A/N: Hey guys! So, so sorry for the long wait, but I have a better idea of where I want to go with this now, so hopefully I'll be able to update quicker. In any case, here's the next chapter and I hope you enjoy!

Traveling through the Bifrost was not something Clint was eager to experience again.

"Clint? Are you alright?" Thor asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Clint was currently resting his hands on his knees trying to control his stomach.

"Yeah, just, ugh…, give me a minute." Thor backed up respectfully and a moment later Clint stood up.

"Ok. I'm good now."

"It is a bit of a shock the first time," Thor conceded.

"Yeah, no kidding." Suddenly, Clint caught sight of Heimdall who was standing at the doorway. "Uh, who's he?"

"Friend Clint this is Heimdall, all seeing keeper of the way between worlds. Heimdall, this is Clint Barton, one of the Avengers."

"Nice to meet you," Clint said somewhat nervously. Heimdall almost smirked and rumbled back,

"And you as well. Thor," he said, "Some scientists have been alerted and are waiting for you in the infirmary."

"Thank you Heimdall." With a respectful nod, Thor led the way across the Rainbow Bridge with the awestruck (and still somewhat queasy) Avenger in tow.

"Gotta hand it to you Thor, this is a sweet place." There was so much to look at, from the glistening city to the brightly colored bridge to the edge of space behind them.

The kids would love this, Clint thought and his heart broke even more if it was possible. It didn't help that on top of his worrying, he was on edge; he knew Loki was dead, but part of him still harbored a small grudge, or fear, or resentment of Asgardians; he didn't know which it was.

The guards at the gate nodded respectfully to their prince and gave an odd look at the Midgardian in their midst.

What's their problem? Clint wondered, then glanced down and realized he was still wearing pajamas. Whoops.

The palace was simply huge. By the time they reached the infirmary, Clint was feeling a bit agoraphobic and was wishing there was an air vent to hide in.

In stark contrast to infirmaries on earth, this one was decked out in darker colors. Dark brown tile made up the floor and walls, while pristine lab tables were made of something not entirely earth and not entirely metal. Hospital beds lined the walls further back, but in the front of the room, there were three large lab tables decked out with state of the art, Asgardian technology. Two scientists were bent over a holographic display on one of the tables, but looked up when the two men came in.

"Your Majesty," said one of the scientists, decked out in light colored robes with dark red hair. "Heimdall alerted us to your arrival." Thor nodded.

"My friend here, his children were taken by creatures not of his world. There was a fight and we were hoping to get an identification off the residue on his hands."

"Of course. If you'll follow me," she said, addressing the archer. Thor nodded encouragingly as Clint followed the other Asgardian to a smaller table.

"Sir." Thor turned at the voice and found a palace guard standing at the door. "Your father requests your presence." Thor looked at Clint who nodded and smiled a bit.

"I'll be fine here. You go on ahead."

With his friend taken care of, Thor followed the guard to the throne room where Odin sat regally upon his throne.

"I did not expect to see you back here so soon, my son."

"Neither did I Father."

"Tell me, why have you brought yet another Midgardian into our midst?" Thor tried not to bristle at his father's derisive tone.

"He is more than just another Midgardian, Father. Clint is one of the Avengers-"

"The archer?" Odin interrupted, suddenly looking interested.

"Yes," Thor continued, slightly confused. If he hadn't known better, he'd say there was a mischievous glint in Odin's eye.

"Take me to him," the king demanded suddenly.

"Father, are you sure that's wise?" asked Thor taken aback.

"I am the king- and your father. Despite how I may act, I wouldn't mind meeting your friends."

Thor, though kind of bewildered, led his father back to the infirmary where the scientists were just finishing up.

"The results should come back within a couple of hours and judging by the circumstances, I think there's a high probability there will be a match."

"Thank you," Clint replied, then caught sight of Thor. "Welcome back Point Break. That was-" He caught sight of Odin. "Quick." The scientists turned and bowed to their king. The archer, not entirely sure what to do, dipped his head a bit; he wasn't one for formalities.

"So, this is the Midgardian," Odin began. "I've heard much about you." He waved the guards away. "Leave us. I wish to speak to him alone for a moment."

The scientists and guards left without a word, but Thor looked to Clint first, who nodded, and only then did he leave.

"So, uh, sorry for trespassing in your home Your Majest-"

Suddenly, the illusion dropped. Odin disappeared and Loki stood in his place.

Hawkeye reeled back. His hand scrabbled across the table and eventually found a scalpel that he brandished like a weapon. Loki chuckled.

"Oh please. As if you could harm me."

"Wanna bet?" Clint huffed, heart racing and blood boiling. "Does Thor know?"

"By the gods, no. Do you think I'd still be here if he did?"

"What do you want?"

"Mostly to mess with you," Loki admitted. "But also to find out why you're here."

Clint pressed his lips together. This guy had wreaked havoc in his mind and didn't deserve anything from him.

"Perhaps I could even help," the god baited. The archer gritted his teeth; he didn't want this guy's help, as much as he might end up needing it.

"By the searches you're running, I'd say you're looking for someone," he said, moving closer to the table. "Though why you'd be searching for anyone off planet- besides me of course- is beyond me.

"Unless… something happened to that secret family of yours."

"Shut up! You don't get to mention them. You shouldn't even know about them!"

"What happened?"

"Why do you care?"

"I'm not sure I do, but… there is a part of me that would like to make up for what I did to you." Clint couldn't help it. He laughed.

"Fine. Y'know what, fine. Go ahead and try. My children got kidnapped by some guys in a spaceship. You wanna make up for what you did? Help me find them. And if you don't, I'll tell Thor you're not dead."

"Deal," Loki said, extending his hand. It took every ounce of courage and stupidity that Clint had to reach out and shake that hand, but he did it. It felt like a small electric shock went through him.

"What was that?" he demanded.

"Sealing the deal so to speak," Loki replied. "Now let's call the others back in before my brother throws a fit." He swiftly changed back into Odin. "And remember," the King said, with a smirk that was all Loki. "This is our secret."

::::

Thor gave Clint a tour of the palace while they waited for the results.

"Unfortunately Sif and the Warriors Three are offworld right now or I would introduce you." He glanced over at his Midgardian friend and saw that he didn't look well; his jaw was clenched and he looked a bit pale. "Are you alright?"

"Huh?" Clint said. "Oh yeah. Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. This whole thing has been a big shock to say the least."

"Ah. I understand," Thor replied, nodding.

I really doubt that you do, but thanks, Clint thought.

"Come. Let us get some food and see if the results have come in yet."

The mess hall wasn't very busy so it was quite easy to duck in and grab a bite to eat. Clint settle for an apple and a bread roll, knowing that he needed to eat, but not having much of an appetite, especially after the latest reveal.

Loki was alive and it made Clint sick to even think about it. And it only got worse when he thought about the fact that Thor didn't know. This big Asgardian, his friend, had already lost his mother and supposedly his brother. He deserved to know the truth, but the real question was how he would react when he did. Of course, Clint had tried to tell him the truth right away, deal or no deal, but found that every time he tried, his jaw locked shut. Whatever sort of magic Loki had worked, it was real and, hopefully, just as binding for the caster too.

Thor was on his third sandwich when one of the younger scientists appeared in the mess hall. Hawkeye caught sight of them right away and nudged Thor as they were beckoned over.

"The results are in," the scientist stated briefly and led them back to the examination room.

"There was a match in the system. The DNA belongs to Jeremiah Kvernan." A picture of a leery, green skinned man appeared in front of them. "He's been in jail twice for assault, armed robbery, and poaching and he currently has another warrant out for his arrest. In the past, he's worked for this man," a blue man appeared, "doing mercenary work. I would start there," the woman said, turning back to them.

"Can I get a hard copy of this information?" Clint asked.

"Of course."

As the scientist bustled away towards what Clint assumed was their equivalent of a printer, the archer turned to Thor.

"What do you think we should do?"

"Well, I'm assuming you would like to go after them." The archer nodded in affirmation. "In which case I will supply you with a ship, and accompany you if I can."

"I'm sure some of the others will want to come."

"And I don't see why they shouldn't," Thor replied. The scientist returned at that moment and handed him a small flat disk.

"Pressing that button will pull up an interactive hologram with all the information. I hope you find them."

"Thank you," Clint said sincerely. "We should probably head back," he told Thor. The demigod nodded.

"Agreed. We have much to discuss."

::::

Loki watched from a palace window as his brother and the archer returned to Midgard. Once the light of the Bifrost had faded, he turned with a whoosh of his cape. He had his own planning to do.

A/N: Tada! So yeah, this happened. I hope you guys liked it and if you can, please leave a review to let me know what you thought! Thanks so much!