All Previous Disclaimers Apply.
Author's Note: So sorry about the delay. I'm hoping to have more out soon, but I can't make any promises. But, this is not the end as much as it seems it might be. We still have to get to Steve, after all. And yes, to answer a question put to me, the rest of The Avengers will be making an appearance. Thanks for hanging in!
"Brother!" Thor feels no shame or embarrassment at the way his large voice booms and echoes in the open, circular room as his brother, so long away from him, walks gracefully off of the Bifrost , home at last. Thor cannot believe his eyes and feels his breath catch in his chest with unexpected emotion. Gone is the gawky youth, all knees and elbows and entirely too intelligent eye, that Loki was when he left with his maternal grandmother to learn the ways of Jotun magic. Before him stands a man, confident and grown into himself. Loki will ever be built in a more slight form than Thor himself, but woe to any who would underestimate him. Thor can see how much power and control there is in that slim form. There is danger and death in Loki's grace and Thor finds that he can breathe again as his chest swells with pride. Gone is the questioning boy who would stand behind and allow Thor the lead every time, always second guessing himself. No, in Loki Thor now sees the confidence of a Prince of The Realm in his strong eyes, the strength of a king in the way the head is held so high and the shoulders so squared. No, Loki will not step behind now. He will take control of the situations he can, make his opinion know in those that are not his to control. And they will both be better for it, Thor knows. These fifty years without his brother by his side have taught him just how much he still has to learn. In many ways, Loki may have surpassed him. Then, Loki looks at him. And just there…the mischievous quirk of the eyebrow, the simple tug upwards in the corner of the mouth…there is his proof that the man before him is his brother still.
For a moment Thor fears that perhaps Loki's affections toward him have changed in his time away as Loki holds himself away and stiff instead of coming into Thor's offered embrace. But then, the Lady Queen of Jotunheim steps through the Bifrost as well and Thor understand as he drops his arms and makes a hasty, ungraceful bow to Queen N'Daia. He hadn't realized that Queen N'Daia would be accompanying her grandson on his return journey, but now he wonders if perhaps his mother and father did, as they forbade all but himself to welcome Loki home. Loki holds his hand out in a courtly manner to escort his grandmother and she gives an inelegant snort and bats his hand away before nodding to Thor. That seems to break Loki's formality and as fast as he can move he has crossed the room to accept and return Thor's embrace.
The embrace is long and hearty and Thor gets his first real, physical indication of how much Loki has grown. When he left Thor could still tuck him under his chin when they embraced. Now their eyes nearly meet. Loki's hair has grown long but Thor is inordinately pleased to see the raven tresses plaited in the familiar, traditional Asgardian warriors style that most adopt before going into battle. He stills smells of sharp spice and freshly fallen snow. Feeling him in his arms, Thor is acutely aware of just how much he has missed his brother these fifty years he has been away. He feels as if a piece of his heart has returned with the homecoming of the young man who is confidante, brother, and best friend all in one.
"You have grown mightily, my brother!" Thor pulls back only as far as allows him to place both hands on his brother's shoulders and meet his eyes, "Never again are you to be away for so very long! I hardly recognize you. A great feast is to be held this night in honor of your return. Mother has spent day and night preparing for it. Father had secreted himself away for many days saying only that he prepares a gift for your return. Why so silent, brother? Has the Silvertongue been silenced? Will you not speak with me?"
"When have you given me a moments breath to do so, brother?" Loki's voice is deeper and smoother than it was, but the humor in it, the clever tone, remain the same as they ever were and Thor laughs heartily before pressing a firm kiss to Loki's temple and embracing him again.
"I have missed you, brother," Loki says quietly and Thor can feel him gripping his cape.
He clasps him all the tighter and responds, "And I you." He knows intellectually that Loki's time on Jotunheim, learning to use and control magics that no Aesir can dream of was necessary, but his heart has ever rebelled so far from him this half century. He feels more glad and settled than he has since the day he and their parents sent Loki off.
"Come!" he says loudly after a moment, clapping a hand on Loki's shoulder, "Let us away to your celebration feast."
He offers his arm to Her Majesty N'Daia and grins when she accepts it as Loki speaks quietly to Heimdal for a moment. The ride on the Bifrost is filled with pleasant, light talk of Loki's years of training before they reach the borders of the city. Then, the talking stops to be replaced by the happy surprise on Loki's face as their people greet him and welcome him home as they ride through the city and toward The Citadel. Women and children tuck flowers and bright slips of cloth anywhere they can reach on his clothing and his steed's tack. One particularly brave little girl demands that her father lift her above his head so that she can place a wreath of flowers on Loki's brow and press a sweet kiss to his cheek. The men salute their princes in Asgardian style as they pass. With the acceptance, love, and full support of the royal family the Asgardian people had accepted the truth of Loki's heritage by and far extremely well. But, Thor could always see that Loki heard the voices of those that opposed much more readily than he heard the voices of his supporters. It is good for him to see this now, that their people missed their intelligent and much loved second prince in his absence.
Loki, after his initial shock, waves and is generally charming, letting children ride with him a little ways before handing them back down to their parents, accepting small gifts from the young men and women of courting age. As a second son he is going to be free to choose his own love as Thor may not be able to. Now that he has come of courting age there will be many who try to catch his eye. He performs little tricks and illusions as they ride, impressing and delighting those than surround them. Thor, for the most part, simply watches the joy on Loki's face and the pride and happiness on Queen N'Daia's. He comes to the realization, when they are nearly to The Citadel, that N'Daia travelled with Loki because she wanted to make certain for herself that Loki would be safe after so long away from Asgard when he'd left so soon after revealing his heritage. Thor is glad that they are going to be able to put her mind at rest. The people of Asgard change slowly, but they do change. Loki is beloved as a second price, but also as himself. Looking at Loki he is heartened to see that, perhaps, Loki is realizing it as well.
Thor can see the radiant excitement on their mother's face reflected on Loki's as they approach the steps of The Citadel. Loki dismounts in a flash and there is only the sweeping of his cape as he takes the steps two at a time to throw himself into Frigga's open arms. Thor can see the delighted surprise on Frigga's face when Loki can pull her in and tuck her under his chin. Thor is more sedate as he escorts Lady N'Daia from her mount and up the stairs, giving his mother and brother their moment to reunite.
"Oh, my son," he hears her murmur around her tears as she cups Loki's face in her hands and looks over him, "So grown. So handsome. I have missed you so."
"I have missed you, Mother." Loki lowers his head so that she can press a blessing kiss to his forehead before she takes his hand and turns him to where Odin stands on the very top step before the great doors, looking every inch The Allfather, Gungnir proudly by his side, standing tall, the emotion unreadable on his stoic face. For a moment Thor feels a concern he's never felt when it comes to his father and his brother. All of their lives Odin has made it very clear that he adores both of his sons. Thor has no idea why he seems so closed off to Loki now on his return when he has been preparing for it so enthusiastically. Odin lifts Gungnir and allows the echoing sound of it meeting The Citadel's golden steps to silence the chattering of the Aesir gathered to welcome home their second prince. The hush falls quickly and Thor can see the nerves on Loki's face as he grips their mother's hand.
"Loki Odinson," Odin's voice is strong and gruff, "You have returned to Asgard after these many years of training to hone your talents and warrior's skills. Do you swear that you will use all you have learned, all you have become, for the protection of Asgard and, indeed, all of the realms?"
"I swear," Loki says quietly, nearly a whisper, then louder when Frigga squeezes his hand encouragingly, "I swear!"
"And do you swear your fealty anew to the throne of Asgard and the peoples the throne protects, wherever in the realms they may be found?"
"I so swear!"
"Loki Odinson…I hereby present you this spear, forged by dwarves in the heat and promise of a new star. It is the spear of Earth, Darradrnir. May it be a loyal and true companion to only you in your defense and serving of the realms and the throne."
Loki's eyes are wide and wondering as Odin bids him forward with a gentle hand. It takes a soft nudge to his shoulder from Frigga before he moves up the stairs slowly, as if in a dream. Thor closes his eyes for just a moment to remember the moment when their father granted him Mjolnir, just before Loki left to train on Jotunheim. It was the proudest moment of his life to be granted so powerful a weapon in front of his friends, his mother, his brother. Proof of his might in battle, his growth as a prince of the realm. He'd been as dazzled by the weapon that has become so much a part of him as Loki looks now as their father hands him the short spear. Thor has not seen it before now and he admires the wicked curve of the blade, the large jewel set into the ornate staff. Loki looks up hopefully for some reason that Thor doesn't understand and feels his eyebrow lift when Odin nods with a small smile. Thor feels his breath catch when Loki holds his free hand over the jewel and murmurs some words under his breath. The power that seems to flow from Loki's hand and into the jewel can be felt from where Thor is standing and he is sure the people gathered behind him can feel it as well. The power coming from Loki's hand is visible as a green light and by the time Loki has completed whatever he is doing the jewel is glowing like the most beautiful, ethereal emerald. The gathered crowd begins to cheer as Loki completes the spell and lifts the spear high above his head with something akin to a battle cry. Thor feels the grin stretch across his face and turns to see an echoed expression across Lady N'Daia's fierce face. For the first time he feels how tight her hand is on his arm and he covers it with his free hand in a show of solidarity before all gathered. He turns back when he hears Loki cry out for their father and feels the moisture gather in his eyes when he sees his father and Loki embracing tightly as a single tear makes it's way from Odin's eye and into his beard.
He barely hears the "Welcome home, my son," from Odin above the cheering of the gathered.
Loki is clinging to their father like a child and obviously feeling no shame as he tucks his face against Odin's neck, "Thank you, Father. It is good to be home."
"Come!" Odin pulls back from the embrace after a moment, "We will feast in your honor. Queen N'Daia, we are gladdened to welcome you as an honored guest."
"I thank you, Odin King."
Thor is not upset when Lady N'Daia releases his arm to link her own with his mother's. They have been great friends since Asgard re-opened relations with Jotunheim and Thor is secure enough to admit that Lady Quenn of Jotunheim has ever intimidated him. He follows behind his father and Loki and his mother and Queen N'Daia at the fairly sedate pace that the others are walking at. He wants, more than anything, to speak at length with his brother as they would have done had their ride to the palace been just the two of them, but Loki is walking close to their father, their heads close as they speak with animation and enthusiasm. Thor is grateful that his parents allowed him to greet Loki, but he wants more time with him. He has missed him fiercely.
As soon as Odin officially greets all gathered and begins the banquet, all of Loki's favorite foods and much mead and ale, Sif and Hogun take Loki's attentions. Thor can hardly blame them. They have ever been Loki's closest friends, since the youngest of ages. A trio of…not quite misfits, not truly…but those who do not quite fit the old, outdated ideal of an Asgardian warrior. The Lady Sif, the first young woman to take it upon herself to be, not a shield maiden, but a true warrior of the realm. And Hogun, the quiet Vanir sent to train because he far outstripped the warriors on his own planet. Hogun and Loki have ever been studious and intense, quiet. Their combined control over their tempers is legendary and has been noted since they were children. Their friendship was no surprise to anyone. It was the addition of Sif into their private little circle that came as a surprise. She is often, and was as a child, brash and loud, feeling that she has to prove herself to those who surround her at every turn. Quick to anger, quicker to avenge a perceived slight. Her parents had despaired of ever teaching her to be a lady, and barring that, a useful warrior. But, when Loki and Hogun invited her into their midst everything seemed to settle. (Thor isn't too proud to admit that his pride and ego prevented himself from doing it as a child.) Loki and Hogun level Sif and she pushes them out of their comfort zones. Thor has no doubt at all in his mind or heart that they will quickly become the inseparable trio they have always been. This belief strengthens when, as the evening wears on and there is a pleasant haze to everything around him, he sees Loki sitting on the floor, leaning against Hogun's knees. Sif has draped herself against Loki's side, more than a little drunk. Hogun plays absent-midedly with her long dark hair as he stares into his cup as if it holds the secrets of all the realms. Loki and Sif are laughing together, then she snuggles even more closely and lays her head on his shoulder.
Thor feels a tightening in his chest that he has never felt before. Of course, he has been aware of Sif's skill for many years. She is one of the only warriors of the realm who can best him. He has never seen her sex as making her weaker or less capable than himself. But, it is only recently that he has become aware of her great beauty. Her pale skin, her bright eyes, somewhere between his own blue and Loki's green, and the beautiful, lush hair that he longs to grip in his fingers as he pulls her head back and takes her mouth in a battle of an entirely different kind. He has never felt jealousy when it comes to his brother. Even with all of his magic Thor has never wanted to be Loki, has always been comfortable in his own skin. The jealousy in his chest as Loki embraces Sif does not sit well and he grabs another tankard of ale as a servant, nearly as drunk as the guests, passes. To ease the green monster in his chest he downs the tankard and throws it to the floor before grabbing a passing maid. She does not seem to mind being kissed senseless by the crown prince.
But, he finds that his heart is not in bedding her and after a time leaves her to the feast where he is sure she will find another bed partner. He walks into the cool night, onto the terrace, only to see his brother standing, bathed in moonlight, looking out over the city. And suddenly his petty jealously doesn't matter, all of the words he wanted to say, all of the questions, none of it matters. He steps up beside his brother and breathes in peace. He looks at Loki and smiles.
And Loki smiles back.
Then, they both begin to laugh.