Guards lined either side of the dark hallway of Asgard's prison cave, nodding their allegiance as Thor Odinson passed, making his way toward the farthest, most isolated cell in the cavern.
There, encased in glass, sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, his wrists bound and resting on his knees, was the person the God of Thunder had come to see—his brother, Loki.
Looking tired and disheveled, dressed only in a green tunic, and black leather pants, the God of Mischief smirked wearily as he caught sight of his adopted brother out of the corner of his eye.
"What could possibly bring the great and mighty Thor into the presence of one so unworthy?" Loki mocked in a soft voice, cocking his head in curiosity.
"I require your assistance," Thor replied deflecting his brother's comments, "There is a threat growing. S.H.E.I.L.D contacted me. Earth is endanger and it's only month before the threat reaches the nine realms. Asgard, our home will be next-"
Loki laughed under his breath
"My assistance?" he countered in a patronizing voice, "Well, you've come to the wrong place my friend. My assistance is of no value to you, surely. If you haven't noticed, I am not only a sadistic murderous traitor, I am also a frost giant—a freak…"
"Remember, that you are also my brother," Thor interjected quickly, "And an Asgardian, a sworn soldier of Odin—"
"Did you hear what I said before?" Loki retorted, his eyes narrowing " Or are you deaf? I am not your brother, nor am I a true Asgardian…I am unworthy…an outcast. There is nothing to bind me to the fate of Asgard now. So, stop wasting your time and mine."
Thor stood in silence for a moment as he contemplated Loki's words, watching as his brother laid his head back defeated against the wall again.
"Well," Thor said finally, "While I'm surprised by your amount of self reflection, I thought you might say something like that, so I've brought something with me that might change your feelings in that regard…"
Loki suddenly sat forward with interest as Thor now threw aside the cape that had covered the left side of his body to reveal a small bundle of white blankets made of sheep's wool nestled in the crook of his arm.
Thor smiled slightly as he adjusted the bundle in his arms and stepped forward toward the glass, moving aside the top folds of the blankets to reveal its contents to his brother.
A look of awe immediately crossed Loki's face as he tentatively stood from his position against the wall and stepped toward the glass himself.
He had heard whispers that his betrothed, the woman he had loved on and off for many years, had been with child when he fell from the bi frost, but it seemed trivial to him at the time as he had striven toward larger goals.
Now, he stood in disbelief as the face of a small, sleeping infant was revealed to him and Thor spoke the words that he knew were true the second he saw the child.
"Loki, meet Nari…" Thor said, looking from the infant to his brother, "Your son."
Loki didn't speak for a few moments as his piercing green eyes continued to study the infant and Thor could see the gears in his brother's mind spinning, seemingly to be sorting out his thoughts and feelings.
"He's not blue…" Loki finally whispered, swallowing as he stepped closer to the glass
"No," Thor answered, gazing back down at the infant, "Nari was born of Asgard, not the cold of Jotunheim, and though he be half Frost Giant, it matters not. He could be blue, green, purple or all three combined and we would love him anyway…" Thor now looked back to his brother, "As we love you, Loki."
Loki's eyes widened, then softened before he took a measured step back, "No one should love me…I'm a monster."
"You may have made some poor decisions and allowed others to influence you when you should have listened to your own heart, brother, but you are no monster…"
Loki scoffed as he started pacing in front of the glass, "That's debatable."
Thor only studied his brother for a moment before taking action.
"Guard!" he called over his shoulder
"What are you doing?" Loki asked, stopping and turning to face Thor once more
But, Thor ignored him as a stocky Asgardian in full armor now appeared at his side, greeting him with the traditional gesture of respect.
"Yes, my Prince," he said with a bow
"Open the door," Thor commanded, locking eyes with a stunned Loki
"But, my Lord—" The guard protested, his own eyes shifting uneasily toward Loki
"I wish for my brother to meet his son properly, therefor by the power bestowed on me by the All Father, I command you to open the door."
Loki's eyes narrowed as the guard went sheet white, then tentatively stepped forward, bringing his staff up and touching its tip to the glass, drew a large doorway that glowed bright orange like flame, then evaporated.
After a moment, he took a step back and tapped the center of the doorway with the other end of his staff, causing the glass to fade away, revealing an entrance into the cell.
"Thank you," Thor nodded to the guard, then gestured to Loki, "Now, unbind him."
"My Lord, please…" the guard pleaded
"I take full responsibility for my brother and any consequences of these actions, guard," Thor acknowledged, "Free him."
The guard nodded then pointed his staff at Loki's bonds and they quickly disappeared.
"Thank you," Thor said, watching Loki rub his bare wrists, "Now, leave us."
The guard relinquished his staff, saluted the prince, and hurried away.
Loki took a tentative step back as Thor now entered through the doorway.
And they stood staring at each other for a few moments before Thor spoke.
"Would you like to hold him?" he offered, shifting the baby in his arms toward Loki
"What?" Loki gasped, "No… I wouldn't know anything about that—I'm not –"
"Don't worry, it's easy," Thor encouraged, turning the baby out of the crook of his arm, "Mother showed me how…now hold out your arms—"
"Thor…" Loki sighed, eying the infant with a worried tone
"Loki," Thor said sternly, "It's alright. You won't hurt him."
"I'm not—I shouldn't be—I'm not a father—" Loki choked out
"But you are a father," Thor retorted, looking down to the still sleeping infant, "You're his father, Loki, whether you want it or not."
Thor paused as he looked from the child to his brother and the wash of emotions that now spread across his face then took a step toward his brother.
"Loki, I know that you never felt like you truly belonged among us…" Thor said in a soft voice, "that we were never truly family to you in your eyes and I understand that as much as I disagree with it. But, this boy—your son—he is your flesh and blood, Loki. He is your family now, brother...after all these years alone, you finally have family..."
Loki looked down again to the sleeping infant with uncertainty
"Take him," Thor encouraged, stepping closer
Finally, with a look of summoned courage, Loki stepped forward and nodded.
"Hold out your arms," Thor instructed, then smiled slightly as he moved forward and, with his free hand, positioned his brother's arms as his Mother had taught him, until Loki held the proper frame.
Then, Thor lifted the baby out of his own arms and laid him in Loki's, adjusting the blankets to make the child comfortable.
Loki let out an audible gasp of awe as he now held the child close to him and beheld his offspring close up.
"He's…so small," Loki observed as the baby shifted it it's blankets and hiccuped, "And…"
"Perfect," Thor finished
"Yes," Loki smiled, the fear in his face slowly melting away as one of the infant's small hands made its way out of the blanket folds and wrapped around his finger.
Thor watched Loki and Nari for a few moments before he suddenly saw a look of sadness cross Loki's face.
"What is it, brother?" he asked curiously
Loki didn't say anything for a few moments as he caressed his son's small fingers in his, then studied how small his hand was in his palm.
"Do you think he'll hate me when he's old enough to know the truth about me—who I am—what I am?" Loki asked
"Why would you say such a thing?" Thor replied
"Because as my son he'll be an outcast—"
"But as my nephew, he will not be." Thor said adamantly, "I will not let him be cast aside—I will protect him and guide him. You have my word on that. And as for the truth about you, brother, he shall know only of the Loki I know and remember- the Loki I grew up with and know deep down still exists inside of you, not what you see when you look in the mirror or other people remember in the midst of chaos and destruction."
"Thank you," Loki said softly, his eyes meeting Thor's in a tender moment between the brothers before Loki looked back down at Nari.
"So what assistance can I offer you, brother?" Loki asked, not taking his eyes off his newborn son
Thor smiled as he raised an eyebrow, "You've changed your mind?"
Loki laughed under his breath as he held his son closer to his chest and ran a long, pale, graceful hand gently over his child's forehead, before turning back to Thor.
"Let's just say that I now have something worth fighting for."
"You don't say…" Thor mocked good-naturedly, "And here here I thought Asgard wasn't your home."
"It's not," Loki replied, looking down again at his son's face as the boy's eyes now opened to reveal his startling green eyes and focused them on his father, "But it's my son's."
Thor nodded knowingly, "I'll let S.H.E.I.L.D know you're on board."