A Note to the Reader: Thanks to all who read the first chapter! I really appreciate it! There's plenty more where that came from...In fact, I've got a lot of surprises lined up for you guys, and I'm just bursting at the seams with excitement to hear what you think. So if you've got the time, send me a review! Any critique is really helpful. I want this story to be as fun for you to read as it is for me to write, so tell me what I'm doing wrong. I'll even respond to them at the end of every chapter~

"Thor, you know I cannot make false promises to him like that," Odin began, his irritation evident in his tone, "You saw how he reacted yesterday, did you not? He thinks already that we are barely worthy of what little trust he can offer. Why should I endanger what is left for a promise that might undo any progress he might make?"

"Because, father," Thor countered, "He deserves the rights any other Asgardian would just as readily receive."

"Any other Asgardian would be dead."

"Please, at least consider my words while he is away. The changes he makes on earth will not be undone if his memory is returned. He is capable of changing himself, just as I did in my banishment."

"Your case was considerably different than his. I don't want to hear another word on the subject, Thor. Now is the time to summon Loki so that we can end this messy business."

Odin summoned a handful of guards to the front of the throne, where he commanded them to retrieve Loki from his cell for the last time. Thor swallowed hard and watched them leave, hoping that Loki would be more cooperative this time, or at the very least, more stable than he was the night before. He'd seen his little brother weep over several stressful occasions, all of matters dear to the young god's heart, but Thor had plenty of reason to believe that the decision made yesterday might have broken that already bruised heart. Thor could only hope that whatever damage had been done to the poor man's mind was reversible. He had confidence in sending him to earth, knowing that Loki would do well there, judging by what he'd seen in Jotunheim. Loki was not of a black mind or heart, as was obvious, and maybe if Odin saw that they could all be a family once again.

Loki looked up sullenly as the door opened again, his eyes heavy with a lack of sleep, his back sore from slouching against the same wall for the entire night. He had wished to speak to Thor again before the banishment, but he knew that his brother was probably still negotiating with Odin on his behalf. It made Loki's heart even heavier to imagine it, an image that before filled him with spite, now making his throat tighten and a small sad smile cross his face. He imagined what might be said as two guards lifted him and restrained him, once again, and led him quietly down the winding corridors. Loki kept his eyes closed the entire time, already exhausted from the lack of sleep. He fell out of step a few times, earning an angry sigh or a discontent grumble from the guards as they corrected his walking, even catching him a few times as he nearly fell going up or down stairs. Once they'd finally reached the throne room, Loki's knees were shaking, his shins were sore and the guards were nearly holding him up by the shoulders.

He looked up at Odin, Frigga, and Thor through his tired eyes and smiled at his mother and brother, bid them good morning as if it were any other day, and then turned his full attention to Odin, who seemed entirely unfazed about everything. Loki felt the guards walk away and they took their restraints with them, which meant it was almost certainly time for the banishment. The only positive thought to come to Loki's mind was that at least there was no one but the four of them to witness it.

"Loki Laufeyson, you have nearly destroyed one realm, and had the intent to enslave another. You've endangered your family, the citizens of Asgard, and everyone you have ever come into contact with. You are unfit for the powers you possess, you are unwelcome in your own realm, and you have no place in a world of peace. You must pay for your crimes. I take from you now you powers, your magics, and your rank," Odin's words became labored but fierce as he spoke, an odd combination that Loki took as a sign of age and weakness, "In the name of my father, and his father before, I Odin Allfather cast you out!"

Loki was only half-listening to Odin's words, but as his father spoke he could feel himself weakening further, a force which nearly had him on his knees. But before he could sink any farther, the intense feeling of being yanked by the collar backwards through time and space and a black hole seized him. He couldn't tell if it was like being pushed backwards or being dragged away. Whichever description was more accurate, it didn't make the experience any more comfortable to identify it with a name. When it had finally ended, Loki was experiencing something akin to jet lag and jumping out of a plane. He didn't even realize his face was in the mud as he pulled himself up, as much as he would rather lay there, and wiped his face off. Once he'd finished, he peered down at the rest of him and sighed. He was filthy from head to toe.

"Should we get him a shower, first, or what?"

"I dunno, but I can smell him from here. Go ask Fury or something."

"Boys, we haven't got time for this. Fury has already said that we need to bring him in immediately."

"Alright, we know. No reason to be so uptight – just having a little fun..."

Loki jumped at the first voice and looked up, and he was met with a familiar sight. Each Avenger was hovering over him, and Agent Barton was even holding up the front again, at the ready to loose an arrow should Loki make a false move. The exiled Asgardian raised his hands slightly and a brow, watching all of them converse. Then he realized he hadn't a chance to bathe since their battle and he rolled his eyes.

"It's nice to see you all without your costumes." He remarked sullenly.

"Yeah, and it's about time we get you out of yours." Tony spat with a sarcastic wink. Loki shrunk back like an offended cat and recovered with a sneer.

"Sorry to disappoint, Stark, but I'm not inclined to undress in front of you." Loki muttered with a glare as Tony made a face and laughed.

"Right, because I can hardly wait to see your scrawny ass in a hospital gown. Clint tells me that your brother didn't look so hot in one, so I can't wait to see how you'll do."

"Tony, that's enough. We need to take him in, now," Natasha said, obviously trying to suppress a smile.

Loki was happy to be led away from the scene without being cuffed or whatever else the humans were capable of, but it didn't make him any calmer to be in the middle of the five avengers, who had no doubt but assembled just for this occasion. The only thing that would have made the horrible situation any better was if the sixth avenger – his own brother, – could be there as well. At least the avengers were slower than the guards, and much easier to keep up with. That didn't brighten Loki's mood much, however, as tired as he was being led about like a common prisoner. It almost hurt when he realized that he was, at least to these fools, nothing more than a war criminal.

"I can see that whole 'ultimate power' deal didn't work out so hot for you," Fury called from the entrance to a large black building with many windows. Loki laughed loud enough for him to hear.

"I suppose it didn't work out so well for you, either, Director Fury!"

"Yeah, well, at least I'm not the guy that gets to wear the dress."

"I keep hearing about that. I wish you'd tell me something," Loki called back as they approached the door.

"It's all part of the deal. We missed you so much that we thought we'd bring you back, Reindeer Games," Fury murmured with a glance in Tony's direction, as if feeding him a stern reminder, "But to wipe your metaphorical slate clean, we gotta check you in to our base's hospital. Any questions?"

"Yes, just one and a request," Loki replied with a laugh, "Why the dress?"

"Protocol." Fury said with a shrug, and the avengers fell back behind Loki as the Director and the former god of mischief walked toe-to-toe.

"Ah. I'll take that magazine, then."

"Will do." Fury remarked sarcastically, leading Loki into his hospital room and showing him to the rather uncomfortable bed on which a small green gown lay.

Once he had washed the mud off his face, and with much difficulty, Loki had undressed and tied the gown behind his back. There was a mirror behind his bed which he used to see the backside of which the faintest sliver of his entire backside was visible. He groaned audibly and tried to pull the gown tighter in the back, but a knock at the door came and he immediately jumped into the bed for cover. Without any permission, two familiar blonde figures stepped into the clean white room.

"Captain America and the Mighty Thor," Loki breathed sarcastically, "It's great to see you two again,"

"Yeah you, too. The gown matches your eyes, by the way," Steve remarked, dropping his armful on the foot of Loki's bed. "Brought you that magazine."

Loki raised a brow and said, "I was merely joking."

"I figured," Steve sighed, disliking the assumption that everyone met that he was incompetent, "But I think this is his jab back," He finished, picking the magazine back up and dropping it with a slap on Loki's chest. He picked it up and examined the words at the top. Cosmopolitan. Loki would have snickered if he'd known what the word meant. Cap read the confusion on his face.

"Hey, don't ask me. All I know is that there's a drink with the same name," He muttered out of spite, remembering the time Tony had ordered him one.

"'How to make any man better in bed'?" Loki asked, furrowing his brow, "What are you trying to tell me, Rogers?" He murmured, waggling his brow. He didn't know a lot of human jargon, but judging that the rest of the cover was about intercourse, the meaning of the title was obvious. Rogers gave him a disgusted look and pulled the clothes out from under the magazine.

"Just look through these. Keep whatever you want, most of it's Tony's old stuff."

Then Thor finally stepped forward, holding a hanger with a suit wrapped in plastic dangling off it, "For after the procedure," He muttered and hung it up in the small wall closet provided across the room. Loki passed him a knowing look and mulled over the pile of tops and bottoms. He picked out what looked the best to him and dumped the rest back on the bed, holding the favorites out to Steve. The captain sighed and took them, dropping them at the bottom of the closet. It was already completely obvious that Steve Rogers did not like the plan of having Loki back.

"It was nice seeing you, captain," Loki called as Steve turned to leave, although he received no answer. He became pensive once again as Thor pulled a chair next to the bed and stared at his little brother. The thunder god's expression was a mixture of exhaustion and barely-readable pain, but Loki knew him well enough to know that the pained look was caused by guilt.

"I'm not angry with you, if that's what you were wondering."

"You aren't?" Thor asked, perking up immediately.

"How could I be? You have saved my life, Thor, and I am grateful." Loki said through his teeth, lying in every word. Of course he was angry. But not at Thor. "I just wish I could remember to do something for you in the future to repay the debt."

"All you have to do is finish your sentence and I will be the happiest being alive. I just want you to come home," Thor sighed wistfully, a small smile breaking through his worried expression. The room was silent for a few moments before Thor continued, "They're going to give you seven injections, brother."

Loki jumped at the mere words, "Injections? With a needle?"

"Yes. The medicine they're using to erase your memory will be a little painful for a time, and it will leave red bruises, but I will be here with you until the sixth is administered," Thor promised, resting a large hand on Loki's shoulder.

"How bad will it hurt?"

"I asked Director Fury, and he has said that the first injection hurts the most, but they will only give these injections once per five minutes. You have his permission to scream as loud as you would like, also."

Loki ran a hand through his hair and closed his tired eyes, "When does this start?"

"...Very soon."

The door swung open just as Loki was saying, "How soon?"

And Tony Stark answered, "Right now's 'how soon'."

Review Responses!

Guest: Thank you so much for being my first reviewer! But you should seriously consider writing your own version of the events – I'd read it! Don't let everyone else and I stop you. We're all here to offer our own stories and interpretations! But thank you so much, again, for the wonderful compliments!