AN: Hello everyone! Thank you for clicking on this little story! I hope it does not turn out to be completely dreadful. This story takes place after The Avengers so if you have not seen it, please do! It really is spectacular. I hope you enjoy, and please read and review. Thank you again!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Pathology

An uneasy silence had befallen Asgard. Thor's conquest on Midgard had not gone unheard of by the masses and celebrations erupted upon news of his return. When the splendid warrior returned, however, with his treacherous brother in tow the celebrations abruptly stopped. A most unsettling silence, a judging silence, took the place of their cheers.

Shocked eyes watched as Thor dragged his brother, muzzled and chained, down the sparkling halls of the palace. Though they thought themselves quiet, Thor could hear the whispers about Loki—about how they thought him dead. He could hear the rumors spreading-he could taste the speculation. Thor knew that in time all of Asgard would know of the atrocities his brother had committed on Midgard. And even though Loki deserved every disgusted glare he got, he feared for him once the Allfather heard of his return.

Looking at his brother, Thor couldn't help but feel conflicted. Every ounce of his being told him that the man he once called family was gone—replaced, instead, by a destructive monster he knew too well on Midgard. But even after all that Loki had done, everything that he had planned to do, he couldn't help but feel for him. Between all the horrors he committed, there has been some glimmers of his brother, of the real Loki, and it made him long for his brother again. It made him long for any semblance of normalcy.

As they continued their walk towards the throne room, Thor could almost see the fear in his brother's eyes. They both knew well that Allfather would not take kindly to Loki's return, and they both knew that the punishment would be of the most extreme. Giving his brother a stern, but sympathetic look, Thor pushed open the golden doors to the throne room. In front of them sat their father whose face wore the deep marks of disappointment and anger. It had seemed, even in the short time he had been on Midgard, that his father had aged greatly.

Pulling Loki forward, Thor continued down the walkway towards the throne. It was almost strange, really. The last time he had made this walk he was to be crowned king—but it was Loki and his tricks that would ruin that day. It was Loki and his tricks that brought them back today. Unlike his coronation celebration, however, this meeting with their father would not be a pleasant one.

Thor could see his mother standing at the side of his father, trying to hold back her tears. He knew not whether she was saddened by what had happened, or overwhelmed with seeing Loki alive—perhaps it was a little of both. As they approached closer, Odin stood and slammed his great scepter on the gilded floor beneath him.

Before any words were spoken, a small band of servants came and collected Loki from Thor. Violently, they dragged him off towards another place in the palace. As Thor watched Loki being dragged off, however, he couldn't help but feel powerless. Even though Loki was to be punished, Thor did not wish to see him tortured. With Loki out of his hands, he felt like he couldn't protect him…and he feared for what awaited him in the detention wing of the palace.

He feared for what Odin had ordered the guards to do.

Before his mind could race further, Thor's attention was drawn towards his father as he heard him sit back down on his throne. Kneeling, he presented his father with the tesseract, the cube that had been stolen from his chambers so long ago.

"Father, I have returned to you the tesseract." Thor sighed, "I apologize that it has taken so long to locate."

Odin took a deep breath and sent a look to Frigga. He watched as she walked down the stairs towards their son, hugged him deeply, and collected the tesseract. He could see how shaken his wife had become with their sons' return, and he knew that the conversation that was about to follow would distress her. Giving her another knowing look, she walked off towards another part of the palace—he suspected, to see Loki.

"Your efforts on Midgard, and with returning the Tesseract, are most appreciated, Thor." He said with a sad smile, "It takes a strong warrior to know when to share responsibility—to share glory. To fight along side Midgardians, to save a race you still know little of, shows how great of a king you will be. I look forward to the day when responsibility shifts to you."

Thor looked down towards the golden floor with gratitude. While he most certainly enjoyed his father's praise, he was most concerned about his father's feelings on a different matter.

"Thank you, father," he finally whispered, "But I came not to receive your kind words. I have brought Loki back home and, although he must be punished, I fear for him."

Thor looked up towards his father again, looking very much like a worried child.

"What will become of him, father?"

Odin seemed to think about the situation for a moment. The moment he heard that Loki was alive, and causing havoc at that, he had contemplated the fate of his adopted son. He had come up with many options, some of which Frigga would vehemently refuse, but he knew those options, the most severe, would be the most appropriate.

"Your brother will face torture for his crimes against Midgard." Odin remarked, "If these tortures cannot change him, if he refuses to give up his poisonous lust for power, he will be executed."

Thor could feel the breath catch in his chest; he wished not for his brother to be killed, especially after feeling the pain when he thought he had died. He knew that if Loki were to die for certain, his mother would never recover. He didn't think he would ever recover. Loki may be a monster, but Thor did not want him dead…

"Father, please." Thor finally said, getting over his shock, "Loki may be damaged, but he should not face the punishment of death."

Odin looked down at Thor curiously.

"Your brother attempted to kill you, to kill me." He explained, "He used the Bifrost to destroy most of Jotunheim, he sent an army so he could take Midgard. Your brother has killed countless people, Thor. If it were but a stranger you would not hesitate to suggest execution. Loki is no different. He is irreparably damaged. He is lucky I am even giving him a chance."

Thor looked at his father in disgust. He could understand his logic, he really could, but this was not a stranger. This was the son he had raised, this was the brother he had grown up with, this was Loki—and he couldn't believe his own father would think that way. Perhaps he still had much to learn about ruling, about a fair system. Still, he would not let Loki succumb to that fate.

"I think you wrong, father." Thor said as respectfully as he could, "Loki may be damaged, perhaps irreparably so, but I believe he is still in there. When I spoke with him in Midgard I could see, behind the anger, but for a moment…I could see my brother. I would rather see Loki rot in prison, with every effort to save him, than dead. I promise you I can save him."

Odin gave him a small laugh.

"Save him from what?" Odin questioned, "For you surely won't save him from Asgardian justice. Your brother must, and will suffer greatly."

"No." Thor corrected, "Save him from death; save him from himself. Save him from his delusions, from his imagined slights."

"So be it." Odin sighed, giving Thor a small smile; "This will be a grand lesson for you. In my youth, I too thought the best of everyone. I thought there was not a soul that could not be helped, saved…changed. Perhaps you are right about your brother, but I hope you are not so blinded by your familiar ties to see that he finds proper justice. I hope you are not so blinded that you continue a pointless journey to save him. Some people cannot be saved, Thor."

Thor gave his father a small bow before standing up and beginning his trek out of the throne room. He knew his father was right on many things, but not this. He knew what he saw on Midgard, and he was going to try and save whatever humanity was left in his brother. Failure was not an option he was willing to consider. If he failed, it would mark his brother's death.

Thor didn't want that blood on his hands.

Thank you for reading! 3