A/N: Thank you to my reviewers EvilConcubine, THORKISUPPORT (neither do I, really...), Guest, ClintBarton-Loki'sButtWarmer, Aquarinus, Ynath Esrith, jaquelinelittle, MilkyWayGalaxy, Autumn, Quantumphysica, Guest, AvengersJunkie (girl here xD), angrbodagiantess, Potkanka, Insane Elvish Vampire Pirate And The Demented Hobbit Ninja, kakashidiot, Blood Never Lies and Mistyfoxmaid, my Fav'ers, Followers and awesome Bomber.

The elevator ride to the roof of Stark Tower was racked with tension; Loki trying to suppress his rising fear while Steve Rogers stood to the side, pretending not to hear Thor's hushed reassurances, and the elevator hummed softly around them – a well-lit, friendly-looking cage. A cage for a prisoner. Cap, who was closest to the trickster in height, had loaned him clothes to go outside. They had managed to get the shirt on over his bandaged torso, but Loki's trembling fingers fumbled over the buttons, the little holes evading him. Before he had a chance to panic, Thor bent down and did up his shirt for him.

'No need to be nervous. Understand? I'll be right beside you every step of the way.' Loki managed to nod, swallowing to moisten his dry throat. 'There's nothing to fear.'

'...I know. I know.' Loki repeated it as if trying to convince himself. As the elevator doors opened, he seemed to make up his mind. 'I miss home and I miss Mother.'

'That settles it, then. We're going home.'

Rendezvousing with the Avengers, they emerged on the rooftop a matter of metres away from the swirling portal – an empty gash in the sky, waiting. Waiting. Clint Barton frowned.

'Damn, they didn't waste a second,' he muttered; several hundred metres away, a helicopter was circling. It kept its distance, sometimes pausing to hover, but he knew it was monitoring the portal.

'It's probably a TV crew from some news station – not S.H.I.E.L.D.,' said Bruce. 'Uh, Thor, you sure you want Loki out here?'

'In a few moments, Loki will leave Earth and return to Asgard,' Thor replied, 'Let Earth watch, so they know they've got what they wanted.'

'Now that's S.H.I.E.L.D.,' said Clint, spotting several jets hovering beyond the helicopter.

'I can't do it,' said Loki suddenly. 'I can't face him, I can't go back.'

'Loki...' Thor began.

'I can't do it. Please, don't make me do it. Don't make me go back. Please.'

Thor glanced hopelessly at the others; it was too late to go back indoors. The Avengers and Loki gathered before the portal, unsure of what to expect but ready nonetheless. Loki sat with his hands clasped in his lap like a well-behaved child, trying to suppress his tremors.

'Father! Heimdall!' Thor yelled, 'Loki means to stay! As do I. Father, can you hear me?'

There was no response, and the Avengers stood silent; not even Tony had the heart to try to lift the mood. Several minutes went by, and Loki shivered uncontrollably. Unsure if it was from exposure or fear, Romanoff quickly took off her jacket and draped it over him before the others could see. He didn't thank her or even look at her, but numbly clutched the leather to himself, his eyes glassy and staring.

'Father!' Thor repeated.

Suddenly the portal flared in preparation for something passing through; soon the outlandish silhouette of Sleipnir became visible, with a rider astride its back. Odin Borson had come to Earth. Four pairs of hooves clattered on Stark Tower's roof, and Odin himself came into plain view; golden armour and a rust-red cape, a white-bearded face with a single eye. The hand which held the reins was old yet steady. The portal closed itself behind him, the fabric of both dimensions knitting together. The humans took a step or two back to make way for the newcomer; only Thor and Loki remained where they were.

'Shit. That horse has eight legs,' Barton said almost inaudibly.

'My sons.' Dismounting Sleipnir, the All-Father approached them.

Loki's hand sought out Thor's and their fingers twined tightly. He half-expected the All-Father to smite him, but instead Odin reached out and placed a hand on the top of Loki's flinching head as if in blessing. A rush of magic flowed through Loki from head to foot; all of a sudden his skin was no longer burnt, but fresh – dead tissue sloughing off to make way for new. The bone in his arm clicked as it re-aligned itself. It hurt. Loki gasped once or twice, his breath hitching in his throat as his body knitted itself back together. His scalp tickled as accelerated regeneration added a few more inches to his hair; he blinked painfully as his eyes watered and his vision cleared. Finally Odin lowered his hand.

'It has been far too long since the three of us spoke,' said the King quietly.

'Father, I am beyond glad to see you.' Thor's voice was unsteady with barely contained emotion. Loki was doing his best to make eye-contact with Odin, but in the end dropped his gaze. 'These are my friends,' Thor opened his arms to indicate the other Avengers, 'Doctor Banner and Captain Rogers...Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton...Anthony Stark...' He hesitated a little over the last two names.

The All-Father graced them with a nod each. His one eye roved over the aircraft in the sky and the gawking people in the street below.

'Let Midgard and its myriad leaders and defenders know that Loki is a ward of Odin All-Father, under the protection of Asgard and all its forces. No harm will come to him and no hostility towards him will be tolerated. If necessary I shall go before the people to make a public declaration of these sentiments.'

'How will Asgard fare in your absence?' Thor asked.

'The queen sits on the throne in my stead. I trust in her wisdom. The portal could not be sustained for long, but with enough dark energy I will re-open it from this side; in the meantime, I will stay here and ascertain that Loki knows what is best for himself.' Odin inexplicably led the way into Stark Tower.

'So, uh, make yourself at home.' Tony felt compelled to establish himself as host. 'Do you...fancy an alcoholic beverage?'

'I would be pleased to acquaint myself with you all,' Odin replied, 'But there are things I must do first. Thor, you and I will speak.'

Thor hesitated, looking down at his brother. Loki had remained in his wheelchair, still not ready to walk as he recovered from the aftereffects of his abrupt healing.

'Loki, can you go with the others?' he asked. Loki nodded. 'Banner, would you take Loki?'

'Sure. I'll take him up to the medibay – he can lose the bandages now he doesn't need them anymore.

Bruce wheeled Loki away; Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff left to carry out the unwelcome task of contacting S.H.I.E.L.D. to relay Odin's message; and Odin took his son aside.

'Have you tried to persuade your brother?'

'Of course. But Asgard has come to signify loneliness and rejection in his mind – and he fears punishment. He will not return there willingly.'

'He cannot stay in this place forever. In the time it will take for me to re-open the portal, you and I must change his mind.' Odin paused. 'You never told me, on Asgard, what exactly Loki went through. Your grief made the details too painful to contemplate. Are you at liberty to tell me now?'

'I...I'm not sure. Loki has not explicitly forbidden me to speak of his torture, but I feel it would be a betrayal of his confidence to tell you. And I highly doubt you will hear the specifics from his own lips.'

'Perhaps it is just as well. Some things are better off unknown. I will go and speak with Loki now.'

'Can you not wait, Father?'

'It is imperative that he and I understand one another. You think you have secured Loki's friendship again, but trust is a fragile thing, especially for an erratic mind such as his.'

'Please. It was all he could do to meet with you today. He needs to take this a step at a time.' A firmness entered Thor's voice. 'You cannot pressure him.'

'Very well. But time is short, and I must tell you plainly that I will do everything within reason to bring both of my sons home.'

True to his word, Odin left Loki alone; he proved absent that evening, choosing solitude over company, and the Avengers and Loki ate an awkward meal together. Nobody was quite sure what their reason for their impromptu commune was – perhaps a celebration of Loki's health or the arrival of a powerful new ally. Loki had no appetite and only picked at his food, pushing grilled fish and new potatoes around on his plate. He said nothing while the others talked; reaching under the dining-table, he tugged surreptitiously at his brother's leg to get his attention.

'Can I leave?'

'But you've barely eaten.'

'I'm not hungry.'

Thor put down his spoon and fork and started to rise, but Banner kindly opted to help Loki back upstairs so that Thor could finish his meal.

'So what do we call Thor Senior?' Stark asked once Loki was out of earshot, 'He must have a bunch of titles, right?'

'A simple "Odin" will suffice,' Thor replied, 'Although he is one of the most powerful beings in the Nine Realms, he is not your king, so you need not refer to him as such.'

'Maybe it's just the eye-patch and the general air of ass-kicking, but he's giving me uncomfortable flashbacks to Nick Fury.'

'Except my father can be trusted with Loki's care,' Thor corrected him. 'Odin would never take Loki's life, no matter his transgressions.'

'What'll happen to Loki back home?' Natasha asked. 'Will he still be a prince?'

'Perhaps not,' Thor admitted, 'But he will still be a citizen of Asgard.'

His slightly defensive tone put an end to the conversation. After dinner, Thor returned to his and his brother's shared suite. Loki had lain down to rest, but the moment Thor entered he rose from the bed and stumbled into his arms – the only security Loki knew. No words were exchanged; Loki clutched at Thor to the point of hurting, but gradually the tension in his body eased. Thor waited until his brother had calmed down, then turned out the lights and came to bed. Lying there, Loki felt somehow surrounded, as if the darkness was closing in on him; but he voiced none of his trepidation.

'Are you afraid?' a tired Thor mumbled into the nape of Loki's neck.

'Of what?'

'Of Father.'

'I don't know.'

'He loves you. Be assured of that.'

For the first time in months, Thor relaxed enough to fall asleep; but as he slumbered peacefully with his arm around his brother, Loki lay awake and deep in thought. After a while, the trickster gently extricated himself from Thor's embrace, and rose silently from the bed.