None of these characters are mine, they belong variously to Stan Lee, Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also the title is from the song "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit.


In the Great Hall of Asgard

It seemed eons ago that Thor and his brother had stood in the small antechamber that led into the Great Hall. Back when Loki's plots, the attack on Jotunheim and subsequently Thor's downfall had seemed so natural and inevitable, the perfect thing to entrap Thor. The schemes within plans hidden and layered in subtlety seeming a tiny thing against the greater machinations of Thanos that Loki had found himself a mere cog ensnared within.

"Father far be it from me to doubt your wisdom, but surely you must see the battle is won not the war!" Thor was agitated and Mjolnir was still crackling with energy. Thor was well aware that his battlelust could cloud his reasoning and thoughts of being too eager for battle weighed on him. Still he had to say something about being recalled from the battlefront and especially considering the great cost in terms of energy to summon and transport only himself and Loki.

"My sons, you have done well with this campaign, and though the darkness is not yet fully defeated your armies are ably led by the Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, they will have to continue without you." Odin was being cryptic in his tone which was strange for the All-Father. The echoes of his voice seemed to not to ring so much in the Great Hall so much as foretell of some secret purpose.

"If your plan was to lose the war you are fulfilling that perfectly because you cannot win it without my assistance!" Loki was angry his green eyes blazing and his pale features distressed. His silver-tongue seemed to be gone, and for once since Loki had fallen into the void Thor did not suspect him of any hidden agenda for allying himself with Thor. Odin stood when Heimdall entered glanced at them and transported them all to the edge of the Bifrost. Frigga stood there already with the Tesseract. The rebuilding of the Bifrost was going slowly and the mere act of transporting the group had cost Odin visibly.

"Loki Odinson," As Loki tried to interject Odin's voice bellowed. "It is our decree that your assistance is needed elsewhere and for matters of security no one else can know of this. You have attempted reparations and we are most satisfied with your service to the realm. Still there are other realms that require your reparations and they call now."

Loki's features stilled and he drew in upon himself visibly steeling himself for the judgement that would surely come, he was being sent back to Jotunheim their would be no more chances at redemption or reparations in Asgard. But something was off, what need had they for secrecy? Why was no attendant in sight? Thor was quietly watching the faces of his parents his mother's loveliness now had a beatific serenity that stirred him more than his fathers' bellowing voice. He felt rather than reasoned that she was the source of these strange events.

"May I go with Loki and lend any assistance he might need?" Thor knew, if he was right, Frigga's part in arranging the endeavor meant he should trust it implicitly.

"This is none your affair Thor!" but Loki only threw him a venomous glance before pacing the Bifrost. Besides Loki has been most unlike himself, thought Thor, easily rattled by these events he cannot go into this alone.

"If it takes place on Midgard then it is, I am its guardian and would do anything to help you brother-" Thor was interrupted by Heimdall's movement who had stood silently as he leaned forward his normal quiet vigilance disturbed.

Frigga spoke, "Thor, Loki the time is now upon us not a moment can be spared, All Father please send them now."

"Thor and Loki Odinson we bind your powers and strip you of your Aesir form. You will be confined to the Midgardian mortal forms. Thor your powers are only to be used in the guarding of Midgard, until then you are bound. Loki you will be released at the moment that a Midgardian weeps for you restoring to your Aesir and Jotun forms. Until that day arrives you will remember nothing of your life, your deeds or your treacherous hate." Thor could discern that the spell was being spoken hastily.

Loki screamed, curses streaming from his lips as lightning ripped his helmet, armor and vestments from his body, he seemed to shrink his naked form flickering from the pale Aesir to Jotun blue back to pale and he was rendered unconscious. His features seemed to change before Thor's very eyes, growing softer his hair curling and growing reddish.

A necklace with a single silver scepter floated over Loki's prone form.

"Thor, I appoint you guardian over your brother, let him thrive let him live, and above all be the honorable man you have become. The mortal guises you inhabit will tell you all you need know. This alone will bind Loki's powers only you can bestow them on your brother when he is worthy. The moment of his remembering will not return his powers to him." The chain was dropped into Thor's hand, and his own powers were stripped away.

Heimdall and Odin summoned the energy of the cube and began to open a portal.

Frigga placed a kiss on Loki's forehead and rose to put a hand on Thor's shoulder, "I would have him remember kindness. Thor my strong son show him patience and mercy and see that he finds what he seeks."

Frigga's lips to his pate her hands on either side of his head told Thor there was nothing to fear he felt her gentle good grace in the kiss. He carried his brother in his fragile form and stepped into beam of light that was the portal.

Earth

Second week of June in the year 2012

As the light of the Tesseract faded from his eyes he could feel the pain in his body become overwhelmed by the life of another edging out all he thought he knew of himself. Thor was becoming a distant memory. The wreckage he found himself in contained another body, but he could not now remember the name. He checked that the other form was living and gave in to sleep.

"Sir? Donald Blake? Can you understand what I'm saying?" There was great pain in his body, his legs particularly felt shattered, and above all his body was not his own. "Yes I understand. My brother?"

"We have no record of Loren being your brother are you sure?"

Don was still gripping the chain with the delicate symbols of their power. "Adopted brother."

When he awoke in the hospital Don felt a strange block to his thoughts, most of his memories seemed jumbled and hidden. He heard a voice in the bed next to his.

"Its about time you woke up, I was going to call Jane to come kiss her prince from his enchanted slumber." Don wondered why he laughed so hard, but Loren just watched him lazily. "My, you are easily amused."

"What do you remember?" Don finally asked as his laughter subsided and he dug through the drawers beside his bed. Something he was forgetting brushed his mind and as he gripped his chain the memories clarified and crystallized.

"Nothing beyond the basics, everything about you and our childhood but I don't remember the accident at all." He stood from his bed and paced the room trying to still his agitation. Don watched him and for once in a very long time he felt his brother wasn't simmering with anger. He was just lost now.


A/N: So what do you think?