Yay for an on-time update!

I regret to inform you guys that there will probably be only two more chapters after this one. Things are getting crazy at school, and I just won't have time to write after spring break is over.

And congratulations to Ica Leigh for guessing exactly where Loki went at the end of the last chapter :)


The rush and roar of the city was dim, as though miles away. A soft, cold wind blew forlornly about the tower, carrying the muffled sounds off towards the bay like an endless sigh. Loki shifted on the cool concrete, gazing absently down at the thread-like streets. The world was quieter up here, on the very top of Stark Tower.

I did not know if those savage creatures had harmed you, brother.

There was pressure in Loki's throat and a prickle in his eyes. He shook his head, ashamed of himself. There was no need to weep over what was only a careless slip of the tongue; Thor had tried to recant his words only moments later, and, instead of forgiving his brother, Loki had run away.

One can never trust the frost giants.

It shouldn't hurt him so much, so why did he want to curl up into a little ball and cry? Why did he want so desperately for someone to reassure him that Thor's words were not true? That he was still worthy of love and esteem, no matter what lingering hate plagued his race? Why was it so painful to hear words that everyone in this tower would assure him were false?

Those monsters desire only blood and death.

Loki knew Thor had spoken in the heat of the moment; Thor often let his tongue run wild, not paying attention to the harm it might cause. Thor's vilification of the frost giants should mean nothing to him; he should have simply shrugged it off, knowing that his brother never meant to hurt him. But after the excruciating betrayal of learning who his blood relatives were, after a lifetime of living in the shadows only to find that he was never really one of Asgard to begin with, Thor's careless words were too much, and Loki had little strength left to fight them.

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The air here was chilly, but clear; warming slowly as the mid-morning sun melted away the cold of the night. I should come up here more often, Loki thought wryly. Indeed, if Thor did not learn to control his speech, this might become a regular occurence.

Loki gritted his teeth, more shame at his flight creeping through his veins. He felt pathetic for running away; the others must think him so weak and vulnerable. After all, none of the others found it necessary to seclude themselves and pout whenever they were insulted. But every time Thor's words echoed in his head, something inside Loki twisted with grief and betrayal. It didn't matter if he'd come to believe he wasn't a monster, or that Thor had only made a mistake. It still hurt.

The quiet patter of footsteps behind him was Loki's only warning that he had a visitor. He knew who it was without looking up.

"Hey, dad."

Hela sat down beside Loki, her legs dangling over the edge next to his. She was holding two covered cups in her hands.

"What are those?" Loki asked, curiosity getting the better of him when Hela did not immediately explain.

"Hot chocolate," Hela replied with a grin. "Thought you might like it." She pressed one of the cups into his hands; it was very warm, almost unpleasantly so, and Loki caught a tantalizing whiff of what was inside. He carefully raised the cup and took a tentative sip.

"Passable," he said with a small grin. The drink was warm, with a chocolatey sweetness; almost like the coffee he had had before, but less bitter and without the disastrous caffeine.

"I'm glad you like it." Hela looked down at the city. "Have you been up here before?"

"No."

"It's an amazing view."

Loki sighed. "It is."

"The others are going crazy trying to find you, you know," Hela said after a pause. "I told them not to worry, but some of them, and I won't name names - though Pepper and Steve are likely candidates - are practically in hysterics. And then Thor is... well... he's pretty mad at himself right now. He doesn't know what to do."

"It wasn't his fault."

"Not completely. But he still can't forgive himself."

Loki looked down at his hands. "It is not an easy thing, changing your beliefs after a lifetime of prejudice."

"I know. But you know Thor; he can't stand seeing you hurt."

"I'm not hurt," Loki said, a little too quickly. Hela laughed softly.

"I know you way too well to fall for that, Father. And it's okay if you have a hard time dealing with what Thor said. No one's judging you."

Loki was silent for several minutes before replying. "If - if it is difficult for Thor, who would do anything for me, to change his ways... How hard will it be for Asgard, who holds so little love for me?"

"I think you'll find that Asgard is a little more willing to forgive and forget after the Thanos episode. But you're right, as much as I wish you weren't. Thor will need time - a lot of time - to overcome his racism against the frost giants. Asgard will need much longer. Even if they want to see you differently, it's so deeply ingrained in Asgardian culture to look down on Jotunheim. This isn't something that will go away quickly, or easily."

"I committed many sins against Asgard. I highly doubt I will ever be forgiven completely for that."

"Look, there are always going to be people who hate you. And there will always be people who hate me, and Tony, and Steve, and anyone else who's ever breathed. Just because it might take Asgard a while to love you like they love Thor doesn't mean it can't or won't happen. They just need time."

"Exactly." Loki's fingers played with the hem of his shirt. "Centuries, perhaps."

"What do you mean?" Hela asked, though she was almost sure she knew.

"I am healing quickly. The last vestiges of the war will soon be gone. Mother will want me to return to Asgard."

Hela sighed. She'd been expecting this conversation for a while. "You're not going to go back, are you?"

"I - I am not sure. I do not think I will, yet."

"I thought as much."

Loki's voice was pained. "If I stay here, it will grieve Mother, and I do not wish that to happen. And Odin, too, will be disappointed with me. But..." Loki paused, gazing out over the city. "I cannot return to my life before I fell from the Bifrost. Not now, at least. Too much has happened; too much blood has been spilled, too many bridges burned. Asgard will accept me because I have saved them from Thanos, but they will not love me. I will still be shunned and mistrusted, sometimes hated, by most. Even if there are a few who make an effort to welcome me back, it will not be the same."

Hela smiled softly and took Loki's hand. "It's okay. This is your decision. There's nothing wrong with staying here."

"Yes, there is."

"What?"

Loki's eyes were averted downward. "Only a coward would shy away from facing his former enemies."

"Don't say that," Hela replied firmly.

"It is true."

"No, it isn't." Hela gently turned Loki's face towards her. "Now, listen to me. There is nothing - I repeat, nothing - wrong with choosing not to go back. I can see that you love it here; you're happier living in this place than you ever were on Asgard. Your talents are valued here, instead of ridiculed, and the humans are willing to forgive and move on. That's better than most of Asgard. You've been through a lot, Father, and if, after it all, you decide that this is where you want to stay, then that's your choice. Frigga and Odin and even Thor might not like it, but it's still your choice. No one has any right to tell you otherwise."

Loki did not reply for a while. When he finally spoke, it was as though a great burden had been taken from his shoulders. "Thank you, Hela."


Heimdall regarded Helblindi coldly as he emerged from the swirling gold of the Bifrost.

"Stop staring at me, Gatekeeper," Helblindi snarled. "I am a king!"

"You are also a would-be kidnapper," Sif retorted.

"I only wanted him to pay for killing Laufey," Helblindi said sullenly. "Nothing more."

"Loki has paid for a thousand crimes, and committed only a few. You have no right to touch him. Now, follow me to the palace. Frigga and Odin will wish to speak with you."

"I do not bow to the king of Asgard," Helblindi muttered, but he followed Sif anyway, averting his eyes from Heimdall's gaze. Their trek to the palace was frigidly silent; Sif glanced back frequently at Helblindi to ensure that he did not stray to the Jotun camp, and Helblindi resolutely stared at the ground. At last, they reached the palace, Sif marching confidently inside while Helblindi dragged his feet behind her.

The throne room was empty, save for Odin and Frigga and a few of the guards. Sif strode towards the king and queen, then knelt on one knee, arm across her chest.

"I bring you King Helblindi, Allfather and Queen Frigga."

"Rise, Lady Sif," Odin said. His tone was not unkind when he addressed the warrior, but there was a restraint to his words, and his eye was thunderous when it moved to Helblindi. "Helblindi Laufeyson," he said sternly, "Heimdall has informed me of your actions."

Helblindi glowered at the Allfather. "You are not my ruler."

"I am the father of the man you just attacked."

"No, you're not," Helblindi snapped. "Neither by blood nor by deed."

The insult stung in the air. Odin visibly forced himself to remain calm. "Have care how you speak, Helblindi. Perhaps I do not have direct authority over you, but I will have it known that no one may harm my son without facing my wrath."

"No harm was done," Helblindi muttered.

"No harm?" Frigga's eyes flashed. "You think an attack up on my son and his friends and damage to the realm of Midgard is no harm? The fact that you failed in your assault does not excuse your actions. Count yourself lucky, Laufeyson, that my son was not harmed; otherwise Jotunheim would have had to choose a new king."

"How - how dare you threaten me!" Helblindi stepped forward, fists clenched.

Odin stood suddenly, raising Gungnir. "Stop!"

The Jotun halted involuntarily, eyeing the golden spear.

"Because I value our relations with Jotunheim, and do not wish to harm your realm by depriving it of its king, I will not exercise the punishment fit for your crime," Odin proclaimed. "But if you ever attempt such a thing again, or conspire with others to do so, I will have you imprisoned until you can be trusted not to harm Loki."

Helblindi dropped his gaze. "Yes."

"You will assemble your forces and depart for Jotunheim by tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

"You are dismissed."

Heblindi turned and strode from the room, slamming the doors behind him.

"I cannot see how he and Loki are related by blood," Frigga said, shaking her head.

"Well, both have no regard whatsoever for the accepted rules of behavior," Odin replied with a faint smile.

"That is so." Frigga chuckled. "The only difference is, Loki would not have been caught."

"I remember the days when we could barely turn our backs without Loki creating some kind of mischief," Odin said fondly.

"I greatly miss those days." Frigga sighed. "It is time for Loki and Thor to come home."


The moment Thor was told Loki's location, he scrambled up from the couch and thundered - no pun intended, Hela added when she later described it to Loki - through the tower in a desperate search for a way onto the roof. Several articles of furniture suffered severely for having placed themselves injudiciously in the god's path, a fact that Tony bemoaned loudly. But Thor was oblivious to the destruction he wrought upon his friend's belongings; he had only one thing in mind, and that was to find his little brother.

Loki hadn't moved from his spot on the edge of the roof when Thor burst from the stairwell. Hela courteously disappeared as Thor hurried over, panting and enormously relieved.

"Brother," he gasped, pulling Loki into a bone-crushing hug. The younger god protested weakly, then gave up as Thor refused to let go. "I thought I'd lost you again... Please forgive me, Loki, I am so sorry, I never meant to hurt you..."

"Thor- can't breathe-" Loki choked, touched but almost suffocating. Thor reluctantly loosened his hold, still keeping a firm grip on his brother's shoulders, as though afraid Loki would vanish again.

"Can you forgive me, brother?"

Loki tried to muster up at least a semblance of irritation, but the sentiment died in his throat at the sight of those pleading puppy eyes. Thor was so earnest and penitent, and Loki hadn't the strength to muster up any sarcasm or dry wit. "Yes, you wonderful idiot. I forgive you."

Thor laughed with joy, and Loki squawked indignantly as he was forced into another merciless hug. The thunder god held him tightly for several minutes before finally releasing him. "May the Norns bless you, Loki. I thought for sure that you had left me."

"I would not leave you, Thor," Loki replied, somewhat amused. "And you can let go of me."

"But you'll leave again," Thor said, his grip tightening.

Loki laughed as his brother's desperation became more evident. "Thor, silly, whether or not you are holding onto me has no effect whatsoever on my ability to disappear. I could vanish now just as easily as if you were fifty feet away."

Thor looked crestfallen. "Please stay here," he begged. "You scared me so when you vanished earlier. I thought I would not find you for days."

Loki tried to think of a sarcastic reply, but it was impossible when Thor was looking at him like that. "All right, I promise not to do that again. Not unless it is strictly necessary. Deal?"

Thor frowned. "What do you mean by 'strictly necessary?'"

"Very good, Thor, you're catching on. You might make a passable king yet."

"Thank you, Loki. Now will you promise to stay with me?"

"Only if you promise to watch your tongue."

Thor blushed. "I am sorry for what I said, brother. I have yet to become accustomed to thinking of the frost giants as friends, not foes."

"Well, I forgive you, anyhow," Loki said, standing up. "We should go inside. Hela has informed me that some of our friends are rather anxious concerning my whereabouts."

"Lady Pepper and Steve were most worried," Thor said, nodding. He rose and followed Loki to the stairwell. "Tony insisted that there was nothing to fuss about. He said you would be back by suppertime."

Loki snorted. "I can eat perfectly well on my own."

"That is a lie, brother. You are much too thin for my liking."

"I have always been thinner than you, Thor."

The thunder god sighed with exasperation as they descended the stairs. "You know what I mean, brother. You might do well to adopt my eating habits for a fortnight or so."

"And look like a fattened pig afterwards?"

"Loki..." Thor ran a hand through his hair. "Why do you twist everything I say? You know I only wish to help you."

"Because it is very entertaining," Loki replied, grinning wickedly.

Thor groaned. "I should not complain. At least you are alive and well."

There was a warm feeling in Loki's heart at Thor's words that he did his best to ignore. Fortunately, they emerged into the kitchen before Thor could say anything else.

"There he is!" Tony exclaimed, grinning broadly. "See, I told you guys not to worry."

Lines of worry erased themselves from Steve's and Pepper's faces. "Thank goodness, Loki, we had no idea where you'd gone," Pepper said, her voice a little scolding.

"Please don't do that again," Steve added.

"Have you two made up?" Tony asked. "Or made out?" Natasha kicked Tony's leg hard; he gave an undignified squeal and almost spilled his drink.

"I have forgiven this oaf, if that is what you are asking," Loki replied. Thor's expression was of longsuffering.

"So, do you look like Helblinky and his friends when you're in your frost giant form?" Tony asked.

The temperature in the room might have dropped several degrees; a few glares were directed towards Tony. Loki swallowed, then nodded tensely.

"Yes. That is more or less what I look like."

"Can I see?" Natasha kicked Tony again. "Hey, we need to stop walking on eggshells around this," Tony said, wincing. "It's going to be a touchy subject if we keep ignoring the fact that Loki's naturally blue."

Loki laughed, suddenly grateful for Tony's lightheartedness. It was a welcome change from the constant shame and revulsion that he was accustomed to when faced with his true race. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, willing his Aesir facade to melt away.

"Loki," Thor murmured. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I am." The blue spread from Loki's fingertips and up his arms, across his chest and head, then downward until it reached his toes. There was a collective gasp as he raised his head, his now-scarlet eyes trained on the others with hopeful apprehension.

Bruce stepped forward, reaching out towards Loki. "May I?" Loki nodded, and the man carefully ran a finger along the dark patterns in his arm and hand. "Loki, it's... it's beautiful."

The god's heart leaped. "You really think so?"

Bruce smiled. "I'd take this over a massive green monster any day."

Loki was lost for words. He had hoped for a tacit acceptance of his appearance, at best; hoped that his transformation would not be met by the disgust it would have received on Asgard. Never had he though anyone would like his true form. An unwelcome lump formed in his throat.

"Why did you never show me this before, brother?" Thor asked in an awed voice.

"I thought you would hate it," Loki muttered.

Thor bowed his head. "I am sorry you could not trust me, Loki. But Doctor Banner is right. You are beautiful."

"Yeah, I think we can all agree that blue Loki is pretty hot," Tony added. "Ironic as that is."

"Tony," Pepper said with amused exasperation. "Not everything is a joke, you know."

"Funny things are."

Steve rolled his eyes. "You already used that line."

"Did I?" Tony thought for a moment. "Oh yeah, on the Helicarrier, way back in the olden days when I hated your guts."

"You didn't hate my guts."

"You're right, I hated that cheeky do-gooder smile."

"All right, girls," Natasha said, cutting off the impending bickering. "Are you still hungry for breakfast, Loki? We've got some stuff here."

Loki shook his head. "If you do not mind... I think I will return to my room."

"Tired?" Bruce asked.

"Yes," Loki lied. What he really wanted was to be by himself, but he did not want to risk the questions if he said so.

"That's okay. We'll probably just chill. What about you, Thor?"

"I will accompany my brother-"

"Hey, why don't you come up to the lab with me?" Jane said suddenly, glancing knowingly at Loki. "I've got something I want to show you."

May the Norns bless you, Jane, Loki thought with relief. The woman's intelligence was not solely in astrophysics, no matter what her absentmindedness might have implied.

"Will you be all right by yourself?" Thor asked with concern.

Loki rolled his eyes. "Thor."

"Seriously, he's not five," Tony interjected. "Let Loki go nap or whatever. You and your girlfriend can hang out for a while."

Giving Tony and Jane a small nod of thanks, Loki left the kitchen and headed back toward his bedroom, his pale Aesir skin covering over his Jotun blue. His feet were sore and stinging from the walking he'd done that day (thank goodness Thor hadn't found out), and when he reached his room, he made a beeline for the bed. Simba, who was curled up on the pillow, stretched and meowed happily when Loki sat down, softly padding over to the god's lap.

"Hello," Loki said quietly, stroking behind the kitten's ears. Simba rumbled delightedly, claws flexing in contentment. "How was your morning?" Loki murmured. "I would bet ten barrels of mead that you've been sleeping since we left." Simba rolled over and let Loki's deft fingers rub his warm stomach. Loki continued petting the cat for several minutes, mind deep in thought.

Mother (and perhaps Odin) would arrive soon, he was sure. They would be expecting Loki to return to Asgard, now that he was swiftly healing and the danger from Thanos gone. Loki knew that they only wanted to have the family together again, but the thought of leaving this place and going back to Asgard was heavy in his heart. He had come to love Midgard, with all its quirks and odd customs. There was something different about a realm where life was so short and fragile; everything was deeper and more poignant, the sorrows sadder and the joys greater. When one had only eighty fleeting years to live, one had to enjoy life while it lasted; holding grudges and bitter animosity poisoned what little time one had left. Asgardians rarely forgave; they had centuries and millenia to live, and what could be done today could just as easily be done a hundred years hence. But here, where life had barely begun before it was already waning, people forgave and moved on with their lives; their limited time was too precious to squander with hate.

A paw touched his cheek, startling the god; Loki looked down to see Simba sitting on his leg and regarding him with an indignant glare. He realized he had fallen so deep into his reverie that he had neglected the creature. Sighing, and a little amused, he resumed stroking the kitten, and within moments Simba was stretched out again and purring loudly.

It was not just Midgard he had come to love, but the Avengers as well. In just a few short weeks, Loki had grown closer to the motley family assembled here in Stark Tower than he had to the inhabitants of the palace in Asgard. There was an understood acceptance here, an unspoken rule that anyone was welcome, no matter what they had done or where they had come from. Most here had emerged from dark and bloody backgrounds, had wandered in search of a home and a family, never expecting that they would find one with others as lost and isolated as themselves. Contrary to Asgard, where anyone at the top was expected to be the picture of perfection, the Avengers freely and openly admitted their shortcomings, teasing each other relentlessly though in a manner that was never spiteful or mean. They were all so different, each boasting differents strengths and expertise, and were all the stronger for it. In Asgard, there was one ideal - an ideal which Thor had always embodied perfectly. Even now, when Loki had reconciled with his brother and working to overcome the pain of his childhood, it still stung to think of all the times when Thor had so effortlessly succeeded at winning Asgard's admiration, and Loki had so dismally failed.

Asgard would never be home. It had never felt like home when Loki lived there; he remembered the hours he had spent desperately trying to figure out what he had done wrong, when he had stopped being Prince Loki and started being Prince Thor's ridiculed and forgotten brother. If he were to return now, Loki had no doubt he would receive the customary welcome given to a war hero, and that his parents and Thor would do all in their power to ensure his happiness. But there was no changing his past, no erasing the knowledge that he was a frost giant and a criminal. Asgard would need centuries before it could accept a Jotun in its midst; Loki was under no delusions that none would grumble about a frost giant living within the palace. He might be honored, for saving the realm from Thanos; but it would be millenia before Asgard could bring itself to respect him. There was nothing Odin or Frigga or Thor could do to change that.

A memory surfaced unbidden in his mind, a forgotten memory of when he and Thor were young - two centuries old, perhaps. Thor had just celebrated his birthday; while the grown Asgardians enjoyed the wine and revelry of the feast, Loki and Thor had snuck off to the stables, relishing in the opportunity to roam the palace unguarded, as most had congregated in the feasting hall.

When I am king, Thor had said, I'll make a law that we can run around the palace whenever we like.

Loki scoffed. "You wouldn't need to make a law, Thor. No one tells the king what to do."

"Father says he has to listen to the Council."

"Who says we have to? Father only listens to them because they have long beards like he does."

Both the boys laughed uproariously as they made their way across the palace grounds to the low wooden buildings that housed the royal steeds.

"If Father finds out, we'll be locked in our rooms for a week," Thor said as Loki easily picked the lock to the tall doors. Though he was still very young - he had yet to train with a real sword - Loki was adept in the arts of thievery. Few doors in the palace were impassable to him.

"What Father does not know will not trouble him," Loki replied. The doors swung open, and the two boys ran inside, careless of their pristine clothes as they flung themselves into the giant piles of hay.

"You can't see me!" Thor cried, burrowing into the golden mass.

"Yes, I can," Loki shouted back. "Your ear is sticking out."

"Let's go up to the loft," Thor said moments later. He extricated himself from the hay, hastily brushing a few pieces from his clothes, then clambered up the thick wooden ladder, Loki only inches behind him.

"Apples!" Thor yelled with delight. He ran towards the far corner, where a smile pile of apples had been deposited to be given to the horses later. It did not matter to him or Loki that there were better apples in the palace; the ones from the stable were all the sweeter for being forbidden. Taking three of the fruit each, the boys sat down on the edge of the loft, their toes dangling down over the horses.

"I'm going to eat all the apples I want when I'm king."

"Mother says you will have a tummyache if you eat too many," Loki said wisely, juice dribbling down his chin.

Thor laughed. "I'll make a law."

"You can't make a law against tummyaches," Loki retorted. Thor stuck his tongue out, then threw a handful of scattered hay at his brother. Loki closed his eyes, brows furrowing with concentration. A moment later, Thor's apple turned a dark shade of green.

"Hey!" Thor said indignantly. "I can't eat a green apple!"

"I learned that spell today," Loki said proudly.

Thor snorted. "Women use spells." He threw the apple down towards one of the horses, who sniffed and lazily began to munch it.

Loki's face fell. "I can use spells too."

"Volstagg says that magic is for girls."

"Sif doesn't use magic."

Thor tried and failed to think of a retort. In the absence of words, he threw more hay at Loki, who only grinned, knowing that he had made his point.

"I like these apples," Thor said after several minutes. "They're better than the ones Mother gives us."

"Mhmm," Loki replied, mouth full.

Thor sighed. "I want to live here forever."

"Me too."

"Forever and ever?" Thor asked, raising an eyebrow. "Even when we get old?"

"Forever," Loki replied. "None of the realms are as good as Asgard."

"What about Jotunheim?"

Loki and Thor both giggled. "I think Asgard is better than Jotunheim," Loki said loftily. "Who would want to be a frost giant, anyway?"

"Not me." Thor shuddered.

"We should go back," Loki said, glancing at one of the windows. "Mother will wonder where we are."

"Do we have to go back now?"

"Yes, Thor. But we're going to be here forever, remember?"


Frigga could barely contain her excitement as she and Odin galloped down the Rainbow Bridge, the Bifrost looming ahead of them. It was so close, now - within hours, perhaps, Thor and Loki would return with them to Asgard, and the family would be together again.

Heimdall's gaze was warm, as usual, but there was something else in his demeanor, something that momentarily disquieted Frigga. But she brushed away the feeling, hurrying forward and addressing the Gatekeeper.

"We wish to go to Midgard."

"I know, my Queen."

His tone, too, had an air which was not altogether auspicious. Frigga frowned. "What is it, Heimdall?"

The golden eyes were faraway, seeming to look straight through Frigga and into the worlds beyond. "Sometimes what we want is not what is best," he said finally.

"Thank you, Heimdall," Odin replied. "Your advice is ever wise. Will you open the Bifrost now?"

"Yes." Without another word, Heimdall strode to the center of the domed room, sliding his sword into the dais. Moments later, Frigga and Odin were whisked away into a swirl of stars and gold.


"Loki!" Thor cried, bursting excitedly into the bedroom. "Mother and Father are here!"

A weight seemed to sink through Loki's stomach. "Oh," he said quietly, eyes downcast.

"Loki?" Thor walked over to where Loki sat on the side of the bed. "Is there something wrong?"

"No," Loki said after a pause. "Nothing."

"Then come with me! They are waiting for you."

Loki gently moved Simba from his lap, then rose and followed Thor from the bedroom. Minutes later, they emerged from the elevator into the crowded kitchen, and Loki barely had time to glance around before there was a rush of feet and he was knocked backwards in a warm embrace.

"Oh, my son," Frigga exclaimed, burying her face in Loki's shoulder. "I have missed you so..."

"I have missed you too, Mother," Loki said in complete sincerity. His eyes wandered to Odin, who was standing a few feet away, beside Thor. The rest of the Avengers, including Pepper and Jane, were standing at various places around the room. Their presence comforted Loki; he could not face his mother's disappointment alone.

"It is good to see you, my son," Odin said as Frigga reluctantly let go of Loki. The god of mischief nodded, his throat constricting. He knew he could not return to Asgard with them, but now that they were both standing here, so eager to see him... This was going to be harder than he had expected.

"I see you are healing quickly," Frigga observed, smiling appreciatively at the Avengers. "The Midgardians have treated you well."

"You're welcome," Tony said with a wink.

"Hey, don't take all the credit," Clint scoffed. "We all helped."

"And I footed the bill," Tony replied.

"Boys," Pepper hastily interrupted.

"I thank you for all you have done for my sons," Odin said kindly. "Your hospitality is greatly appreciated. Fortunately, there will be no need for us to intrude on you any longer."

Loki swallowed nervously, looking away from Frigga.

"We are going home now?" Thor asked excitedly.

"Yes." Frigga smiled. "Asgard is desolate without the two of you."

"You're leaving so soon," Jane said unhappily, squeezing Thor's hand. "When will you be back?"

Thor grinned. "How would you like to come with us?"

"To Asgard?" Jane's eyes widened.

"Of course," Frigga said warmly. "You might be queen someday."

Jane was dumbstruck. "I - I'd love to..."

"That is settled then," Thor said. "You can gather your belongings, and we will depart in the morning."

"Hey, wait a minute." Tony set down his drink. "You guys are leaving? Like, permanently?"

"We will visit," Thor reassured him.

"Not cool," Tony complained. "Who's going to eat all the Poptarts?"

Steve raised his hand. "I will."

Tony rolled his eyes. "You'll eat anything. But seriously, you guys can't leave! What'll I do without Loki to match my brilliant wit?"

"Your what?" Natasha muttered.

"And there will be no one to beat Clint at table tennis," Bruce added. "He'll start bragging again."

"I'm sure you can both visit often," Frigga said.

"We will, I promise," Thor said. "Won't we, Loki?"

Loki fixed his eyes on the ground. "No."

Frigga frowned. "Your friends will miss you."

"No, they won't." Loki raised his head, looking Odin straight in the eye. "I'm not going back."