I'm watching the Avengers Tony/Loki scene!

I collapsed to my knees and heaved over the side of the Rainbow Bridge. Thor patted me on the back as I emptied my guts into the void. He guided me to the golden city and into a throne room where a man with a gold eye-patch sat in a large chair, amidst a whole bunch of official-looking men and women.

"My son, you have illegally assisted in the escape and hiding of our top prisoner, Loki. Explain yourself."

"Father, Loki is not just a prisoner. He is my brother and your son. After witnessing the unjust and cruel punishments bestowed upon him, I could not allow it to continue."

"It is not your place to judge," Odin scolded.

"Perhaps it was not, but I would not take it back if I could. I must stand for what is right, and torture is not a just punishment for anyone."

"What of you, Man of Iron? What brings you to our realm?" I inhaled deeply. I was SO not shy or nervous ever, but you've got to admit this is pretty intimidating.

"Well, when I found Loki, he wasn't doing anything threatening, so I decided to give him a second chance, and I found out he really had changed. He wasn't hurting anyone or planning to hurt anyone, he was just hiding out, and Thor knew he was there, so I was just going to keep an eye on him in case he tried to take over the world again. In any case, he didn't, and I'm one hundred percent sure he's different now. The whole point of punishment is to correct wrongs and change people for the better. Loki has already done that, and not because he was being tortured."

"Father," Thor said again, "We have been helping Loki heal. He has improves greatly, he's better than he ever was. I believe if you let him back on Midgard with us, he will be able to heal completely."

"I only want what's best for everyone," Odin mused.

"How is this best for anyone?" I retorted. "He was healing with us, he was changing! Torturing him is doing nothing for him, we've probably lost most of his progress already. If you could just give him a give him one more chance—"

"Enough," Odin interrupted. "If you believe you can help my son, if you really believe he has changed . . ."

"We do," Thor and I said together.

"I will confer with the cancel to decide on his fate." I sighed, whether in relief or resignation, I didn't know. On the one hand, at least he was considering it. On the other, if Loki's idea of his own reputation was anything to go by, he may not be the most popular amongst them. I paced outside the room anxiously while Thor sat in an ornate seat.

"Can-can we at least go visit him or something?" I finally asked a guard.

"The prisoner Loki is not permitted visitors."

"Yeah, well, this is Thor, the prince, the heir to the throne! Don't you have to do what he says?"

"Allfather's commands take precedence." I kicked the leg of a chair in frustration and sat down, holding my head in my hands. We waited for hours and hours. When we were finally allowed back inside, I couldn't breathe, already making backup plans in case it didn't work out.

"The counsel has decided," Odin started dramatically, "that the prisoner Loki will be placed in the Avengers' care until such a time as he is deemed worthy to reclaim his title as prince."

"Oh, thank you, my king!" Thor exclaimed, kneeling.

"Th-thank you," I said breathlessly, mot sure if I should kneel. Another guard (there were a lot of them) led us out and down lots and lots of stairs to the dungeon, where we went down more stairs to the high-security-type area. Loki's cell was way in the back. I rushed up to his cage-like confinement.

Loki was chained to the wall, blood running down his body. Fresh whip marks criss-crossed over his torso, wrapping around to his back. He wasn't moving, he didn't even seem to be breathing.

"Loki? Loki?" I asked through the bars. He opened his eyes and raised his head a little before letting it fall. The guard unlocked the doors and undid his chains. He fell unceremoniously to the floor, and the guard lifted him by his arm.

"You got out early, princess."

"Hey, hey, leave him alone. Only I can call him princess," I snapped, taking Loki from him. "Loki? Can you hear me?"

"Leave me alone."

. . .

"What?"

"Stop it, just let me rest . . ."

"Loki, Thor and I are taking you home. Do you understand? You're going home." He didn't respond, slumping tiredly.

"Come, Stark. Loki is not in his right mind just now," Thor explained. We were silent the entire way home. I sat Loki on my couch and held his hands, but he wouldn't look at me.

"Look, Loki, we're home. Don't you see? It's okay now!"

"Why can't you just leave me alone."

"Loki," Thor said, sitting next to us. "What do you mean? Don't you like Tony any more?"

"You're not Tony!" He growled, jerking away from me. "Leave me alone, I'm not falling for that again!"

"Falling for— Loki, we're not trying to trick you!" I gasped. Thor sat down on Loki's other side, and he narrowed his eyes at him distrustfully.

"What do you mean, Loki?"

"Stop it. Don't pretend you don't know."

"Loki, tell me what you mean. Did the guards tell you this was fake? Did they tell you it was a dream?"

"Yes, you told me that. I don't know why you have to do it again. Didn't you get enough satisfaction the first time?"

"Loki, look at me," I said. "Isn't there even the slightest possibility that they were lying? Isn't it possible that this was real?" Loki glowered at me.

"No, you made that perfectly clear. Thank you for setting me straight, I won't make that mistake again."

"What mistake? What did they tell you?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"You just want me to say it out loud, don't you? You just never get enough! Well, I'm not going to say anything." He folded his arms and sat against the back of the couch, pursing his lips. I stood up angrily.

"God damn it. I'll kill them, I'll kill every one of them," I muttered.

Wanted it to be longer, but I wanted to update, so Fury next!