A/N: Lots of thank-yous to Nako13yeh, Lawnon, angrbodagiantess, MadaSasu and Sumi Anzu for reviewing, and Rue for betaing 8)
EDITED because I TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY FORGOT Odin was blind. Yeahhh...I'll blame it on study stress...
Several times Loki slows down, but the enormous green hand heavily prodding his back doesn't allow him to halt. The Hulk is never rough with him, but nor does he give him a chance to escape, ushering him further and further away from Stark's cell. They don't get far before their path is blocked by Thor. Appearing around a corner, his hair is dishevelled, his skin shining with sweat.
'Where are you going?' he demands.
'Thor...' Loki whispers, but goes unheard.
Breathing heavily, Thor snarls:
'Get away from my brother; you're taking him nowhere.'
The Hulk growls in response.
'I said get away from my brother.' Thor raises Mjölnir threateningly. 'Do not think to challenge me. Stand back, creature, and hand Loki over to me.'
'Thor!' Loki exclaims. Dodging past the Hulk, he does the only thing he can think of: hug Thor, wrapping both arms tightly around him. 'Be calm, brother,' he pleads. Mjölnir is lowered, and a large, warm hand is placed comfortingly on Loki's back.
'Step aside, Loki. It is not you I am angry with. It is these humans who will suffer my wrath.'
'They've shown me nothing but goodwill. Forgive them.'
'Goodwill? Their minds have been poisoned. They cannot be trusted.'
'So you would kill them rather than help them?'
'I would kill every last one of them if it would keep you safe. Step aside.'
'Thor, you're not thinking straight. You're forgetting who the true enemy is. It is not them. They are victims as much as you or I.'
Thor hesitates. He looks around as if only just noticing the Helicarrier's condition.
'What's going on?' he asks.
'The ship's lost all power,' Loki answers, 'We're falling.'
The Hulk is downsizing, a shirtless Doctor Banner left huddled awkwardly in its place.
'Is there anything you can do?' he calls to Thor, raising his voice over the groaning of the ship.
'No wind can keep a craft this size aloft.'
'What if I – ' Before he can complete the sentence, a jolt knocks them all off-balance, and the Helicarrier tips sharply forwards. He seizes the nearest door-jamb, but Loki and Bruce have nothing to hold onto. Thor manages to grab the doctor and curl protectively over him, but Loki is too far out of reach. The trickster falls forty feet from one end of the corridor to the other, sliding helplessly along the floor. He bumps against several things on the way down – an air-vent, a protruding door – before hitting the bottom.
'Hold on!' he hears Thor yell above him. The Son of Odin is trying to brace himself against the far wall, preparing to propel himself forward with Mjölnir.
At that moment, all three of them are blinded by a burst of light. Emanating from seemingly nowhere, it envelops them, and Loki feels a familiar wrench in his gut as if he's being yanked forwards. Bifröst-energy, Loki realises. He squeezes his eyes shut, draws his legs up to his chest, hides his face and waits for it to be over.
The journey across the universe takes only seconds, yet it feels like forever; surrounded by the racket of falling objects, and the scream of metal struggling to support its own weight, he expects at any moment to be crushed or pulverised. There's an almighty jolt – and then, suddenly, stillness and silence. They've stopped falling. After a few seconds of waiting, he dares to open his eyes.
The Helicarrier is at a ninety-degree incline. Wall and floor have partially exchanged places, and piles of accumulated debris. Extracting himself from a tangle of chairs and broken table-legs, he manages to find his footing and straighten up, taking a moment to regain his sense of balance. He's not alone; Banner is beside him, bleeding from a nasty cut to the temple.
'You okay?' the mortal grunts.
'I – I think so.'
'Something's happened.' Bruce winces, rubbing the back of his head. 'We haven't crashed. Whatever that – that weird light was...'
'I'm certain it was the Bif – ' Loki stops mid-explanation. His eyes widen, mouth opening in horror. 'Thor!'
Odinson is lying motionless several metres away. A thick steel strut protrudes through his stomach, and he's curled around it, pinned in place.
'Brother!' Scrambling over to him, Loki instinctively places both hands on the metal rebar and attempts to extract it.
'Don't touch it!' says Banner sharply. 'You'll make it worse. Thor, can you hear me?'
Thor responds with a groan, his face starting to twist with pain.
'Go get help; I'll stay with him.' The doctor is taking charge, unbuttoning Thor's shirt to expose the wound. A little blood leaks out, but the rebar is acting as a stopper. Looking up, he realises Loki is still hovering. 'He's had worse. He's going to be fine, as long as you get help. I'll look after him. Now go.'
Loki finally obeys. Walking is difficult and running is impossible; open doorways have been transformed into pitfalls, which he's forced to jump awkwardly over. The hull is breached in multiple places, yet for some reason he can't feel any high-altitude winds – the air is calm. Gingerly approaching one of the rents, he's confronted by a wall of light. On the other side, floating structures are vaguely visible, and below is an ocean. It takes him a minute to discern what's going on. The Helicarrier is suspended in midair over Asgard's waters, surrounded by enchantments to keep it both airborne and intact. Father's magic, Loki realises. He's saved us. I'm home.
Flying boats with Asgardians at the helm are swarming all over the Helicarrier. One of them passes within twenty feet of Loki's position, piloted by the last person Loki expects to see: Fandral. The warrior's forehead is creased by a frown of concentration, but smooths out immediately with recognition.
'Ah, Loki! Still in one piece.' He steers the hovercraft as close to the breach as he can. 'We were almost worried about you. Is Thor with you?'
'He's hurt. I need to find a healer.'
The crease returns.
'There are healers waiting on the shore. Hop on.'
Loki hesitates, glancing over his shoulder.
'But the humans...'
'We'll help them too, don't worry. Now, let's get you off this oversized contraption, eh?'
Loki steps gratefully onto the boat, holding onto the side for support. He winces when they pass through the barrier, half-expecting it to be solid like last time, but of course it's not. Before him lies Asgard in all its beauty; the Bifröst and Heimdall's observatory (from which the golden shield is emanating) are aswarm with activity. As they near dry land, Fandral says quietly:
'There's the king.'
Odin is walking down towards the waterline to meet them, unseeing but unhesitant. Offering his single remaining hand, he helps Loki ashore. Loki could almost kiss the ground, but refrains from doing so.
'Are you alright?'
Loki's mouth starts to shape the word "yes", but his dizzy head and shaking legs betray him. The Helicarrier is still looming over them as if frozen in time.
'...I...I don't know, Father.'
'Where is your brother?'
'On the – on the ship. He's wounded.'
'How badly?'
'Speared. Through here.' He places his hand below his ribcage to indicate the location of the injury. 'He won't die if we help him now, but we need to act fast, we need to do something – '
'Consider it done.'
'But that's not all. His mind – Thanos – '
'I know. I will cleanse him as I cleansed you. His mind will be freed.'
'Loki!' Frigga has arrived. Judging by her undone hair and the shawl thrown hurriedly around her shoulders, she's come with all haste. Reaching up, she wraps both arms around him. 'You're home.' He's too exhausted to return the hug with any force; all he can do is slump, burying his face in her shoulder, relieved that it's all finally over. Releasing him from the embrace, she looks up at him. You're not hurt, are you?'
'No.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes, Mother.'
They're distracted by a commotion. Several injured humans are being carried past on stretchers (none of the Avengers among them, Loki notes with relief) but nearby, a man is being dragged forcibly by two guards, resisting every step of the way. It's Tony Stark – except it's not. His eyes are bloodshot. His skin is clammy and pale, hairs standing on end. His face is split by a wild grin, which broadens further upon seeing the reunited family.
'Ah, All-Father. So good to see you.' He stumbles. 'And there's your boy! Home safe and sound. It must be such a relief.'
Odin turns blindly in the direction of his voice, expression cold.
'I assume you know all about his exploits on Earth?'
Frigga instinctively draws Loki closer to her.
'That's right. His deceit, his servile fawning, his eagerness to roll into bed at the first opportunity. I admit the last was an unexpected treat – but a treat nonetheless.' Leaning as close as the guards' grip will allow, he whispers, 'Perhaps it's a pleasure you'd like to share? He is still your prisoner after all; as his owner, you have certain prerogatives. If you'd care for a sample, I can recommend – '
'Be silent or you will be gagged.'
'Gags cannot silence me, All-Father. Rip out my tongue and I will find another mouthpiece. Cut off my head and I will find another vessel. There is nothing you can do to stop me.'
Odin turns his back.
'Lock the mortal in the dungeons,' he orders. 'I will deal with him later. First, we must help Thor.'
'There is nothing you can do!' Tony continues, calling over his shoulder as he is dragged away. 'I fucked him. And he was happy and willing. So sweet. So full of surprises.'
Frigga is glaring at him, her jaw rigid. Loki can't meet anyone's gaze; in his imagination, the expressionless faces of the guards now hold judgment and scorn. He doesn't dare peek in the king's direction. Perhaps I can still deny it, he tells himself. It's Thanos' word against mine, and even if Father distrusts me, he'll at least give me the benefit of the doubt.
'Go with your mother. You'll be safe now.' Odin dismisses him, and Loki allows Frigga to guide him towards the palace.
'You've no need to explain anything,' she says kindly, placing a hand on his arm. 'Heimdall has kept us informed of everything that's happened.'
'Informed of...everything?' Loki's heart sinks. No chance of denial, then.
Frigga starts to elaborate, but seeing the dejected look on Loki's face, sighs instead.
'Oh, Loki.' Changing the subject, she remarks, 'All these mortals...I wasn't expecting so many. They will be welcomed as guests, nonetheless.'
Loki makes a noncommittal noise. He can tell she's trying to take his mind off his public humiliation, but it's failing miserably. Despite the warm sun on his face and Mother's hand on his arm, his heart is still pounding, blood still racing.
'How unbecoming,' Frigga tugs at his dull grey prison-scrubs. 'We must get you changed. Is there anything you need? Food?'
'No, Mother, I just...I just need it all to be over.'
'It is over,' she assures him.
