There was footage… Footage for Thor to see.
Against his better judgement, he had asked. Hoping beyond all hope that the footage would provide him with a clue, an explanation for what was going on.
But all Thor got was security footage from Lokis theft of the Tesserect where he nonchalantly had killed anyone who just happened to be standing in his way.
And then several cellphone videos. From when Loki had held his speech.
From all ankles, both from above and below. It was Loki as he smiled, his face twisted in derangement while he spoke with conviction.
"You were made to be ruled."
Thor squinted his head as he turned his head away. "Turn it off." he asked. "Please." he asked, his voice breaking with the last word.
"See I told you." The man of Iron. Tony Stark commented as he casually pressed the button turning the video off. "Your brother is cuckoo for cocopops!"
Thor couldn't say he was familiar with that term of phrase, but he understood the meaning of it. He had no respond, he turned away.
"And this isn't even his first time offence!" Tony pointed out. "New Mexico? Weren't you there yourself? He would have destroyed that entire town! And everyone living in there. Puff!" he spread out his arms.
"Stop!" Thor demanded in a loud voice making Tony halt, then Thors voice lowered. "Please." he asked in a more quiet tone.
Tony blinked, then he shrugged. "Sorry dude." he said. "I don't know what to tell you man. Your brother is crazy man. And he needs to be locked up before he hurts anyone else." he stated as he turned and finally left. Leaving Thor alone in the room here at the Helicarrier.
Thor shivered as he wrapped his arms around himself. This last year…. He had been thinking a lot about Loki. But had clinged unto all the good things. Now he realized he had simply overlooked the bad, even forgotten.
Suddenly it all rushed back to Thor. The last few days before Loki had fallen down.
Loki whom had willfully and delibately told Thor that Odin had died. He had lied to Thors face. For what? To bring him despair before killing him?
Because yes, Loki had tried to kill him. And he had indeed been willing to take that entire Midgardian town down with Thor, just because it happened to be there.
When Thor finally saw Loki again. Loki was trying to destroy Jotunnheim, all of it! And all the people living there.
Thor rembered what Bylestir had said.
"Loptr was right to search revenge upon the man who left him to die. But he had no right attacking Jotunnheim itself, or it citizens."
Odins words as well echoed through Thors head.
"When madness is concerned, there is no return. A year ago Loki went mad. And he has only fallen further into madness since. You cannot just talk to him. You must stop him. By any means."
Thor hissed, his body was trembling as he tried to keep back a hopeless sob. He rememberer what Odin had said, a year ago. Only a few days after Lokis fall.
"He was willing to kill millions. And he wasn't going to stop even when I demanded he should. Would he have stopped just because we asked him to calm down? Unlikely. This was potentially just the beginning. At least this way. We can remember him for the great things he has accomplished instead of the death he would have caused."
At that time, Thor had been absolutely horrified by Odins words. He couldn't believe them!
But now he had to reconsider, that Odin had might known something he didn't. Or seen what Thor had simply refused to see for himself, even though it was right in front of him.
The automatic door opened ones again for another person to step inside. Thor didn't turn to acknowledge this intruder.
That was until the intruder was all the way up beside Thor, and then offered him an object.
Thor looked down to see a white mug with a brown sweet smelling liquid in it. And he looked up at the man who offered it to him. One of the Shield agents, he had been at their meeting… Ah. Agent Coulson.
Coulson smiled kindly. "Hot chocolate." he offered. "It always helps me relax when stressed."
Thor blinked then looked down at the mug again and finally accepted. "Thank you." he said quietly, then took a small sip to be polite. The second the liquid hit Thors tongue he blinked and looked down. "This is delicious." he stated.
"Of course it is." Coulson chuckled sipping at his own mug of hot chocolate. "One of the things universally beloved here on earth. Coffee is a bit more of a gamble, either people hate it or they are outright addicts."
Confused Thor looked at Coulson and Coulson smiled amused.
"Your highness." Coulson finally addressed Thor.
"Oh, Thor I fine." Thor assured.
"Thor then." Coulson nodded. "I just wanted to thank you. I thought at least someone ought to. I realize this entire situation can't be easy for you. But you are doing the right thing."
"It's not like I have much of a choice." Thor pointed out. "Without the Tesserect I can't go home, I am stuck here. And Loki wont say what he did with it." he sighed deeply looking down at his mug. "And it's not like I can keep an eye on Loki every second of the day." he stated taking another drink of the hot chocolate, enjoying the sweet flavour on his tongue and the warmth it provided his body. "I need your help as much as you need mine."
Coulson nodded thoughtfully. "Regardless. It is just polite to say thank you." he pointed out.
Thor smiled amused, ones again taken aback how peculiar humans could be.
"I promise, your brother will be safe until we know more of what is actually going on." Coulson assured.
"Well you know." Thor swallowed. "He's… My adopted brother."
Coulson looked up at Thor. "That doesn't make him any less your brother does it?" he asked.
Thor blinked, then smiled a little defeated. "No." he said. "He is as much my brother as he ever was… Even though." he closed his eyes. Coulson didn't interrupt, just waited patiently. "You know I… I thought I knew him." Thor swallowed. "But now I am not so sure. It feels like I don't know him at all after all." he stated. "How can that be though? We spend a thousand years together! We fought through hordes of enemies together. We played with each other, he would play pranks of me. And I would capture him to get my revenge. I don't understand… How?" he asked.
Coulson sighed deeply. "A thousand years is a long time." he commented. "People change all the time. A person can change so much in just a year, what could happen in a hundred years. Let alone a thousand?" he asked.
Thor swallowed.
"Sorry." Coulson blushed. "That's not what.." he halted, then shook his head. "Hey maybe then not all is lost." he pointed out. "You people live for like ten thousand years right? Who knows what could happen in such a time span. Maybe it'll be good!"
Thor smiled amused, touched by Coulsons optimism.
"Thor." Coulson sighed. "I have been in this business for a very long time. Trying to protect the world, and sometimes that means confronting bad people. Very bad people, the worst scum of the earth." he stated. "Sometimes it's easy to forget, why I am doing it in the first place. So I have to remind myself, all the good things here on earth. Those are the reasons why I do it!" he looked up meeting Thors eyes. "It's not always easy doing the right thing…. Often it would be so much easier to just turn away and follow your own self interest." he stated, then smiled lightly. "But you are doing your best to do the right thing, I can see that. So. Thanks again." he stated.
Thor smiled amused. "You're welcome." he replied. "And thank you for your aid." he said putting the mug to his lip and emptied and sighed deeply. "This potion is wondrous, it really worked. I am much more relaxed now." he commented.
"Hot chocolate, always works." Coulson winked and Thor smiled.
Yes, with people like this on Earth. Earth was certainly something worth protecting… Even from Loki.