To say the people of Midgard had welcomed him back with open arms was severely inaccurate. Saying they even welcomed him back was an understatement. At least it wasn't like Loki was expecting anything less. These people seemed adverse to the very idea of even a little bloodshed. Well no, that wasn't quite right was it? How it should have been worded was; adverse to the very idea of bloodshed unless it benefited them. There you go, much better.
Midgardians had no sense of honour; not that Loki was seen as having one himself. They all squabbled and preached about right and wrong, about that invisible line one should never cross. Yet the minute crossing that line presented an opportunity or promised to take them down a beneficial path; they bolted over it like all of Jotunheim was after them. Humans claimed to have a moral compass, yet that compass was all back to front and didn't really show the right direction anymore.
Well, Loki probably couldn't say all of Midgard protested his return. He didn't doubt they did, but most of them didn't even realise he was back here yet. Besides the remaining 'Avengers' and a small portion of SHIELD, only a select few knew he'd returned to their beloved Earth. Unfortunately for him, one of those select few happened to be the oh so marvellous 'Sorcerer Supreme.' Whoever came up with that one either lacked imagination or was full of it.
Loki was brought further anguish and eternal damnation by the fact that in order to stay on Earth, he had to serve a Midgardian punishment known as 'Parole' under the care of Strange. What better way to contain a dangerous, homicidal sorcerer than have another sorcerer play babysitter. SHIELD and the pathetic remains of the Avengers seemed to think it was a brilliant plan. The Tin Man... Stark, as Thor insisted he call him; had even placed a bet alongside some other SHIELD agents on the duration of time before Loki or Strange killed one another. Loki hopes Stark didn't place his bet too far into the future, because right now he could kill that smug bastard.
"You're sure I should not stay?"
"Yes, quite sure" Loki spat rather bitingly back to Thor. His brother huffed in that 'I'm disappointed in you' or 'something bad has happened and it must be you' way he so often did and Loki felt that familiar irritable twitch interacting with Thor brings him. He shouldn't react badly like that though, after all, Thor did wager the security of his people when he defended Loki. The least he can do is try and show Thor he does appreciate the gesture... with Asgard gone, who knows where he would have ended up had his sanctuary here been denied.
"You have responsibilities now. You're King" as much as he tried he couldn't stop the slight bitterness and envy slip out on the word King. He wasn't a Saint. Well, actually... that wasn't a good comparison at all was it? "Responsibilities which I will need help bearing." Thor reminded Loki softly, which as sweet as a gesture it was supposed to be, just made Loki feel more bitter and hollow at what he was never allowed to have.
"The sentimentality is appreciated but not needed. You're doing fine on your own and do not need someone like me." He stated nonchalantly and with a flash of teeth. Thor frowned at him but remained silent the rest of the walk. Things had become somewhat tense between them again once arriving to earth. Whether it was Thor's responsibilities as King, Loki's parole on earth, or the confusing, churning mass of emotions being back on earth brought up for Loki. He was trying to clamp down on it, ignore those nagging feelings which could be guilt or remorse, but he knew some of it showed through and Thor could tell. Well, alongside the envy, anger, displeasure and seething hatred he had no problem expressing at every opportunity.
Loki was snapped out of his thoughts as Thor stopped in front of him. They were at the entrance to what he presumed was Strange's residence. It wasn't as grand or extravagant as he was expecting, not by a long mile for the supposed 'Sorcerer Supreme.' How was anybody supposed to fear or respect this man if he didn't even take pride in his domain? He wasn't impressed to say the least, and was feeling more confident he could snap this mans neck with his pinkie if need be. Not that he wasn't feeling confident before that, no mortal was capable of defeating him after all. He just wasn't sure what Strange was capable of, and by cowering behind a place like this and not displaying his powers and authority to earth, well clearly he wasn't really all that powerful was he? Subtlety was for the weak.
"I suppose I bang this door again, hope he doesn't do that freaky magic thing aga-" Thor's voice was cut off and replaced with a quiet buzz and then a pop as they apparated inside. Loki was met with the queasy feeling in his stomach and disorientating tilt of the world around him. He didn't like to apparate much, it always left him feeling sick and dizzy. He wasn't going to give Strange the satisfaction of knowing that though. Loki set his jaw, lifted his chin and glared defiantly into the blue eyes of Stephen Strange.
"Odinsons" Strange greeted, his eyes staying trained on Thor and completely ignoring Loki. The title alone irked him, let alone the lack of acknowledgement from the other sorcerer. Loki felt his jaw clench. "Ah Strange! Good to see you again, friend!" Thor bellowed whilst dragging Strange into what appeared to be a reluctant hug on his half. Loki thought maybe this was the one miraculous occasion where he and Strange might be able to agree on something, that one meeting didn't really warrant friendship.
Suddenly the world shifted again and Thor made a tiny noise as they were suddenly transported into a different room, by the look of it a library? Thor had no qualms about showing his confusion and displeasure about Strange's chosen mode of transport. Loki clenched his jaw tighter and willed away the nausea.
"What's this? A reading session?" Loki sneered, plastering a smug grin on his face. "Taking the role of babysitter too seriously? Going to read a picture book are we?" Thor's eyes flashed with warning and he hissed a quiet "Loki!" Between his teeth, none too subtly. Subtlety had never been his forte though. His forte had been smashing things with that hammer of his and being an insolent fool... at least until Odin died and Thor became king. He was proving better at that than Loki would have ever expected.
Strange, for his part, appeared as nonchalant as ever, although there could have been a slight tilt of amusement to his arrogant smirk. "I was thinking you could help me translate some texts, but if picture books are all you can manage..." Loki scoffed, and was in the process of retorting something degrading or offensive when ho and behold, Thor butted in like the stubborn son of Odin he was. "I hope my brother does not cause too much grief. I appreciate your generosity to take him on" the sincerity in Thor's voice surprised Loki a tiny bit. There could have even been fondness in there whilst referring to him?
Strange was polite in his response, but his eyes betrayed how he actually felt. Disdain and displeasure at being bridled with the silver tongued trickster. At least the feeling was mutual. "I would like to discuss with Loki before I take my leave" oh no, here it comes, the big brother lecture. Strange waved a hand in dismissal and wandered off somewhere into the library. Loki was surprised he was game to leave them on their own. He clearly didn't trust Loki, and after the disastrous wreck Thor had created last visit; it was a surprise they were even let back inside honestly.
Thor's hand came to rest heavily on Loki's shoulder and he startled slightly. It had been so long since they'd been open with one another, yet alone touch without the intention of harm... Loki didn't know how to take it. Thor sighed and fixed his intense gaze on Loki. "You mustn't cause too much harm brother, I don't know how much the people of earth are willing to forgive." Loki sneered, his eyes wandering from Thor's and roaming the library for sight of Strange's peculiar red and blue ensemble. "I hardly seek forgiveness."
The hand on Loki's shoulder squeezed a bit uncomfortably, and when Loki set his gaze back on Thor he caught a glimpse of who Thor really was now. Tired and sleep deprived, staying up to try and comfort his people. A being who had seen far too much and carried that weight on his shoulders. Added the weights his brother should be carrying, added the weights of Loki's bitterness and hatred and hurt because he thought it was his fault.
Loki sighed and dropped his gaze, pretending to stare transfixed at his nails when really he didn't want to keep staring at Thor and that blindpatch. "I'm not yours to fix, brother" at first he didn't even realise he'd said that out loud, but the quiet humm from Thor confirmed he had. "I know that Loki. I shouldn't trust you after all you've done, but I still do, and I still have hope in you." With that, Thor squeezed Loki's shoulder one last time and left. Loki watched him go, so many unspoken words resting on his tongue which he would never say, could never say, because it meant exposing himself to Thor, exposing how part of him hoped too. There was a time he would have told him. A long, long time ago when they were still boys and were unburdened by the beasts of men. How had they messed up so bad? When did it all go so bad? It was his fault no doubt.
"Going to stand there and mope? Or do I have to look at the pictures myself?" Loki hissed between his teeth in response to Strange's remark. Any 'accidents' in the unforeseeable future would not be his fault. In fact, even non accidents wouldn't be his fault considering this was all SHIELD's fault. Stark better not have bet much because Loki wasn't even going to last a day.
Thank you for reading! Hope you all liked this.