Loki sat outside of his home and stared out in to the surrounding scenery. He wasn't thinking of anything particular, he was content to let his mind drift aimlessly. To be honest, these days, he was just content period.
When he had returned to Asgard with Thor he had gotten off easy with a stern reprimand from his brother, as Odin had fallen in to the Odinsleep after sending Thor to Midgard. To the anger of the Realm, Loki was then given a home in the secluded forests of Asgard, a second chance at becoming the god he should have been instead of the one he became.
Loki had become rather reflective since then.
He thought of all he had done in his life, the good (what little there seemed to be) and the bad (gods, there was so much bad...). Loki sighed, how could he ever atone for all that he'd done, and he did want to atone, Thor's love and devotion had finally broken the spell the Chitari held over Loki.
He'd done so much harm for so many years...he may look young in the eyes of the Midgardians, but, Odin's beard, did he feel old.
His mind drifted far back into his childhood, before everything went so wrong. He could still clearly see the bedroom he had shared with his Thor when they were small. Thor was up on Odin's shoulders being swung around. He was shouting at his father to go faster, while Loki played with ruin inscribed blocks on the hearth rug.
Odin put Thor down and his large boots appeared in young Loki's view, but just as he moved to pick his younger son up for a turn on those broad shoulders a messenger appeared at the floor and took Odin away on business.
This was long before Loki created and perfected his mask of disdain and indifference that he wore so well as an adult, so he openly showed his disappointment at being left out. Thor moved close to Loki and hugged him, he even tried to lift Loki up on his shoulders until Frigga stopped him.
A slight smile played over Loki's lips, that was Thor, always there for him...even when Loki thought he didn't want him to be.
When Loki had been half mad with pain and plans for revenge, he'd seen this incident as proof that his adopted father hated him from the beginning. But now that he was calmer and more at peace with himself and his heritage, Loki could see that it was no fault of Odin's.
Hadn't Odin tried to make it up to Loki...? There was no specific memory that he could recall to support the feeling that this was so, but the feeling persisted...a mere shadow of a memory.
So lost in thought was Loki that he failed to hear the sound of muffled footsteps on the fallen leaves coming up behind him. Nor did he notice the presence of a man until a large, meaty hand was placed on his shoulder startling him back to the present.