As wildly as that night had started, they had spent the rest of it talking, sitting close together, touching tentatively, getting a cautious feel of each other after almost a decade of little but venom. Loki had not only agreed that they should keep this to themselves for a while, he had suggested that they keep his presence from the people at least for a few hours. Thor's coronation was the following evening – Asgardians were nothing if not efficient – and that Loki was here might cause trouble. Thor had protested, but not much. It was a fact they both knew. No matter how well-timed Loki's arrival had been, no matter how many more would be dead if he hadn't come, many saw him as the instigator of the entire mess. And many believed that Hela could have been defeated without destroying all they were, blaming Loki for waking Surtur. Surely, they would think he should at least have had the grace to die.

What he hadn't told Thor was how he had survived. His brother had sent him on a suicide mission. That should have stung, but in their situation, it was the only thing they could have done. And Thor, as he had revealed last night, hadn't expected either of them to survive, had expected to meet his brother again … wherever, only a heartbeat – or lack thereof – later. Now Thor had asked him how he'd got out, to which Loki had replied vaguely that he was resourceful. His salvation, of course had been the Tesseract, hidden away in a dimensional pocket now. Loki wanted nothing more than to get rid of it, but that wasn't as easy as one would think with an object of such violent power.

And now … now he was on his way to the first council meeting Thor had called. He was striding through the corridors, emerald cloak billowing behind him, hands clasped behind his back. He held his head high, his face schooled into an aloof expression as he walked, seemingly paying no attention to the stares he was getting. He did take note of them, however, and not all were hostile. That was something.

Thor had called the meeting in a huge room on an upper deck. It had a stage at the front so it was meant for some sort of performance. The room was already half crowded when Loki arrived – not late, but not too early, either. He made his way through the people, and kept walking right onto the stage. Thor grinned at him and gave him a hug. It was a message to their people as much as it was a gesture of affection. 'I'm grateful,' he said. 'I know you didn't want to come.'

'You can thank me later.'

'Can you … ah … go back down? You know, I mean, to the rest of the people. I'm sure you'll seize the opportunity to come back up once it's there.'

'Ah. The King wants to be alone in the limelight.'

'You should be intimately familiar with that desire,' Thor said quietly.

Loki chuckled, answering equally softly. 'Using the words intimately and desire in the same sentence makes me think of something entirely different.'

'Oh. I will thank you later.'

'Good. Rest assured that I, in turn, will want to come.' Grinning, Loki left the stage to stand directly in front of Thor with the rest of the people behind him.

Thor spread his arms wide. 'People of Asgard. I called this my first council meeting, and for the moment, you all are that council. Or you can be.' He lowered his arms again. 'Almost all of our survivors are in this room now. Some are attending duties across the ship, but they can hear us if they choose to and they are informed of my request to everyone who is still alive.

'This room was meant to seat 500 people. These seats are filled and there is barely space to walk between those standing around, in front, and behind the seats. That means we have more survivors than I had thought. I'm glad and grateful to all of you for helping each other escape certain death, ensuring the survival of our people. Our kind. We are enough. I didn't …' He faltered, and his gaze found Loki's as if he drew strength from it. 'I wasn't certain if that would be the case. Once again, our people prove all but indestructible.' His left hand strayed to the eye patch in a gesture Loki was sure was unconscious. 'Father told me that Asgard isn't a place. It is us, and it is wherever we are. We are on a journey to Midgard that will take us eight or nine months. We have the supplies for that journey, do not worry that we shall all starve. What I need, now, is a council, men and women who will advise me. Hela has slaughtered our old council as well as the soldiers. So here it is. Who will aid me? Who wishes to be one of my advisers?'

Loki blinked. He wanted to ask Thor if he was serious, but he kept his silence. No-one ever chose a council like that. Odin's advisers had been handpicked. But then, that had been a different situation.

Considering the amount of people in the room, it was incredibly silent. Loki waited with a growing sense of impatience until he saw the unease on Thor's face. 'No one?' he asked then in a carrying voice. 'Very well. I volunteer.'

Thor beamed at him. 'Come up to me, then, brother.'

In measured steps, Loki mounted the stage. He stood to Thor's right, perfectly in line with him rather than behind. Someone in the crowd shouted, 'No!'

Thor's face darkened, but Loki wouldn't let him demand who it was, talking before Thor could. 'Listen to me,' he said sharply. 'I expected opposition. However, it is undeniable that on this ship, I am the person with the most experience ruling our people. I did it for two years and you didn't notice. Now it is Thor's turn, and I am relieved of the burden. For that it is. I shall stand by his side. It was his choice to deny me. He did not. If you disagree, there is one sensible response, isn't there?' He made an inviting gesture and didn't get an answer. 'Why, it's obvious. Join the council.'

'I will join,' a powerful voice said. 'But not out of disapproval of your person.' Heimdall was an impressive figure and even though he had been close to the back, he didn't even have to make an effort for a path to form.

'I'm joining. Yeah. Because I disapprove.' Valkyrie. Her face was split by a grin as she vaulted onto the stage where she stood rather than walking a few steps to the stairs at the centre and on either side.

Loki watched a hand go up. Thor stared, baffled, for a few moments. Loki laughed. 'I think he wants permission to talk.'

'What? Korg! You don't need to … ah …' He imitated the raised hand vaguely. 'You can just, you know, talk.'

Loki snorted and struggled for control. He almost missed Korg's saying: 'I don't believe that a monarchy is a viable system.'

Loki made a dismissive gesture. 'We know what you think is best, Korg. But maybe you should stop mistaking monarchy for tyranny.'

'Do you want to be on the council, Korg?' Thor offered. 'If you want to make sure no-one is overlooked by the system, this is the best way for you to do it.' A soft mutter went through the people. Loki smiled. He had expected it.

'I am not Asgardian. I wondered if I could.'

'You'll notice that one of the advantages of a monarchy is that I get to decide who can and can't be on my council. Come on up.'

Korg hesitated. 'I mean … if the majority of the people is against it, I wouldn't want to.'

'This isn't an election,' Loki said with a hint of impatience.

'If this is what he wants,' Thor said softly. 'People of Asgard. I believe a different perspective can only do us good. I would have Korg advise me, regardless of the fact that he wasn't born among us. He is here. He is part of our group of refugees, quite literally in the same boat. I would not refuse him. Will you?' No one spoke or raised their hands. After the way Thor had asked, Loki would have been astounded if it had been different. Thor beamed. 'See? Come on, Korg, I think you're going to be brilliant.'

Finally, the Kronan started to move. 'Fine. But this wasn't a fair question.'

Thor and Loki exchanged a glance before the King addressed the people again. 'There is one particular person I want on my team. She is one of our best healers and while she was never on the council, she was a friend to our father. Heid, please.'

'I'd rather …' The woman next to her, looking identical, nudged her hard in the ribs. 'I mean … Isn't this called the council of Elders? Am I an Elder?'

'We can rename it.'

Loki's eyes settled on her twin. He leaned closer to Thor and spoke in an undertone. 'Take her sister, too. Her name is Gullveig.'

'The one that looks like Heid only sour?'

'Yes. That one. She organises ship maintenance. I know her.'

'Oh. Good. Gullveig, you too. Both of you. Come on.'

'Your Highness, neither of us has any experience with rulership,' Heid said.

'Don't you?' Valkyrie called out. 'You're the second in command in the infirmary, Gullveig is the head of some technical … whatever. You know how to organise people. None of the rest of us do.'

'I organised a rebellion,' Korg pointed out and Loki groaned.

'Please. I want to have very different people from different backgrounds on my council, as you can see. I want someone from our lot that isn't highborn or in some other way a part of a privileged class.'

The sisters shared a look before moving through the crowd as one. Loki watched them, mesmerised. They walked almost in perfect sync and he wondered if all twins were like that.

Thor, in the meantime, clapped his hands together and grinned. 'Anyone else?' He gave them half a minute. 'Well. You can always forward your names later. Father's council had nine seats. Mine now has six. I am willing to take three more if they can broaden our horizon. Now you'll excuse us. The council. I'd like to talk to you lot, see that we all get to know each other.'

Ϡ

They had retreated into a smaller room, adjacent to Thor's quarters. It had an oval table in it, a cabinet with liquor and glasses, and a large window looking out to the stars. It probably had served a similar purpose, which was why it was close to the captain's quarters.

'So,' Thor said. In his hand, he cradled a shot glass full of amber liquid. 'To Asgard, my friends. To our future.' They downed their shots and Valkyrie grabbed the bottle to take a hearty swig from it. Loki noticed that when she put the bottle down, only very little was missing, for all the show she'd made. 'What I want to make clear is that I am not my father and I will not have us repeat his mistakes. Therefore, you will not only be my advisers, you will help me rule. Loki, obviously you are my second in command. You are my brother, you are right now my heir if anything should happen to me.'

'Excuse me,' Valkyrie said, 'is it wise to point that out to him?'

Loki gave her a level look. 'If you think I wasn't aware of that, you're delusional.'

Thor glared at him. 'Not helping. Anyway. We want to rename this Council of Elders to … what? Suggestions?'

'The King's Thing?' Loki suggested.

Thor opened his mouth and closed it. 'No,' he said then. 'No way in hell.' Valkyrie barely contained her laughter. Even Heimdall's eyes were crinkling with mirth.

'The Friends of the Asgardian People,' said Korg. Thor buried his head in his hands.

Valkyrie tipped a finger against her chin. 'How about The Source of Royal Wisdom?'

Thor smiled pleasantly at the three of them. 'Another advantage of a monarchy is that after the next ridiculous suggestion I can name you The King's Flea Circus or The Royal Wipers and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.'

'I suggest keeping the Council of Elders as our name or, as an alternative, the Royal Council,' Heimdall offered.

Thor nodded eagerly. 'Yes. That is a fine, dull, name. I like it. At any rate, there are several organisational matters I want to hand over to … to the Royal Council. First, health. Heid, it will be your department. You will regulate and organise working hours, education of new healers and that kind. I know you are a healer and not a slide rule, but this needs to be done by someone who knows how much of what can be asked of a healer. A bureaucrat is no use.'

She nodded. 'You're right. I know. I have done some of that already, I will gladly do it.'

'Gullveig.' Thor smiled at her. Loki observed her closely. She no longer had the glum expression from before. Apparently she wasn't all that comfortable around crowds. 'You just keep doing what you do already, only in an official capacity. Also, please make certain our people do not sap too much energy for unnecessary things. I leave it to you where you draw the line.'

'Wise. I will do it, your Highness.'

'Ah. No. Don't. Not in here, don't do that. Out there, you may call me that but … in here, please just say Thor. This … isn't how I want it to be.'

Korg raised an eyebrow – or at least it looked like raising an eyebrow, only the Kronan version of it. 'This is progress. Not ideal, but progress. Puts you on a level. Now if you would make it a general rule to use your name …'

'No,' Loki said firmly. 'Thor is our King. We will refer to him as such to the public.'

'Only Korg isn't Asgardian,' Heimdall said. 'Thor isn't his king. To make him use a title he does not acknowledge seems … ah …'

'The words you look for are wrong or childish,' Thor supplied. 'Korg, you can call me anything you like.'

'You never tell me that,' Loki said under his breath.

Thor ignored him. 'Speaking of you, Korg, I need a quartermaster. That encompasses rations, clothing, weaponry. Someone with a sense of equality and fairness should do this. Would you agree to be my quartermaster?'

Watching a piece of rock blink rapidly was a sight to behold. 'Why, yes, of course. Do you include yourself in that rationing?'

'All of us. Yes. We are not entitled to more or better food than the rest.'

'We're not?' Loki asked.

'Shut up.' Thor gave him a very unconvincing glare. 'Next, as I have mentioned, we have lost our warriors. We need to train new ones.'

Valkyrie raised her hand. 'I'll do that.'

'I hoped you would. I also need someone to manage education of the young in general. To find people with knowledge to pass on, to have them teach magic and astronomy and history and what not. Loki … I'd hoped …'

Loki contemplated his hands. 'I hadn't expected you to assign me a department.'

'Of course you get a department. Everyone does.'

'What is yours?'

'Being King. Trust me, that's intimidating enough.'

Loki turned his gaze on his brother. 'You will be an excellent ruler. There is no need to worry.' He licked his lips. 'I will, of course, do as you ask.'

'Last … it seems foolish, but I want some sort of … I don't know. Police or intelligence office. I want the armoury guarded, I want our rations guarded, but I also want an ear to the ground. We are very many people on rather little space. I need to know of problems before they fester.'

'Understood,' Heimdall said simply.

'May I make a suggestion that has nothing to do with my department?' Loki asked.

Thor laughed. 'Everyone may suggest anything here. That is the main point of a council, after all.'

'We should do a census.'

'Good idea. Will you organise it? I know, not your department but you're good with this kind of stuff.'

'I will. And … since we are probably no more than a three digit number of people … I recommend two things. One is genetic screening for couples that wish to reproduce. To minimise inbreeding.'

Thor looked at him for a long while. 'It is a good suggestion. But it will not be popular.'

Loki shrugged. 'Well. My reputation can hardly be damaged.'

'I'll say,' Valkyrie said and poured herself another – only the second – shot.

'No. You do the census. Heid, the screening goes to your department. The people love you. You can pull it off without major problems.'

She inclined her head.

'You had something else?' Thor asked.

'Yes. For the sake of reproduction you may want to consider banning homosexual behaviour.'

Valkyrie had just tried to drain her shot and sprayed it all over Heimdall, who sat across her. Loki got rid of the mess with an impatient gesture of his hand.

Thor stared at him. 'Are you kidding?'

'I said you might consider it. You may as well not.'

'Loki, would you have me tell an elder couple that suddenly their marriage is illicit?'

'Of course not. But … not form new ones?'

'Our kind has always been more attracted to souls than bodies, Loki. This isn't something we can regulate or vilify or …'

'Not vilify, of course. I'm not saying you should act like a stupid Midgardian and tell people that they're dirty. But … you are right, no matter the reasoning, it would be a cruel law. Maybe we could encourage them to … I don't know, team up with other couples, get someone pregnant, and then move on to the ones they love.'

'Encouraging reproduction is good,' Heid said. 'We should do that. We have to. So that is actually a good plan. To get same sex couples that are friendly to create children. Obviously, not by persuading them to sleep with someone they do not wish to sleep with.'

'Can we do that artificially? Here?' Thor asked.

'That … isn't the world's greatest challenge,' Heid said simply.

'Don't you need some sort of very complex equipment, or … How would you do that?'

Heid looked at him for several seconds. 'With a donation and a syringe,' she said then, in the tone of a mother explaining something to a very daft child.

Thor flushed crimson and Valkyrie howled with laughter at his expression. Thor was still beet red when he stuttered that this was all for now and that they'd meet in three days to see if there was any progress in their departments.