctor reverted to his awkward, jumpy self.

"Whatever you say." Banner didn't seem too convinced. He opened one of the cupboards and revealed several cleaning devices.

"Don't bother," Loki stopped him before he took anything. With one brief movement of his free hand, he vanished all the broken pieces.

"Wow. That's useful."

"My pleasure." With a grin and mock salute, Loki returned to his soup and dropped the glamour again before Thor came back and complained. “Do not be bothered by my presence here.”

Bruce Banner seemed in fact very much bothered, but nonetheless he picked another mug and busied himself preparing a tea, glancing over his shoulder from time to time. Loki paid little attention to him until, much to his surprise, the doctor chose to sit on the opposite side of the table.

Before the silence between them could stretch, Thor barged in with a small box in his hand.

“There. Saldís said to start with three of these,” he said and tossed the box at Loki without a hint of forewarning. “And to come to her if you need something stronger.”

“Oh, please.” Loki rolled his eyes, but plucked the pills and swallowed them without looking.

“Weren’t you supposed to stay together?” Bruce turned to Thor, who sent him a look so confused Loki could almost call it adorable.

“I trust you not to harm my brother when I’m not around,” he claimed and Banner choked on his tea.

“I believe the captain meant it the other way round, brother,” Loki snorted. “Worry not. Do I look like overthrowing your miserable planet before retiring for the night?” He looked pointedly at the doctor and took the last sip of his soup, never breaking the eye contact.

Thor actually smiled at that. “I thought you wanted a shower first?”

Chapter Text

Chapter VIII

Despite the strain of the day, Thor found himself staring at the ceiling again in the dim light of the lamp over the nightstand. Sleep eluded him as it had for the past few nights. He was no stranger to either war or loss, he had lived through countless battles, and yet this one foe kept him awake, the scale of his deeds too great and dreadful to comprehend.

At least his brother was still there.

Loki had washed the grime, accepted a change of clothes he found on the bed and dropped on the coverlet without as much as drying his hair. The only thing he bothered to do was to cast some warding spells on the door and the windows, though Thor tried to convince him it wasn’t necessary. After that, he was out in an instant, leaving his brother alone with his thoughts.

Finally giving up, Thor rose and changed the bed for an armchair, deciding to go through all the notes Loki had tossed on the table. Some were clearly his brother’s, but others were written in an unfamiliar handwriting. Many of the latter bore Loki’s side notes as well, some obvious, but some too cryptic for Thor to figure out on spot. He chose to ignore them for now, as it was going to be much easier to simply ask Loki for clarification in the morning.

Preoccupied as he was with the papers, Thor startled when he heard a gasp behind him.

“Loki?” He pushed the armchair to turn it around, so that he could see the bed that had been added to his quarters. It stuck out the way it had been placed, but Loki had not cared about it in the evening.

At first the only response suggesting that his brother heard him was a grunt, then a long sigh. Feeling Thor’s eyes at him, Loki sat up. He looked dishevelled in a plain blue T‑shirt which was at least one size too big. His face seemed almost expressionless, but his breathing was just too quick and shallow, his eyes too wide. And there was a not-quite-hidden relief.

“Catching up?” Loki asked casually when he spotted all the papers on Thor’s lap. If it was supposed to drive Thor’s attention away, it was a poor attempt, especially for him.

“Doing my best,” Thor nodded and rubbed the patch. “Do you...Erm, do you intend to go back sleep?”

“I’d rather not, at the moment.” Loki shook his head slightly and winced. He pushed himself and leaned against the wall in the corner, tilting his head back. He wrapped one arm around his ribs, while the other lingered halfway to his neck, but it seemed to be an involuntary gesture.

“Then we may as well talk about what we are going to tell the Avengers,” Thor proposed and put the notes aside.

“Talking,” Loki let out a mirthless laugh, glancing through half-opened lids. “That works so well in our family.”

Thor had no idea why his brother was going all defensive when he did nothing to cause such reaction. “Perhaps if we had talked more, we would still have had a home to return to,” he retorted, his tone way sharper than he intended.

Loki winced, as if slapped. “Indeed.”

“We will have to settle it, the sooner the better.” Thor saw an opening and decided to push. “So... what should I know beforehand? What can you tell me?”

Loki’s face suggested it was the very last thing he wanted to discuss. “Thanos sent me here,” he muttered. “Back there, in New York.”

“Yeah, I gathered as much,” Thor replied carefully, unsure where this conversation was going to lead. He knew it was his chance to get answers for some questions he had up to recently thought he would never have a chance to ask. “But... why, Loki? Why would you ally yourself with such a creature?”

“Ally?” Loki spat the word with contempt. “Why indeed? Alliance suggests willingness of all participants. There is no alliance when-“ He stopped short, lips pressed into a thin line as he looked at Thor with defiance.

"Why haven’t you ever said a word?"

"Thor." Something like a broken laugh escaped Loki's lips. "Look me in the eye and tell me you would have willingly admitted to the Allfather you had been controlled by anyone. That someone managed to bend you to their will."

"But we would have done something! Father-"

"Oh please!" Loki cut him off. "Odin wouldn't have done anything differently and you know it." His words were bitter and Thor wondered if that was something he should be pressing on right now. "It must have been great inconvenience for him when it turned out I didn't die there in the Void." Loki's voice went higher, bordering on the edge of hysterical. "That HE didn't-" his breathing hitched. Loki flung his hand up and flinched. He squeezed his eyes shut and it what looked like the last attempt to shield himself.

Thor tensed. As much as he hated to admit it, he no longer knew what his father would have done. Or rather, the idea what Odin might have done was too disturbing. Yet it was even more disgruntling to see Loki’s facade shatter like that. What was it that his brother kept hidden for so long? What else, other than scorn and pride, kept him from sharing his thoughts and pains? Thor would have it no more. Too many secrets laid covered deep, only to raise their ugly heads and strike back when no one expected them. He would not have their issues buried and forgotten.

"Loki." Thor slowly came closer until he could sit at the opposite edge of the bed, close enough but not invading personal space. "Brother. What did Thanos do to you?"

His voice seemed to snap Loki from whatever terrors kept him. He glanced briefly at Thor, but his gaze slipped sideways and locked somewhere on the wall. The silence stretched so long that Thor wondered if he would gain anything, but in the end Loki nodded, as if answering some unvoiced question, and spoke.

Once the first ragged sentence left his mouth, the words seem unable to stop flowing. It wasn’t like the tales Loki was so famous of weaving, more like a report he would have presented at Odin’s council, with every word carefully chosen and with voice devoid of any emotions. At least at the beginning; the longer he spoke, the less control he seemed to have, the quicker and more desperate his words became. Thor listened, caught up in the dread his brother spoke of, but also the dread he clearly left out. He dared not as much as draw a deeper breath, feeling that once Loki stopped, there would be no coming back to retelling the nightmares he had experienced. Instead he did what was his intention from the beginning and listened.

By the time Loki stopped, his voice was hoarse, his hands clenched on the coverlet, his knuckles completely white. His gaze was still fixed at one point, as if he was unable to look away.

Thor found himself frozen in place, now listening to his brother’s shallow breathing. He didn’t want to break the last semblance of control Loki was desperately trying to keep, so he kept back, letting his brother steer this conversation.

Once his breathing evened, Loki broke the silence again. “Now you know,” he stated dismissively, as if it didn’t matter. His slightly trembling frame told a different story. “We will not speak of it again.”

Thor felt as if he knew everything and nothing. For all Loki mocked his imagination, his mind could easily supply him with the details his brother omitted. He wished he never had to. He wished many things which were way beyond his reach.

“We don’t have to. But if you want-“

“I don’t,” Loki cut him off. There was a sharp note in his tone, a warning. “I understand the strategic value of the information. Tell them what they need to know. I will not. Just..."

"I will never let him touch you again." Thor blurted the first thing that came to his mind before he could help it.

Loki laughed and looked at him for the first time. "Don't make promises you cannot keep, brother. You should know better than this."

Thor wished to object, it was his first reaction to protest and vow to protect his brother, with every inch of his being convinced he was right. A few years back, he wouldn't have even stopped to ponder. Yet now he knew how empty this promise was and Loki had every right to call him on that. Mere days passed since he had helplessly watched his brother being choked by that monster. Mere hours since he last dreamed of it.

"I will do my best," he said instead.

"I know." Loki whispered. He swallowed in an attempt to compose himself and added stiffly. "I'm tired, let me sleep." With that he slipped down and dug himself under the covers.

Thor didn't move an inch from the other end, Loki's feet digging into his thigh. He wasn't fooled by the even breathing and the immobile figure of his brother. And indeed it wasn't long before Loki could not stand the silence anymore.

"Thor?" he muttered without bothering to open his eyes.

"Still here."

"Tell me what happened on Midgard."

Thor didn't expect that, though in second thought it was a logical course of action. There was little to tell about the battle itself, chaotic as it was, but he did nonetheless. At some point he realised Loki had fallen asleep for real, exhaustion finally taking over. He was lying still with his back pressed against the wall, leaving plenty of space beside. Without much thinking, Thor nestled himself next to his brother, careful not to wake him.

For the first time in this hellish reality he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Chapter IX

With new morning fresh thoughts came, Frigga used to say. Thor wasn’t sure what made him remember her words, but he rose with much lighter heart, ready to face the challenges of the coming day. He was certain numerous issues were already awaiting him, but perhaps it was just what pushed him – the knowledge he did have something to attend to.

Loki, on the other hand, didn’t move, didn’t as much as change position, still buried in his blanket. He looked peaceful, his breathing finally undisturbed and even, and, Thor was almost sure, genuine. He could recognise healing sleep when he saw one and it was best to leave his brother undisturbed.

There was no one in the shared space of the Avengers’ quarters, so his friends were either still asleep or occupied elsewhere. Thor headed to the patio, but before he left, he realised he wasn’t alone after all. He would be lying if he said he was surprised to see a certain small figure sniffing around.

"Oh... You-your majesty..."

"Hi," Thor looked down and smiled. "Inga, right?"

The girl blushed violently and nodded.

"Weren't you supposed to be with all the other children?" Many things surely escaped Thor the previous day, but he was pretty sure the orphaned children were placed nowhere near the Avengers’ living quarters.

"I... But prince Loki said to deliver the list!" Inga objected. "It's just I cannot find him. Your majesty," she added and looked down.

Thor wished she wasn't so nervous around him. Was his father truly so fearful to his subjects? Or had he somehow become someone to fear?

"That's alright, I will take it." He reached for the sheet of paper she was clutching. "So, where do you sleep now?” he asked as he ushered her towards the patio.

“Oh, it’s this big room down the corridor. We had sooo many chairs and tables to move, but lady Bóthildr allowed us to keep some and we built a fortress to sleep under!”

With the next few sentences, all her nervousness was gone. Thor listened to Inga’s chattering as the girl trotted along and briefed him with the children’s situation, including such details as to which boys quarrelled and how the ladies didn’t allow the smallest children to huddle under long conference tables. She kept throwing names as if she expected Thor to know all the children, so he just nodded and hummed absent-mindedly from time to time, until they reached the area of the compound occupied by the Asgardians and he could send her back without worrying she would wander off somewhere she shouldn’t go.

But, Thor realised quite quickly, it wasn’t just Inga who didn’t know how to act around him. It was surreal, seeing how carefully people approached him, how suddenly a wall seemed to have grown between him and the remaining Asgardians. Hastened bows and muttered greetings as he passed by people who were by no means in the court made him feel even more out of place. Thor had accepted his role as the king and leader of his remaining people. He was going to protect them to his very last breath, but he was not prepared for the sudden distance and reverence he was met with. And the last thing he ever wished for was for the Asgardians to fear him.

In a way, he felt like a stranger among his own people. For centuries Thor lived in spotlight as the favourite prince, as the leader of armies in many battles and quests, sharing the glory in fight and the mead afterwards. That careless, oblivious Thor no longer existed, yet these were the same people, his people.

Asgard treated him like they had treated Odin. The realisation was both sad and terrifying, and the thought itself not as pleasant as he had long thought would be.

The Valkyrie and Bruce saved him from pondering longer on that matter. The first issue they brought up was the food distribution. The way they organised it hastily the previous day, with one central point, proved to be inefficient and people spent too long waiting for their turn. Since it was a matter likely to cause unrest quite quickly, Bruce suggested dividing the Asgardians into smaller groups, with each having a team responsible for distribution. They agreed it was best to let the people organise themselves into natural groups, so Thor left it to Brunnhilde and heeded doctor Banner’s suggestion to talk to the remaining Avengers in the meantime. There was no sign of Loki still, so he guessed his brother was still within their quarters. Perhaps it was indeed best to settle the matter with the Avengers without his presence.

They were, unsurprisingly, in their operating centre. Thor found Natasha in front of a large screen reading something from various files. Captain Rogers was on the phone by the window, though he was mostly listening and seemed relieved the moment the conversation ended. He looked at Thor and frowned.

“Where’s Loki?”

“Healing,” Thor replied shortly. “I’ll go check on him soon.”

“Yeah, Bruce mentioned he looked like shit and could hide it quite well,” Natasha nodded. It was plain she didn’t like the prospect of what else Loki could have been hiding and for what reasons.

“Thanos almost killed him, but he will be fine soon,” Thor brushed it off, remembering how reluctant Loki was to show his weakened state. “But... Well, we talked a bit last night,” he started awkwardly, wondering how to approach the subject. “I know you have no reason to trust Loki, but my reasons to believe in him are just as valid. Had he been the person who attacked New York, he wouldn’t have come back to aid me against Hela, with reinforcements and with means to evacuate our remaining people.” Thor dearly wished he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt he did. “Listen, I know that what happened the first time I came here, in New Mexico, was our private slight having gone too far. It wasn’t only Loki who was at fault back then. But the Chitauri attack on New York, that was Thanos’s doing. Loki fell into his hands after, erm, after the first time we thought him dead. It wasn’t a willing cooperation.”

“This is what Loki told you? And you believe him?” Natasha left whatever she was doing on the screen and with her piercing eyes Thor felt like she was trying to read his soul.

“I do.” Thor did not let a second of hesitation appear in his voice and held her gaze. “The sceptre he used on Barton and Erik Selvig was controlling him too to some extent. Thanos needed a sorcerer like Loki to get to the Tesseract without showing his full strength and attacking Earth himself. He was-,” Thor cringed at the idea, “I think at that time he was gathering his forces to obtain the Stones.”

Natasha shivered, but managed to keep her emotions in check. “It took one touch of the sceptre to affect a normal human,” she pointed out. “It didn’t work like that with Tony. Would it have worked with someone like you?”

“Not easily, no,” Thor admitted. Even thinking of what he was about to say next seemed like betraying his brother’s confidence, though Loki had given him his permission. “It would have worked with Stark, probably, had Loki had more time or knowledge about the nature of the Stone within the sceptre. But Loki was given that sceptre right before reaching Mid- Earth. And before that... Listen, when he fell from the Bifrost, when we thought him dead-,” Thor couldn’t help neither his clenched fists nor the lightning dancing at his knuckles. “He was- Vulnerable. I mean, it was quite easy to use him then. And Thanos- He did...“

“Thor. What are you trying to say?” Steve asked, his brows furrowed.

Natasha, on the other hand, shut her eyes, her expression pinched. When she looked up at Thor, there was a lot of grief and understanding in her eyes. But the impression was brief; the next moment she was just the professional spy again.

“Loki told you he was forced into cooperation, that’s what you’re trying to tell us,” she clarified and Thor nodded, grateful she was the one to voice that thought. “In a violent way.”

"Yes. And we can endure much more than you mortals, so for Thanos to actually force Loki..."

“Let’s see,” Natasha turned back towards the screen and went through a list that told Thor nothing. At least until she opened one of the files and Thor suddenly found himself staring at the room he and Loki occupied. The recording agent Romanoff played started in the evening, so when she saw Loki sleeping, she jumped forwards.

"What is the meaning of this?" Thor frowned. "That was a private conversation and I do not wish you to witness it."

The captain did look uncomfortable, but he said nothing as agent Romanoff scrolled the video further and played it after she saw Loki sitting on the bed.

"How is it that I can understand when you talk to us, but this is completely unrecognisable?" Natasha waved her hand at Loki on the screen, who laughed and commented on Odin. From this perspective he seemed to Thor even more desperate than he recalled from the last night.

They never heard what Thor replied in the recording. The screen exploded without forewarning, the glass falling on the desk in thousands of tiny shards. Natasha had her gun in her hand before Thor turned around.

Loki, clad in a dark green tunic over his black trousers, was standing in the doors, looking absolutely furious. The bruising around his neck turned from black to yellow, but didn’t fade completely. Green light danced around his fingers and though Thor knew it was just a warning, something his brother didn't need if he really wanted to attack, the Avengers took it for what it was - a threat.

"Don't!" Thor stepped between his brother and his friends, his arms raised. "Loki, what the hell?"

"You tell me," Loki growled and glared at Natasha, who lowered her pistol slightly. "I was led to believe that the violation of privacy without one's consent is a serious offence in this world."

"That is reserved for people we can trust. What was that?!" Natasha exclaimed, pointing at the shards.

Thor doubted she had already realised that a normal explosion would have sent the glass flying around. He didn't move, still half a step from shielding his brother from his mortal friends. Knowing what was to follow in the video, he couldn't really blame Loki for stopping it the quickest way he could think of. Still, his hostile behaviour did them no good.

"To answer your question,” Loki offered in a deceivingly calm voice and came closer to his brother. “Were you really so ignorant as to think any of us bothered to learn hundreds of languages you developed? Truly, for one realm you have ridiculous number of different languages and a lifespan not long enough to even learn them," Loki let out a laugh and shook his head, but there was no mirth in his voice. "We use Allspeak. Call it magic if you want, for the mechanics behind it is probably beyond your comprehension. Let's say it bases on the intention of the speaker." Something flashed in his eyes and the smile he offered agent Romanoff was that of a predator. "For instance, if I wished to..."

Thor heard no difference, but Natasha's eyes widened in surprise at Loki's last words.

"I just heard you speak in pure Russian," she muttered in astonishment and shook her head.

"The point is," Thor interrupted the before his brother decided to antagonise them further. "None of us wished for any third party to witness our conversation, so what your devices picked was Asgardian," he explained and turned to Loki only. "Can you please refrain from any unnecessary comments?"

“Of course.” This time Loki’s smile was sickeningly sweet.

Thor had to admit, Natasha and Steve recovered from their initial surprise and no longer looked like they were expecting an attack.

“Got enough of your beauty sleep?” Rogers asked and Loki creased his eyebrows, looking as puzzled as Thor. “Good, we were just settling some things. Should be quicker with you around.”

"You said you ruled Asgard,” Natasha stood up and hid her gun back. “How?"

"By pretending to be our father." Thor answered and felt his own ire rise. That was something he had not yet had a chance to talk about with Loki and the last thing they needed was bringing up the matter now, in the Avengers' presence. "That's why I told you he was dead. I believed it to be true."

Just like he thought, the captain looked hardly amused. "So you played dead to get the power?" he clarified, looking at Loki.

"No, captain. I played dead because it was the safest option for me," Loki crossed his arms on his chest and kept Steve's gaze, carefully avoiding looking at Thor. "I failed here. I failed to retrieve the Tesseract and above that, I lost the Mind Stone. Thanos... He-," Loki stopped and huffed, then shook his head. "You saw what he did. I- Asgard was still the safest place I knew, at least until the Dark Elves shred our defences and landed in the throne room," he spat out with so much hate Thor had last seen when they had fought against Malekith.

Steve and Natasha were looking from one brother to another, clearly not having expected Loki to talk at all, let alone in such detail.

"I get it," Thor muttered more to himself than to the others. "But Loki, why? Why do this to me again?"

Loki did a double take and blinked in disbelief. He finally turned to meet his brother's eye.

"Are you really asking me that? Thor, seriously," he flung his arms in exasperation. "You offered me vengeance in return for my help and promised me imprisonment afterwards," he snapped and for a moment Thor saw raw grief and hatred again. "Did you truly think I would just return to my cell obediently and spend the next four thousand years there, being utterly helpless and defenceless?"

When he put it like that, Thor had to admit it made little sense. In truth, he had expected Loki to break their agreement at some point and tried to ensure he would have been ready. Faking death was simply something he hadn't taken into account, but that had probably been his fault in planning.

"You speak of vengeance," Steve interrupted them. "What vengeance?"

"They killed our mother," Thor offered in means of explanation, because Loki looked like it wouldn't have passed through his mouth. “And I needed Loki’s help to get Jane away from Asgard. Our father...”

“Odin wouldn’t have so much as lift his finger to protect your sweetheart,” Loki finished for him. “He sent a whole legion of Einherjar after you and it’s you we are talking about. What do you think would have awaited me upon our return?”

None of the things Thor wished to say to that was meant to be heard by any but Loki and his brother wouldn’t be himself if he hadn’t used that silence.

"And if you remember, brother, I did offer you the throne. You just didn't bother to take it," Loki pointed out and Thor could swear the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. "Must I remind you, right after you committed treason by going against the direct orders of your king and freeing a convict to help you."

There was some sick satisfaction in the way Loki said it and Thor wondered just how long his brother had been wishing to throw that into his face.

"You guys are seriously messed up," Natasha murmured tiredly, shaking her head.

"Runs in the family," Thor muttered back and rubbed his eye patch, suddenly remembering they were not alone in this room.

"You've no idea," Loki actually smiled at that with a bit of fondness. “But the point is, as Odin I had the whole army at my disposal. Thor would have had, had he accepted. I could rebuild and strengthen our defences, make the Tesseract in the Vault even more protected. Not that it made any difference when Hela came,” he admitted and looked away.

“That’s why you took it from the Vault?” Thor asked, the Avengers almost forgotten again. “To protect it?”

“Can you be sure Surtr would have destroyed an Infinity Stone?” Loki replied with a question of his own. “I wasn’t. And I knew Thanos was looking for it,” he flinched. “What I didn’t know was that he already possessed the Power Stone. Still, taking the Tesseract seemed a better idea than leaving it floating in space.”

“I wish you told me that.”

“So when Thanos attacked, the Tesseract was to be your get away card?”

The comment made Thor feel his hackles rise. He knew the Avengers were likely to expect the worst from his brother, but that was simply unfair. For Loki it seemed too much as well.

"No, agent Romanoff. I bought my brother's life with it," he spat furiously and then something akin to dark amusement flashed in his eyes. "You should appreciate the irony."

"No, not really." Natasha muttered softly, suddenly looking like she hadn't slept in days. Steve Rogers' hand was on her shoulder the next moment. She seemed small and vulnerable next to him.

“What Loki says is true,” Thor’s voice filled the heavy silence. “Thanos would have killed me and Loki did not flee when he had a chance. He traded the Space Stone for my life and yes, we can argue if it was the right choice. But knowing how you too were unable to destroy the Mind Stone in time, I fail to see how you could justify holding that particular thing against my brother,” he said irritably. For all he could claim, all the noble reasons he could come up with to condemn Loki's selfish act that saved his life, he knew he would have done the same. Having watched his brother being choked right in front of him and having been unable to react, Thor knew he would have traded anything to stop that.

Loki made a small strangled noise. Cursing again his inability to see him while facing his Midgardian friends, Thor turned towards his brother and was surprised how vulnerable and exposed he suddenly looked.

“No, you’re right,” Steve Rogers nodded after a moment of consideration. He turned from Thor to Loki and continued. "If I got everything right, you could have escaped with the Tesseract."

"I could. On more than one occasion.”

"But Loki stayed and fought with us to ensure the Valkyrie had time to evacuate as many people as possible," Thor interjected.

"Asgard was my home too, Captain," Loki said softly, sounding surprised at his own words. He shook his head as if to chase something away. When he spoke again, he was looking only at Thor. "For so long I wished to watch it burn, and when in the end I let loose the monster that destroyed it to the very last rock...” he chuckled at his own delusions and ran his fingers through his hair. “Meeting Thanos does change perspective.”

"I'm willing to believe you," the Captain broke the silence that fell after Loki’s words.

"Steve-"

"No, Nat. I am willing to give Loki a chance." Steve glanced at Thor, who gave him his most open smile, then turned to his brother. "It’s a lot. Listen, I don't know how to trust you, not yet at least, but... I’m willing to try. But I need to know you’ll be on our side. Or at least that you’ll have Thor’s back when we need it.”

"Are you trying to recruit me?" Loki's eyebrows went high. Though he was trying to hide his surprise, it was plain he didn’t expect such turn.

"No. I want to know you will stand by our side if someone or something threatens Earth again," the captain clarified. "We are a bit short-handed at the moment."

"Whatever threatens Earth, it is likely to threaten Asgard as well," Loki replied and raised his hand. "The safety of Asgard will always be priority, though. If my assistance to you jeopardises the safety of our people, I will not go. Neither should our king."

"Like you said, any threat is likely to be our concern too, brother," Thor pointed out. "But I agree that one of us should stay with Asgard whenever possible."

“Alright,” Natasha too nodded, though she seemed more reluctant. “We’ll have to figure out how to inform the United Nations about Asgard’s presence here, you included,” she gestured at Loki. “As for now, I’d like you all to remain within the compound.”

“I bet we’ll both be busy,” muttered Thor, remembering the issues he had already heard about this morning. “But we will not cause you additional trouble,” he promised and tried not to chuckle when Loki rolled his eyes.

“About that,” Natasha mustered a smile and pointed at the desk. “Any chance you can do something with that screen?”

Chapter Text

Chapter X

It was Pepper Pots who turned out to be their saviour. Stark's fiancée joined them in the compound once Rhodey got stuck in delivery chain of his orders and called for help. No one wanted to impose on her, but Pepper just shrugged and said it was good to see familiar faces around. She liked Thor well enough and though she was far less pleased to meet Loki, it didn't stop her from helping Asgard. She asked for details of the most pressing needs and once Loki and Bruce provided her with a list, she was on the phone in an instant. Watching her go from one call to another and argue calmly but persistently, Loki could easily tell why Stark had her running his business. Though she was as grim and upset as the rest of them, she would not be brushed off and kept digging until she was satisfied.

By the next morning first lorry came carrying clothes and blankets, as well as the most needed cleaning and sanitary products. Stark Industries supported humanitarian missions on regular basis, so Pepper was able to contact directly people who could provide her with necessary goods at short notice. Warm clothes were particularly desired, for Asgard had been much warmer and on Midgard spring was coming slowly, with the days still cool and rainy. Products for the smallest children were just as handy, though the remaining healers had to estimate daily portions of Midgardian milk to provide necessary nourishment for the few infants left without their mothers.

Thor and Loki moved to sleep with the rest of their people, both to be closer and to give the Avengers some privacy. It worked both ways, and though Loki did not point it out to his brother, he made sure there were no spying devices in any rooms arranged for sleeping quarters. Judging by the annoyed look Natasha gave him the next time they met, he was thorough. After that, he saw the Avengers more often in the Asgardian part, one of them always staying around and helping. Unnerving as it was, it was still better than the idea of being watched and spied.

But all in all, after the first few days of constant reorganising and rearranging their temporary living situation, the Asgardians managed to work out some resemblance of controlled chaos. They had been divided into smaller groups and relocated to different parts of the compound to ensure they would have enough bathrooms for each unit. It made communication more tiring with all of them scattered around the building, but daily living became more bearable.

From among all of the remaining Avengers, Bruce was almost a constant addition to the Asgardians. Having spent two years on Sakaar as Hulk, he was having trouble adjusting back and the strife between his friends during his absence clearly left him standing out even more than usual. He had some experience with working in extreme conditions and used this knowledge to aid Thor in basic organisation. Where Steve Rogers or Natasha Romanoff were visible and noticeable, Bruce Banner just did his job and bothered anyone either when he had results to present or when he needed assistance.

When it turned out the people representing smaller units kept approaching either Thor or Loki, or sometimes both of them, at almost every hour of night and day, Thor decided to have daily meetings with all twelve of them at certain hour. This way both Odinsons got the information in a condensed, more organised way and they didn't have to address similar problems several times. Bruce called them a crisis team and the name stuck before they knew it. Either one of the Avengers or Pepper were usually present as well, since they were later responsible for organising any required goods.

It was after one of those meetings when Thor stopped Steve before he could leave and asked. "Is there a place where we could hold a feast for all my people?"

“I’m sorry, what?” The captain looked taken aback, as if Thor spoke out of turn.

"A funeral feast," Loki offered in explanation, because he didn't like the mixture of raw emotions that was suddenly plain on his brother's face. They hadn't discussed it earlier, but that seemed the most obvious reason. And even if it wasn't, Loki was sure this intention was one captain Rogers was going to accept.

"We didn't get a chance to see our dead to Valhalla," Thor said thickly, his gaze carefully avoiding anyone. "Neither those who died by Hela's hand or perished in Ragnarok, nor those Thanos murdered."

"Oh."

"The living need some closure," Loki picked where Thor trailed off and went on smoothly, though he too could feel dead weight settling in his stomach. "It should be done our way, as much as we can do so here. And part of it is gathering together. With so many left entirely alone, it would be harsh to gather in smaller groups. It's one thing to share the lodgings. Another is to share grief. We should let all the people be together."

"Yes. I'm sorry, it didn't occur to me." Was that actual sympathy Loki saw in Steve's eyes? At least for once the captain wasn't looking at him as if a part of him expected Loki to plot something.

"And the dead deserve to be properly set on their way," Thor added, having mostly composed himself. "We don't... We don't have the bodies, but we can at least set a funeral pyre in their memory and..."

"Alright. Let's see what can be done." Steve nodded. "There should be enough space for all of you somewhere."

"Thor? You going to see to that?" Loki asked, hoping he would get an affirmative answer. He was sick of anything that involved moving furniture and rearranging rooms.

Thankfully, Thor nodded. "Yeah, we've got it. See if we have anyone capable of building a boat and send them to me," he told the rest of the team and left with the captain.

Loki looked around the representatives ready to follow their king. "Before you go, I need one more thing," he stopped them. "Find any magic users we still have. I don't care if they know just basics, or if they aren't trained at all. If they've ever showed any inclination towards magic, I want to know."

"The healers too?" asked Saldís. She was responsible for their pitiful medical wing and joined the meeting to discuss the relocation of her recovering patients to the already existing units.

"Of course," Loki replied sincerely. He already knew almost no one from the palace made it alive, so he was counting mostly on village witches and untrained individuals with magical potential. The two healers were most likely to be the best trained among the people, aside from him. “Send everyone you find to meet me here at eight tomorrow morning.”

***

Finding people capable of preparing a symbolic boat for the dead turned out to be easier than both brothers assumed. Once the idea spread around, the people kept coming and offering their assistance. They seemed eager to get involved and work together on just about anything. Once all the necessary tasks were appointed, many of those willing to help were left with nothing particular to do, except taking care of everyday duties.

In longer term, such idleness was bound to cause trouble. Loki had an idea how to solve that, at least partly, but he needed help. Luckily for him, the Valkyrie picked a habit of spending some of her free time within the Avengers’ quarters, where she would go with Bruce Banner. Loki assumed it had a lot to do with various alcohols available there. As it was, drinks were not on their supply lists.

“You're still here."

Brunnhilde arched an eyebrow and looked at Loki as if she saw a particularly ugly bug. "And you are still annoying. Your point?"

"Charming," Loki smiled and took a seat. He snatched the bottle the Valkyrie was emptying and poured himself a glass, ignoring her murderous glare. "My point is that we should keep the people occupied." Organising the funeral did provide occupation to some of them, but now that the lodgings were settled, many people were left idle.

"I'm doing pretty good job keeping myself occupied," Brunnhilde snorted and put her bottle away from Loki's range. "Well? Go on. What does it have to do with me?"

"I was thinking more of physical exercise rather than addling your brain," Loki smirked. "But to the point. People have little to do and we have almost no warriors left alive. It would do good to morale to at least attempt to recreate our ranks," he winced. There was no way they could even pretend to restore Asgard's might, but it didn’t mean they shouldn’t try. "The compound has enough space outside to create training grounds for us. Thor will be thrilled."

"And why wouldn't you do that?"

"Because I couldn't possibly compete with your reputation as a Valkyrie," Loki raised his glass in a mock salute. "I'm serious. Three fourth of our people are women and children, but I saw some of those women fight on the Bifrost bridge, though they were not trained. They will all be desperate to protect what's left of us. We cannot depend on the three of us only."

"And how do you think our hosts will react to us trying to train and arm civilians?" Brunnhilde's question came as a pleasant surprise. Loki didn't expect her to think of that.

"Here comes another reason why I shouldn't be the one doing the training. They might think I'm preparing an army to overthrow Thor," Loki laughed and rolled his eyes. "Besides," he smiled wickedly. "I'll be training sorcerers and that should keep the Avengers occupied enough."

“Does Thor know about this?” Brunnhilde eyed him over the bottle. She didn’t say no, though, so Loki counted that a win already.

“The overthrowing?” he shot back and grinned, then gulped the rest of his drink. “Of course not. But I bet he will love the chance to spar with you, so I am more than willing to leave you all the fun.”

“Only if I get to wipe that smirk off your face sometimes.,” Brunnhilde grinned back. She made a gesture as if she wanted to toss the empty bottle over her shoulder, then thought better of it and placed it back on the table. “Well? What are you waiting for?”

Needless to say, Thor was elated to hear the news. Before Loki was done telling him what he and Brunnhilde came up with, he was already asking Natasha for the place they could use as training ground. Soon Loki had all three of them off his head for the rest of the day, which gave him much desired peace and time for his own arrangements.

***

As the last rays of sun slowly faded into the night, they all gathered on the plain grounds before the compound. Not a single person was left behind and they all made a chaotic crowd clad in Asgardian and Midgardian clothes, many of the mixed since the evening was cold. The sky was clear and the moon and stars shone brightly, the light of Asgard among them.

The Avengers were present too, but they stood aside with Rocket, willing to pay their respects but not to interfere. They all too lost people they knew and loved and perhaps it was a closure for them as well, foreign as it might seem.

The sons of Odin stood before the crowd, facing the river like the rest. Thor turned around to look at his people, then his friends and finally at his brother, and his voice rang clear as that of a king when he spoke.

“People and warriors of Asgard, friends and kin, neighbours and partners, I bid you all take your place in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave shall live forever. Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death.”

A lone boat was waiting for them at the edge of the river. The wood was fresh, the carvings made by magic and not by hand, since no one from them was skilled enough. The pyre inside was set high and generously covered with petrol captain Rogers provided, yet there were no treasures for the dead to carry on their way to Valhalla. On Asgard, such a boat would have carried someone insignificant, someone unable to afford taking the goods. But Asgard and its glory were gone, and all that was left was a bunch of beggars, so good word and thought was all they could give the dead. It was a farewell to both their fallen kin and their lost home.

At Thor’s sign men and women standing the closest pushed the boat down to the water, and the river shook it gently before carrying it slowly down the stream.

Thor raised his bow and with a flick of Loki’s wrist, the arrow he placed on the string was set aflame. In the surrounding silence the string let loose cut clear in the evening air, and the ball of light followed the boat. The pyre was caught aflame and soon the whole boat was blazing and cracking, a lone flare of light in the darkness, sinking deeper and deeper, as if under the weight of all the souls she carried to the halls of Valhalla.

The first voices repeating Thor’s words stood out in the heavy silence, but soon the murmur of whispered, uttered and sobbed farewells spread all over the people and could be heard around. There was no edge of the river for the boat to disappear beneath, but the flames did not die until the last piece of wood went underwater.

Thor stood there, in front of the people, silent, but as he finally spoke, his voice boomed over the crowd. “Let our dead join all the mighty warriors who had fallen before them, let them feast and celebrate in the halls of Valhalla. And for all of us who remain among the living, let this night be the time to commemorate them and drink for their memory.”

No one moved.

Heart racing in his chest, Loki stepped forth and raised his hands. A ball of bright light formed above his palms, just like the lights they would have set at home. It rose slowly towards the sky and suddenly there were more of them forming among the people, first from Saldís, then from a few others. Closing his eyes, Loki focused on projecting more of the lights. Even he could not manage creating a thousand of them, or thousands for thousands of their dead, but the joined effort of all those capable of creating such a simple illusion was good enough. When he dared open his eyes, he saw his brother glancing around in amazement, his voice clearly stuck in his throat.

The lights went high before they slowly faded, and only when the last one of them was gone, did the people move.

“That was magical,” Natasha muttered as the sons of Odin joined the Avengers. The way she gazed on the river suggested her thoughts were still somewhere far away.

“It was magic,” Thor answered seriously and turned to his brother. “Thank you. I didn’t dare hope for...”

Loki just nodded back and followed the rest inside. The hangar they picked for all to gather was nothing like Odin’s great hall, but it was spacious enough. They brought there as many tables they could and set them together in long rows, each carrying food and beverages. Plastic cups and paper plates, along with various Midgardian snacks would not let anyone forget where they were, but here and there an Asgardian touch could be found. There were plates piled with sweet cookies that had always been popular on many occasions and could have been bought at almost every street of Asgard. It had taken forever to bake so many, but the effort was worth it and besides the task had kept several children occupied for a few days. Here and there simple Asgardian dishes could be found, those that could have been prepared with ingredients easily available in the compound.

The only obvious thing they did not have was alcohol. They had discussed the matter quite thoroughly once Thor had brought it up and decided against providing drinks except some mead for a symbolic toast in memory of the dead. While it seemed like a perfect occasion for all the remaining Asgardians to get helplessly drunk and mourn, it would have also been an unnecessary waste of funds they could use in better ways. Indebting themselves with the Avengers, or more specifically Stark Industries, was bad enough. Besides, it would have taken a lot of Midgardian alcohol for the Asgardians to get truly drunk.

So here they were, trying Midgardian snacks and sipping juice from plastic cups once Thor was done with his toast for the dead. Many people wandered idly among the tables. They didn’t have so many chairs, so opted for letting the people spread in the hall the way they preferred.

“Valhalla, right?” Captain Rogers asked. “That’s the place you believe your dead go to?”

“We don’t believe it,” Thor corrected him. “We know it for sure.”

“Could you tell us more?” Bruce came over, a plate with an Asgardian cookie in hand. “I’d love to hear about it.”

“I am no storyteller,” Thor shook his head, “but Sjóvarr promised a tale. I think he’s about to start.”

Indeed, Sjóvarr gathered all the children in one of the corners. He was an old man of slender figure and white hair neatly braided at the back of his head. Unlike so many of the survivors, he chose to wear his homeland clothes for the occasion. He had once been an actor quite popular in the capital theatre, but he had rarely played in the past few years, his age slowly getting the better of him. Loki had been surprised he had managed to make it among the refugees. He hoped Sjóvarr would be able to recreate some of the plays from his memory.

 At first there were almost no adults save for the Avengers. But once Sjóvarr began to spin his tale, more and more people joined in. The story was popular, but now it was also one of the few links to their lost homeland. Loki waited for more to gather before he joined in the show.

Delighted and bewildered gasps could be heard among the youngest listeners as suddenly the warriors of old Sjóvarr spoke of sprang to life between them and the wall. The figures wearing characteristic Einherjar helmets danced in fight with shadowy foes, Valhalla looming over them.

Loki saw the Avengers look around until they spotted him standing behind the children. He grinned, looking smug. He wasn't in the mood for storytelling, but it didn't mean he couldn't weave illusions to support Sjóvarr. He doubted he was going to have many opportunities to simply show off, with nothing but amusement in mind. While he hadn't asked the storyteller in advance what he was going to talk about, he doubted Sjóvarr intended to make any drastic changes in their well-known tales.

Once the story was over, the walls surrounding illusory Valhalla disappeared and the last mighty warriors dissolved in thin air, leaving the children disappointed and asking for more. Someone from the magic users who had helped Loki with the lights sat among them and offered to amuse them with her own creations. They were much less sophisticated than Loki's illusions, but he withdrew and settled for watching the lady whose name he couldn't remember.

Thor encircled the hall, stopping here and there to exchange a few words, then returned to Loki and handed him a cup with this ridiculously sweet drink the Midgardians seemed to be so fond of. They stood there, together, and listened to the chatter around them, when lady Bóthildr approached them. She seemed tensed.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but...”

“You’re not. What is the matter?” Thor asked politely.

“Actually, I wished to speak with the Prince,” Bóthildr looked at Loki, and when he motioned her to speak, she went on. “Inga left the feast, she’s outside. I tried to talk her into coming back, but she’s pretty upset. I didn’t want to make a scene, but she shouldn’t be there alone. I thought, perhaps... She does take seriously everything you tell her to do, so maybe...”

“I’ll go,” Loki nodded and set his cup aside; the drink was awful. He shot a glance to the Valkyrie nearby, half expecting her to smirk or comment on his willingness to deal with this particular child, but Brunnhilde didn’t even turn to him.

He slipped past the Avengers listening to someone who picked another old song and left the gathering. It was odd to walk through the compound completely alone, and once the song faded in the background, the silence became heavy and uncomfortable. There should be no silence on the day the dead were set on their journey to Valhalla.

The sobbing came first. Loki went outside and found Inga sitting on the stairs. She was wearing the same dress he had first seen her in, now looking a bit grotesque with white trainers and colourful hoodie that was too Midgardian for Loki’s taste.

“No one should be alone on a night like this,” he said quietly, but still the girl jerked and looked around.

Seeing the prince, Inga wiped her eyes and desperately tried to compose herself, but before she could scramble on her feet, Loki sat on the step next to her. The memory still stung, that nightmarish night when Asgard set the queen for her last journey and all he witnessed was the deafening silence of his confinement.

"I've never been to a funeral before," Inga muttered without looking up.

"It is the best we could do here." Loki opened his palm and a small boat, no larger than his hand, appeared over it. It was floating lazily a few inches above his hand, before the imaginary wind blew into the small sail and the boat fell beyond the edge of the world made by Loki’s palm. "Who did you bid farewell?"

"Mum," she whispered. "Those demon soldiers got her, my uncle took me then," swallowing z lump, Inga dragged her knees to her chest. "He stayed behind on the ship." More tears ran down her cheeks.

"What about your father?"

"He was a soldier." Inga choked on a sob and hugged her legs, hiding her face completely.

Loki cringed. He shouldn’t have asked. “I’m sorry.”

"I want to go home," the girl whispered so softly Loki barely heard her.

"I know. We can't." It felt cruel to say so, but offering empty platitudes made little sense. “We are going to figure out a new home,” Loki told her instead and looked towards the river, now hardly visible behind the buildings and hidden under the trees. He wondered whether it could be heard up by the compound when the wind was strong or when the water level was higher. Listening to the silence of the night, he picked some kind of distant mutter, like one of those sky jets Midgardians used as means of transportation. Loki looked up, but the glass canopy over his head obscured his view.

What he saw once he stood and stepped from under the awning was not a plane, though. It was a spaceship far more advanced than Midgardian technology, with something glowing beneath. And it was heading right towards the compound.

“Damn,” he cursed, his body tensing. A knife almost appeared in his hand before he caught himself and slid it back. Knives would do little against a ship, should it be hostile.

Inga jumped on her feet. "What now? What's-," the girl hitched. She stared at the approaching vessel, her eyes wide in horror. Her whole frame started shaking so badly Loki could hear her teeth tattering.

"Hey!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and stilled the trembling. He needed to warn the others, not deal with a panicking child. "Inga. It's alright, we will find out who that is. Just- come with me." They needed to move, now. Whoever was coming, Loki was the last person that should be first spotted by the newcomers. Seeing how the girl was still frozen and unresponsive, Loki swept her in his arms and rushed towards the nearest entrance.

Chapter Text

Chapter XI

The feast went on, awkward as it was. Thor backed off with Rocket, who kept unusually quiet. It must have been hard for him, with Thor, Loki and perhaps Brunnhilde being the people he knew the most. The Avengers stayed together as well, possibly reflecting on the stories they heard. There were not alone in that; most people kept to themselves, stuck to the small circles of vaguely familiar people. Overall, it was grim and almost boring.

That was until Loki suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the glimmer of green light.

"What the hell?" Natasha gasped and almost choked on her drink.

Thor quirked an eyebrow and raised his hand with the cookie he was about to finish.

"Don't bother, of course it's not me," Loki stopped him with a raised hand and rolled his eyes. "We might have a problem."

"What?" Thor dropped his idea, sensing his brother’s serious tone. “What’s wrong?”

"There is a ship coming. It's nothing like Midgardian aircrafts and it's heading right here,” Loki spoke fast, the urgency in his voice not quite so hidden as he might have wanted. “Thor, I don't recognise it."

"Where are you?" Thor went straight to business, fully aware that any kind of hesitation from his part would likely arise suspicions towards his brother's intentions. The magic display they were witnessing right now was probably suspicious enough.

"In the patio, I'm watching from the inside. Inga's with me, we are having a bit of a... Ah, situation," Loki said after a moment of hesitation and winced. His gaze lost focus, as if something else drew his attention.

"We're coming," Steve cut off any potential doubts Thor could see on Natasha's face. "Thanks for the warning, Loki, but stay out of this. At least for now."

"With pleasure." Loki's illusory copy made a salute and dissolved.

"That was creepy," Natasha commented, but she was already heading towards the door.

"It's hard to get used to that, even if you've seen him do that already," Bruce agreed, looking nervous. He seemed uncertain whether he should go or stay, but chose the former option.

"Am I the only one who thinks it was pretty awesome?"

“Don’t let him hear you.”

Thor caught the Valkyrie on the way out and passed her Loki’s message, asking her to keep the people on the feast, at least until the situation was clear. Brunnhilde didn’t seem too pleased with being left behind, but luckily she didn’t argue.

As they entered the great hall, they noticed that Loki was indeed in the patio a floor above them, head up as he watched the sky through the glass roof. Inga was beside him, her thin frame shaking with suppressed sobs. Loki kept one hand firmly on her shoulder and it seemed it was the only thing keeping her from running away. When he heard them coming, he turned abruptly and looked down.

"It's going to land here."

"Wait, that's...!" Rocket ran to the nearest window to have a better view. "That is Quill's ship!"

"I don't recall it glowing from the bottom," Thor pointed out. If he were honest, he didn't really remember the ship that rescued him and Loki, so he wasn't surprised his brother didn't recognise it at all.

"Still, we can't be sure it's your friend coming,” Steve pointed out. “Could be anyone."

“Err... does any of your friends glow?” Loki asked, having heard Rocket’s comment. “There seems to be a person under the ship,” he sounded genuinely surprised. Inga looked up at that, but didn’t seem any less distraught.

Rocket shook his head, but Thor saw a flicker of recognition in Natasha’s eyes. Not for the first time he wondered what he had missed in the slumber of those dreadful days right after Thanos’s victory. He vaguely recalled some commotion a few hours later, but he had been so wrapped in his misery that he had hardly paid attention to what had been going around him.

“Do you think it’s her?”

All except Loki and Inga rushed outside and waited there. As the ship came closer, they could see that there was indeed a person bringing it down. The woman, for it was definitely a woman, and one Thor’s friends seemed to recognise, set the ship on the plain ground before the compound. The wheezing engines seemed to make one last effort and the side opened, lowering the plank with screeching. As it hit the ground, two people appeared on the top and descended with weariness matching that of their vessel.

“Oh- Oh my God!”

Thor saw Pepper all but fly past them. He didn’t notice when she had joined them, but perhaps she was watching security footage or something. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that Tony Stark was alive.

Once they embraced, neither could pull off in a long time, Pepper sobbing in relief and Tony leaning heavily on her. Steve kept close just in case he collapsed, a sad smile on his lips.

"It's alright," Tony muttered and pressed a kiss on Pepper's hair. "It's... Ok. This is the weirdest shit my brain could come up with. What the fuck?!"

Thor turned right to follow his gaze and spotted Loki in the doors. His posture seemed tense, but non-threatening. And there, half a step behind him, stood Inga, small hand gripping cautiously at the edge of Loki's sleeve.

"Hello, Stark."

"You missed quite a lot," Pepper chuckled, her voice still teary. It seemed her arm was the only thing keeping Tony upright.

"Loki, please return to our people and assure them there is no reason for alarm," Thor said to his brother. It was best to give Tony Stark some time to process all the news and right now he looked ready to collapse.

Loki must have realised he was barring the nearest entrance to the compound and nodded. His gaze lingered for a moment on Rocket sitting with Stark’s companion, but whatever he had in mind, he decided not to voice it. Freeing his sleeve from Inga with one swift movement, he ushered her inside and followed.

Stark looked after them with the same dumbstruck expression. "Tell me that didn't just happen."

"You do have some catching up to do, Tony."

The Avengers disappeared in the same doors Loki had, but Thor didn't follow. There was one more person who had come on that ship, one that stayed behind during that teary reunion. She was sitting with Rocket, her black eyes gazing somewhere. Her blue face seemed an unreadable mask, but Thor had seen enough of that in his lifetime to be fooled. At least not anymore.

Rocket glanced up when he heard Thor's steps up the ramp, looking surprised. He shook his head. "None."

"I'm sorry, my friend." Thor hesitated for a brief moment, then took two steps back down to meet their eye level. "I don't remember you," he inquired awkwardly, turning to Rocket's companion.

"Nebula is Gamora's sister," Rocket offered in means of an explanation.

Not by blood, that much was obvious, but then again Thor was the last person to question family ties basing on blood relations.

"I'm Thor," he said carefully. Something in Nebula's posture suggested she was ready to draw weapons and lash out at moment's notice. "You are welcome to join the meal my people are sharing in honour of our dead. I get it you were short on provisions."

Nebula snapped out of her thoughts violently. She turned her gaze at Thor, her expression still carefully blank. Only her eyes were so intense they seemed to burn holes.

"No." Her voice, unlike her eyes, was calm. "If Rocket can get me some food, I'd rather stay here. We have a ship to repair."

"Yeah. Right. Of course." Despite what Loki might have claimed about his ability to grasp when he was being dismissed, Thor wasn't that oblivious. "The offer stands if you change your mind."

"Thanks, buddy."

***

Once Thor returned to the hall, he realised the people were no longer gathered together. Most of them were still present, but some were sitting on the floor in small circles, exchanging stories, while others picked at the remaining food. On Asgard, most of them would have likely been well into their cups. As it was, everybody was miserably sober and unusually quiet for such gathering. If someone picked a song, it was usually followed only by those few closest to the singer and died soon enough. Some of the smallest children were already taken, but a few older dozed among the adults.

Hardly anyone noticed him coming back, so Thor assumed Loki had already assured the people there was no threat. Thor nodded back to those who welcomed him and looked around in search of his brother. He found Loki sitting on one of the long conference tables, now empty, leaning against the wall. His brother seemed lost in his own thoughts, his gaze focused on a small orb of green light dancing just over his open palm. The orb moved up and down or flew from one palm to the other, changing shapes and returning back to a perfect sphere in fluent movements.

Thor smiled fondly. That was one of the first spells Frigga had taught his brother. It was basic and harmless, but good for practicing focus and spectacular enough to be attractive for a child. Thor remembered his brother showing off in their dark bedchamber, long after they were supposed to be sleeping.

Right now such light was for Loki as easy as breathing. But perhaps the purpose of the light was the same it had been centuries ago, Thor thought as he glanced at the familiar silhouette sleeping curled on the table beside his brother. One tiny leg was dangling precariously over the edge.

"I would love to see Sif's face if she saw you like that," Thor said and the smile faded from his face.

Loki startled and looked up. "She has some potential," he shrugged and the light disappeared. "Inga. She wanted to know how we made the lights and I wanted to test her."

"Are you going to train her?"

"Aren't you going to make sure everyone capable of handling a weapon knows how to do so?" Loki retorted and Thor could only nod in agreement. "We only have two healers. I found three witches who are going to train under Saldís. The rest... Unless you can magically provide me with tutors, I'm the only one with full training. We need to make as much from what we have as possible. So yes, I am."

"I wasn't trying to say we don't need them! And I get it. I wish we had more warriors to help Brunnhilde," Thor sighed and sank beside Loki in a very un-kingly way, hating it had to be his left, since the right side was occupied by the sleeping child.

"Brother..." Loki leaned forwards so that it was easier for Thor to see him. He turned left and hesitated before speaking. "Sif... She should not have been on Asgard when Hela came. I sent her on Vanaheim, so unless she returned early in that short time when we went to New York, she..."

Thor bolted upright. "Are you saying...?"

"I cannot tell you she isn’t among the vanished," Loki reminded him, but there was no bitter jab Thor half expected to hear. It almost seemed as if he too wouldn't mind seeing another familiar face, no matter their slights from the past. “But she might be out there. We could use her here.”

Thor knew better than hope, but he couldn’t help feeling the smallest sparkle. Perhaps his friend was still there. Perhaps, possibly, some Asgardians were still scattered among the Nine and in time, they could be brought to the new home. Perhaps. Still, it was better than nothing. Loki had his ways to move between the Realms and with the Stormbreaker’s aid they could actually restore connection with the other realms.

“What was the matter with Inga earlier?” Thor broke the silence, since his brother seemed lost in thoughts.

“What? Oh, nothing. She just panicked,” Loki dismissed him easily, as if he didn’t want to dwell on that subject. “The last foreign ship she saw blew ours to pieces.” He made a vague gesture and a mug appeared in his hand.

"Where did you get that?" Thor eyed his brother suspiciously, because the way Loki drank the contents suggested it wasn't Midgardian cola. Besides, he was fairly sure he had seen this mug in the Avengers' kitchen.

"Brunnhilde," Loki shrugged in response and passed the mug to Thor. "Agent Romanoff called it vodka. It's repulsive, but..."

The alcohol burned like mead wouldn’t have, but Thor took a generous swig anyway. They sat there in silence for a while, sharing the drink like they had had as boys, when stealing a bottle of mead was a victory they later celebrated in some secluded spot. Then the orb of light appeared over Loki’s palm again.

"Loki. What is it?"

"I know her. Nebula.”

“Rocket introduced her as Gamora’s sister, “ Thor mentioned and his brother nodded.

"They were both ruthless and fanatic,” Loki let the orb float towards the ceiling. "Thanos picked them from their destroyed worlds and named them his daughters. I at least can see why they turned on him eventually."

"Did you just compare...?"

"No," Loki smiled sadly. "I'm not. Od- father wasn't that bad."

Thor stared. He didn't know if he was more surprised by the possible comparison or by the fact that his brother admitted it so openly.

"You were not a trophy." Maybe it was the atmosphere of the feast, maybe the topic they accidentally brushed, but Thor would be damned if he let his brother believe so.

Loki smiled again and shrugged. "I don't care. Not anymore." That was an obvious lie, but Thor knew better than call him out on that. “Please tell me we are done with heart-to-heart conversations for the next century,” he offered his brother a smirk Thor now recognised as his defence mechanism and slipped from the table.