Author's Note: Thor-bashing ahead, though not in an entirely spiteful way or anything!
Chapter 10
Coulson gazed through the large hospital window into Loki's room in the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. The sorcerer hadn't yet regained consciousness since he collapsed in the cave yesterday.
'Nutritional, emotional, and magical exhaustion', the S.H.I.E.L.D. doctors had determined as best they could. They had taken a sample of Loki's blood two years ago when they first captured him – something Coulson hadn't been aware off back then – and a comparison between that sample and one today revealed what appeared to be malnutrition, and not just brought on by not eating for twenty-four hours. Loki hadn't been eating properly for months now. Add to that the emotional trauma and the magical exhaustion, and the doctors didn't think Loki would wake up for several more hours, maybe even another day.
Coulson contemplated Loki's prone figure, safely tucked under a white blanket that hid most of the leads and monitors the doctors had connected to his body in order to check his progress and try to replenish some of the nutrients he was missing. On the wall above the bed was a large display that projected both the sorcerer's vital signs and the baby's. The S.H.I.E.L.D. doctors still couldn't believe Loki was pregnant, even though they'd run a sonogram and confirmed it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Coulson heard footsteps approaching him and he saw Agent May heading his way.
"They're ready for you." She informed him, and he took a deep breath and followed her down the hallway.
He'd already been debriefed concerning the events in Iceland – what happened after they teleported from New York, Loki's story, their journey through the abandoned mine. He had told them everything Loki told him concerning his trial in Asgard, what led him to fall into Thanos' clutches, the history of Loki's children, and how he came to be on Earth.
During the debriefing he had put in an official request on behalf of Loki and the baby, for sanctuary against Asgard, Odin, and Arval. Fury told him that neither S.H.I.E.L.D. nor the World Security Council could grant Loki or his daughter asylum without proof of his story, so Coulson asked that Thor be brought in.
Something told him that Thor – whether on Loki's side or not – would not lie concerning Loki's history if asked directly. The agent was sure that if S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers heard the truth of Loki's trial as well as what Odin had done to his so-called youngest son, they would fight for the asylum request too.
Coulson reached the office where the meeting was going to take place, opened the door, and stepped in. The large room was mostly occupied by a large conference table. Around it were all of the Avengers, including Dr Banner, who had been previously unavailable to fly to Iceland on such short notice, Director Fury and Maria Hill, and several members of the WSC. There was also Thor whom, Coulson was surprised to realize, he wanted to punch for being a lousy brother. He almost laughed at the thought of feeling offended on Loki's behalf, as well as protective.
A single thought crossed his mind concerning what would he do if Thor turned out to deny everything, but he pushed it away. After everything he had gone through with Loki, he couldn't doubt the sorcerer anymore.
"Welcome everyone, and sorry for the wait. Thank you for being here for this meeting on such short notive, and my thanks to the Director for allowing it." he crossed to the front of the room and took his place beside the director.
"I've requested this meeting to make a case for granting asylum to Loki – formerly of Asgard – and his unborn daughter. I believe it is evident that both of their lives, especially that of the child, are under threat from several fronts. I also believe that we, meaning Earth, have been kept unaware of certain facts concerning Loki's actions during the Invasion of New York. Further, I believe that granting Loki sanctuary on Earth will be beneficial for us, as we will gain a powerful, extremely knowledgeable and grateful ally.
"Primarily, I'd like to ask you, Thor, several questions concerning Loki."
"Of course, Son of Coul. I will be glad to answer any questions you ask of me. I must admit I am surprised, though not unpleasantly so, to find someone who would willingly rally to my brother's aid."
"Right," Coulson raised an eyebrow at Thor's words, but refrained from commenting. "Thor, could you tell us what was the outcome of Loki's trial on Asgard after you took him back? I don't think you ever told us what happened." Thor didn't seem to capture the subtext in the agent's voice, though it was not lost on anyone else.
"Certainly! The outcome of Loki's trial is that he was found innocent of all of his crimes against Midgard, and most of his crimes against Asgard." The calm ease with which he stated Loki's innocence was in stark contrast to the explosion that followed. Coulson controlled the smile that threatened to sneak onto his face.
Everyone was either shouting their disbelief that Thor hadn't told them Loki was found innocence or shouting their disbelief that Loki could be innocent in the first place. It was pretty much the reaction Coulson expected. Thor, and Asgard, had let them go on for two years believing that Loki was guilty – that he was one of the biggest threats to their planet.
"Enough. Everyone, shut up." Fury's angry voice swiftly silenced the room. "Thor, first of all, why are we hearing about this now? It's been two years."
"It.. it did not seem relevant. I did not think my brother would ever want to return to Midgard, so it didn't seem necessary for you to know the outcome of his trial."
Coulson didn't glance sideways, but could just about imagine that vein that always throbbed on Nick's temple whenever he was this close to losing it.
"Alright," Fury responded with that tempered coolness of his, "can you explain why Asgard found Loki innocent of his crimes on Earth? He did lead an alien invasion, after all."
"Oh, the Æsir mind-healers discovered extensive proof that Loki was under a thrall. I'm sorry to convey that my brother was cruelly tortured until his mind bent to Thanos' will under the power of the mind-stone."
The room exploded in questions and accusations once again. Coulson examined his hands silently while he waited for them to calm down or for Fury to shut them up again. Then he noticed that out of all the people who were shouting back and forth, Dr Banner, on his left, remained eerily quiet.
"Bruce, are you ok?" he whispered to the man next to him.
Banner shook his head in disbelief.
"Loki was tortured and mind-controlled into leading the invasion, and I tossed him around like a rag doll. I can't help but feel guilty about that."
"You really shouldn't. For one, it wasn't you, not really. And for another, Loki told me he actually influenced his mind-controlled self into seeking the Hulk out."
Banner's eyes widened first in shock and then in understanding as he remembered his own and Barton's mind-control episodes.
"Cranial recalibration," he mumbled.
Coulson nodded and was about to speak again when Fury finally had enough told everyone to shut up again. Phil focused back on Thor.
"Thank you for telling us about Loki's innocence where Earth is concerned, Thor. Can you tell us, however, what you meant by him being cleared of 'almost all of his crimes' against Asgard?"
Thor visibly fidgeted in his seat, glancing around in apprehension.
"My friends, you must understand that Asgard has different expectations and laws."
"Of course, but what was the one thing Asgard found Loki guilty of?" he asked innocently, knowing full well what the answer was.
"He… he was found guilty of bringing shame to Asgard."
This time the room did not explode in questions and demands, mostly because no one was sure of what exactly Thor meant. Coulson thought they should be made aware.
"Thor, in what way did Loki shame Asgard?"
The blond Asgardian looked at Coulson with a look that could almost be described as pleading. Given what the agent knew about Loki now, he kind of found the gesture disgusting.
"Thor?" he repeated.
Thor took a deep breath and answered, though his response was less boisterous than before.
"Loki allowed himself to be enthralled into committing terrible deeds. Asgard… the Allfather considered that Loki should have been stronger. His actions brought shame to his realm."
Stunned silence followed Thor's answer until an outraged voice came from exactly the person Coulson thought would find the situation the most distasteful of all.
"They blamed him for not being strong enough to withstand torture?" Stark said in a voice dripping anger.
"They only punished him with exile." Clarified Thor, which made nothing better.
Before the room could fall into disarray once again, Coulson interceded.
"Thanks, Thor, for explaining the circumstances of the trial for us. Now, I have some questions concerning Odin's decree regarding Loki's children. Everyone else here is already familiar with what Loki told me about it, but I'd like you to explain it to us from your perspective."
Thor's blanched appearance was not lost on the room.
"How many children has Loki had?" Coulson asked sanguinely.
Thor visibly swallowed; he knew his friends and allies would not be pleased with his answers. He had been on Earth long enough to realize that their concepts of human rights would not align with Asgard's.
Sighing, he answered the question.
"My brother has had six children."
"And what happened to them?"
Thor closed his eyes in shame as he thought about the story he must recount. He had never given it much thought, back then, but being on Earth had started making him reevaluate many of the events that happened concerning Loki seven hundred years ago. He knew that if his brother was to have any safety – any chance at happiness – he needed to answer truthfully, however reluctant he was to recount these events.
"Loki's second son, Fenrir, led a revolt against Asgard seven hundred years ago. As a result, my father commanded that Loki and his children be punished, and that Loki never be allowed again to have children."
"What happened to each of them?"
"Please, Son of Coul-"
"What happened to the rest, Thor? What was their punishment?" Coulson insisted, barely containing the rage he felt on behalf of Loki. The memory of Loki, broken and crying about his lost children – blaming himself for their deaths, exiles, or enslavement – was forever seared in his mind.
"His oldest son had a spell placed on him that would… bind his mind to the Allfather's control. His third child was exiled to Midgard. His daughter was exiled to the land of the dead. His youngest… his two youngest boys were executed and used to bind Loki prisoner for ten years."
The silence that followed was deafening. Coulson himself was at a loss for words. Loki had not told him that. He had mentioned that his youngest children were executed, but not… oh god!
Regaining some semblance of composure, Coulson asked for clarification.
"Thor… what do you mean they were 'used to bind Loki prisoner'?" he asked, unable to completely keep the horrified tone out of his voice.
Thor looked at Coulson and realized the human did not have prior knowledge of these specific details. He was not surprised that Loki had left out the darkest aspects of what happened; what parent would want to share that. He felt like he was betraying Loki's trust all over again.
"The… the boys'… entrails were used to create magical ropes that could bind Loki."
Phil's stomach turned at Thor's words, and he felt a twinge of guilt upon seeing his colleagues' stunned faces. His dear friend Clint was staring off at the wall in shock, and a couple of seats over, on Banner's right, he could hear Stark's whispered litany of "Shit. Shit. Shit."
He knew this wasn't over, though.
"Thor, why was Loki imprisoned?"
"Phil, do you have to?" Steve's gentle voice interrupted.
"This is precisely the point that demonstrates why Loki needs protection. Thor, please answer the question."
"The Allfather said Loki went mad, and needed to be contained." Even though Loki had not explicitly told him - all he had said was that the baby he carried was also taken from him - , between his words in the cave and Thor's testimony now, Coulson had pieced it together.
"What made Loki go mad?"
"The Allfather decreed that my brother would not be allowed to bear any more children, and he… he had the Æsir healers untimely end the life of the babe my brother carried." Tears rolled down Thor's face as he uttered these words, remembering Loki's crazed screaming and cries for help. Even then he had understood the pain his brother was experiencing; Loki had on many occasions described the magical bond he experienced during pregnancy.
Colson's steady voice brought him back to the present.
"Loki didn't just go mad from grief at losing his child though, did he?"
Thor shook his head mutely as his tears continued falling, both in overdue grief for his brother and in shame over his inaction.
"My brother's magical essence physically links with that of his unborn babes. He has described it as a pure, soul bond. It's severing caused my brother unspeakable pain. It fractured his magic and his mind."
"And Odin punished him for his pain by binding him with ropes made from his own children."
Coulson let that sink in for a minute.
"All of this is why Loki needs Earth's protection. If he is captured by Asgard, Odin's decree stands and his child will be killed before it's even had a chance to be born. Loki, who has committed no crimes again Earth, and who has experienced more torture than any living being should ever have to endure, will be forced to undergo hell yet again if he falls into their clutches.
"Unfortunately for him, there is nowhere else he can go that Asgard cannot follow. No other realm will grant him protection. We are his last hope. I ask all of you to approve of the asylum request. Thank you for your attention."
With that, Coulson marched out of the room, leaving them to make their decision.
His feet brought him back through the winding corridors to Loki's room; this time he went in. The double-beeps of the two heart monitors immediately reached his ears. Sighing tiredly, Coulson sat down on a chair next to Loki's bed.
He stared at Loki, contemplating the gentle rise of his chest aided, partially, by the nasal cannula administering oxygen – a precaution taken by the doctors after Loki's hyperventilation had resulted in slight irregular breathing.
It made him think about Loki's precarious condition as they brought him back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. His heart had become arrhythmic – a result of the magic he used – and they had been worried that if he suffered an arrest, they would not be able to revive him without hurting the fetus. They were equally hesitant to administer any drugs, not knowing how it would affect his alien physiognomy.
What concerned them most, however, was the baby's tachycardic heartbeat; they were worried it could be due to oxygen deprivation and that they'd have to perform an emergency caesarean to save her life. Coulson had hastily explained what Loki told him about their magical connection, saying that severing it would probably kill them both.
Stark and Banner had fine-tuned the sensor hat enabled S.H.I.E.L.D. track them to Iceland in the first place, which targeted the traces of gamma radiation expelled through magic, and used it to detect the magical currents within the sorcerer. It had shown inconsistency in the flow of whatever Loki's magic was made of – the two scientists weren't even sure it was actual gamma radiation by that point – as if a threat of energy had been pulled in two directions.
"The more he used magic, the more strain it put on both him and the baby." He'd noted.
"But see here?" motioned Tony, "the energy concentrates most here." The area he'd motioned to on the sensor matched Loki's abdomen.
"Loki said his magic is compromised because it's mostly sustaining the baby right now." Phil had explained.
"So, this energy here is happily keeping the baby alive and mom goes straining himself by being an idiot?"
"As always, Tony, you have such a way with words." Banner chided him.
"I'm right, though. Loki uses up his energy reserve, and this thread here," he'd pointed to the monitor on the sensor, "pulls back causing his body to go haywire. The fluctuating energy feedbacks to the baby, whose heart becomes erratic because her mom is a moron."
Coulson had glared at Stark but known he was right. He'd also know Loki had been so frightened that logic hadn't been high on his priority list.
"But… if these reading are any indication, the bulk of his energy is still concentrated on her. It should keep her alive as long as he doesn't do more magic, right?" Banner had said, trying to be optimistic.
"We might not be able to do anything but wait for this… magic.. to stabilize, then," one of the doctors had concluded.
Coulson's thoughts were interrupted by someone opening the door and coming into the room. He wasn't surprised to see it was Fury.
"How's he doing?" the Director asked.
"Still unconscious, but stable. Both his and the baby's heartbeats stabilized, but he's going to have to take it easy and retrain from using any magic at all. The doctors don't think her heart would be able to handle the stress again, even with his magic sustaining her. In any case, they don't expect him to wake him for another twelve to twenty hours. Complete exhaustion, is the diagnosis. Apparently, he hadn't been taking care of himself even before teleporting to some cave in Iceland."
"I would have thought he'd have more sense, considering how much he cares about that kid."
"I'd hazard a guess that he was afraid he'd be recognized if he strayed outside too much, and he'd be putting her in danger. I've come to expect irrationality and pessimism."
"From the one day you spent with him?"
"Life's funny like that."
The room was silent except for the beeping of the heart monitors.
"So… what did they decide?" Coulson finally asked.
"Oh, asylum all around, obviously."
"Even the WSC?"
"No politician wants to be thought of as the 'pro-baby-killing odd-one-out', do they?"
Coulson scoffed and shook his head, though he was grateful for their desicion.
"What are you planning to do with him?" Fury asked him, causing him to look up in amusement. The economy of words in their conversations had always been one of the things Coulson most admired about the director.
"I'm going to offer him a job, obviously."
"Thought as much," came the smug reply. "Given what you told me, I know I don't need to warn you to keep an eye on him. He's gonna feel compelled to accept your offer; you literally saved his kid's life."
"You're warning me not to… take advantage of an asset?"
"This one's starved for acceptance and positive attention; an asset like that can become a loose cannon."
"Don't exploit him; got it."
"I once knew a dog like that – a rescue that had been beaten as pup. It would follow you straight into traffic if it thought it would please you," Fury remarked, unknowingly echoing Loki's own assessment of himself.
Coulson nodded in agreement. Loki's emotional health would have to be monitored.
"I'm not going to let him work – if he does accept the job, I mean - until after the baby's born."
"Ha, good luck with that." Well, Fury was in a teasing mood today, Coulson noted, which was fair, he supposed, given the strenuous events of the last couple of days.
"Do you think he can… you know, get better?" Phil blurted out.
Fury chuckled. "Me? Hell, I don't know him. But I can't imagine getting over a thousand years of people shitting on you is easy. Enjoy your project."
Fury kept on chuckling as he left the room, and Coulson shook his head at his boss. He was right, of course; Loki would require a delicate hand. He wasn't sure he was the right man for the job, but he'd have to try.
Coulson stayed by Loki's bedside despite having been dismissed for the rest of the day. He couldn't find it within himself to leave; the thought of Loki waking up in a foreign environment and totally losing it compelled him to stay.
He had been in Loki's room for an hour checking, through his phone, on his team's progress on a project they were working on, when the door opened again.
Thor Odinson walked in.
"Thor, did you want something?" Coulson cringed mentally at the curt tone he used. He had once had great respect for the blond Asgardian, but after all that had transpired with Loki, he couldn't bring himself to have the same level of admiration for the warrior.
Thor seemed to note the tone in Coulson's voice, wincing visibly.
"Son of Coul, I wished to thank you personally for the efforts you have gone through to gain sanctuary for my brother. How does he fare?"
"You don't have to thank me; I didn't do it for you." Coulson cringed again at his poor choice of words. "Thor… I'm sorry… I'm just tired." he backtracked, ignoring Thor's question.
"I understand," the blond said quietly. "You have shown more understanding and compassion for my brother's plight after one day in his company than I have after a thousand years."
Coulson bit back on the words that almost slipped out.
"He's not your brother," he said, nonetheless, softly.
"We might not be related by blood, Son of Coul, but I'll never stop considering Loki as my kin."
Coulson shook his head and laughed under his breath.
"Do you even know what that means?"
"I am unsure of what you ask."
"What does it mean to you, to be his brother? What's brotherhood to you?"
Thor seemed to be at a loss for words.
"I'll tell you what it should mean. It means you should have protected him; it means that you should have questioned whether or not your father's decision to kill, exile, and enslave your nephews and niece was acceptable; it means you should have comforted Loki when he went through the excruciating pain of having his child torn from him; it means you should have known your brother enough to recognize that his behavior wasn't his own when you found him here on Earth; and it means you should have told him that you weren't ashamed of him for succumbing to a mind-control magical device especially after he had been tortured for who knows how long!"
Coulson kept his voice low for Loki's sake, but his words might as well have been shouted at Thor.
"You don't know what it is to be a brother. You are not his brother. Stop claiming that lie."
Thor was silent, unable to deny Coulson's accusations. The agent wasn't through, though.
"You asked me how he's doing. I'll tell you he's alive, but barely. He's alive through sheer dumb luck. He almost killed himself, again," he added, referencing Loki's attempted suicide off the Bifrost; another moment when Thor had failed his brother. "He was so afraid – so scared of losing that child – that he almost killed himself. Have you ever been that afraid? So afraid that all reason escapes you?"
Thor couldn't bear to look at him, nor Loki. He stared at the far wall, and quietly responded, "No, Son of Coul, I have not."
"I don't know what else to tell you, Thor. I'm grateful that you told the truth during your testimony today, but I want you to leave. I don't want you here when Loki wakes up."
"I understand. I have much to make up for. I love my brother, Son of Coul, but that has clearly not been enough. I have behaved most poorly… perhaps someday he will let me atone for it."
Philip bit back his retort of where he thought Thor should stick his atonement. Instead, he focused on Loki's pale, still face.
"Fare you well, agent. I am heartened that my b-... that Loki has someone like you caring for him and for my nie-, I mean, for his daughter. Goodbye.
Coulson heard the door open and close as the Asgardian left the room, knowing that he wasn't putting on the most diplomatic show by ignoring him.
He couldn't find it in him to care.
Silently, he took his place by Loki's bedside again, and sometime during his vigil, he fell asleep, only to be woken up an hour later by someone calling his name.
A/N: See! Baby's ok! Sorry again for the evil cliffhanger from before. Sorry, also, for the Thor-bashing, though I think he deserves it for being a lousy brother.
I was going to publish this chapter yesterday, but I had an accident involving someone accidentally closing a van door on my wrist. It's not broken, just very very sprained, but it meant a trip to the ER (A&E), and now I can only type one-handed for a couple of weeks or so. I'll, nonetheless, aim to publish the last two chapters this week!
Till the next chapter, please R&R! 3