It was plain that talking about their... their sister, was painful for the old King. His voice, something usually so strong and firm, was weak. Shaky. To be honest, Loki had never heard Odin sound so frail, even when he was slipping into the Odinssleep years ago. It was jarring.
"I was hard on you. Both of you," Odin admitted as he rubbed a hand across his face. "I was so afraid that I would witness yet another of my children descend into madness. Into blood lust. When Loki stood before me for judgment of his crimes, I... her face flashed through my mind. The rage. The satisfaction. The knowledge that she could not be reformed and would do it again if I tried to correct her behavior yet another time. I am sorry, Loki, I did not see you before me. I saw her."
Loki wasn't certain how to reply to that, so he remained silent and allowed Odin to continue his story. Though, listening to the older man's story did little to clear things up in his mind.
Bor, Odin's own father, had been a powerful warlord and had controlled many of the realms. Upon his death, those realms had been left in Chaos. Upon Odin claiming the throne as Bor's heir, he was not greeted with respect but rather disdain. As such, he had been forced to deal with all the Chaos and death left behind by his father's death with a firm hand. Had been forced to take a hard stance to show why Asgard was still strong despite his father's passing.
Odin... had desired to end all the bloodshed and the fighting caused by the uproar, but in the end, had only ended up spilling more blood. He hadn't known of any other path to take... not back then. Bor had told him next to nothing about the truth behind some of his power and how he had maintained control of the realms.
Honestly, as Loki thought things over, he wasn't sure he saw any other path his father could have taken. Eight thousand years ago was... a very different time. That all of that weight had been left on a younger Odin's shoulders was... Well, Loki could say for certain that he did not envy the younger Odin. Not one bit.
More than that, though, was the relief that nothing had happened to Odin during the fight against the Mad Titan. Loki and Thor could have been left in a very, very similar situation had Odin died during the fighting. Really, being left to clean up Odin's messes wasn't a pleasant thought. Especially when the old man mentioned that the seal keeping their sister bound was currently tied to Odin's life force!
By the time Odin was done talking, Loki was... well, to be frank, he was too tired to maintain his ire with the older man. It probably didn't help matters that they had stayed up partying all night and then gone to talk to Odin without sleeping first. Not the best idea... or perhaps it was. Perhaps they had found the perfect moment where both brothers were willing to listen... and Odin willing to talk.
Deep down, Loki found that he could only imagine what would have happened had Odin told them all of this sooner. Neither he nor Thor had been good at controlling their tempers. There would likely have been shouting, angry words... even more likely was someone stomping out in a rage and doing something foolish. Hard to say if that someone would have been Loki or Thor. They had both been prone to pulling off stupid stunts in the heat of anger.
Things were different now. They were older. Not physically, but mentally. Earth... truly had a way of maturing people. It was strange like that.
"Is that all of it?" Loki asked his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"I believe so," Odin said with a tired nod.
"Alright, alright," Loki rubbed at his face with a sigh. "I understand most of your actions. Your choices. All except for one. Why did you think Thor was ready to be King but not ready to be told these things? I mean... it makes no sense!"
"Ah, I see why you might say that," Odin said with a nod and a weak smile. "As I said, I received the throne after my father's death. I had no time to adjust to the role that I had been thrust into. Nor was there someone I could turn to for advice, for those who were supposed to have been loyal to my father were in truth only loyal to themselves. I wanted Thor to have the time that I did not."
"I see, so you wanted him to lead with the, as the Midgardian's say, 'training wheels on,'" Loki said with a small nod. A heavy sigh escaped him a moment later. "Indeed, he wasn't ready, no offense Thor, but neither was I. I was not yet ready to take on such an important advisory role."
"No offense taken, brother," Thor said with his own sigh. "You're right to say that I was not ready. I... to be honest, I am still not ready. I am starting to think that no one is truly ready for the burden of a throne."
"Well, you are more capable now than you were back then," Loki offered with a shrug.
"That is true," Thor responded with a nod and a grin. "And so are you."
"Yeaaah, don't try to foist that thing off on me," Loki said, rolling his eyes. "You can have the blasted thing. I don't want it."
"You do know that if I am injured or ill, that it will fall to you to lead while I recover," Thor said with wide and too innocent eyes.
"Well then, try not to get injured, fall ill, or die!" Loki said with a scoff, throwing up his hands. "Don't think that I don't have better things to do than pick up your slack."
"Ah, yes, that's right," Thor said with a semi-serious nod of his head as he crossed his arms. "You have important business walking about aimlessly."
Loki glared at him in mock outrage. They held the look for a long moment before bursting into soft chuckles. Odin, who had been tensing during the exchange, relaxed at their laughter and smiled at them, pleased to see them getting along once more.
"We will each have our own roles to play in the future, my dear brother. You have always filled the role of the 'dependable hero,' and I? Well... I, not so much," Loki smirked and held his hands behind his back, one hand loosely grasping a wrist. "However, my being unpredictable should be able to save you if you're in a pinch. Just remember, if you ever get too high up on that high horse of yours, I will be there to put you back in your place."
"I figured as much," Thor responded with a nod and a smile. "So... you'll be there to save the day when I least expect it then?"
"Well, don't be so hasty. Now you're asking me to show up," Loki said with a prim sniff. "I am the god of mischief after all. I will come and go as I please."
"You do realize that would make you a bad King," Thor said thoughtfully. "If you just come and go at all times of the day."
"Bah, I would make a splendid King if that was what I desired," Loki said with a smirk, holding out his arms and backing away. "But that is not what I desire, and as such... well, it's all yours, dearest brother. Do enjoy yourself."
"Oh no, you don't!" Thor yelled playfully, lunging for Loki's arm and pulling him in for a playful head hold. "I know that you need your freedom, that you need to wander about, but as a Prince of Asgard, as a Hero of Asgard, you are still duty-bound to answer our people's call for aid."
"Oaf!" Loki yelped, squirming in his hold for a moment before going limp. He glared at Thor like a very disgruntled cat. "Fine. I'll do it. If I feel like doing so."
Thor shook his head and smiled. He wasn't worried about Loki not showing up to help if they needed him. If things truly took a turn for the worst, he felt that Loki would come running no matter what. Thor smiled and helped straighten his brother's clothes and hair.
It was nice. This was nice. Knowing that he could trust his brother fully once more was... it was amazing. And this time, that trust was based on something far stronger than a child's idyllic mindset. It was based on a deeper understanding between them brought about by proper communication and trust.
Weeks later, everyone was gathered for the largest party of the century. Bigger than even that of the pre-war party and just as rowdy. Folks gathered and spoke of their victory, of their lost ones who had died in combat, but all of that was overshadowed by the main centerpiece of the party;
The Blushing Bride and the Gallant Groom.
Tony had been smiling widely ever since he put the ring on Pepper's finger and said, 'I do.' Pepper, in turn, was a beaming beauty, her dress proudly designed to show off the growing baby bump as opposed to hiding it. Everyone was cheering and talking to the newly married couple.
"You know, when we'd first decided to get married, I'd just wanted a small, private party," Pepper said with a small chuckle. "Tony agreed. Honestly, though, with how many friends we have, how many bonds we've made doing our work, I really should have known that the party would end up growing huge like this. Still, I don't mind. It's so wonderful to have everyone here."
"We're glad to be here, Pepper," Clint said with a smile. He looked at Tony with a raised brow. "So, I hear you're retiring from the whole superhero business, Tony?"
"Yeah, same as you, Legolas. This was the last big mission for me. I'm going to be focusing on saving our planet a little differently now. Also," Tony said with a grin and a nod. He reached out and caught a certain brown-haired teen by the back of his suit and tugged him in close enough to wrap an arm around the kid's shoulders. "We've got a new generation to look after and support!"
"I.. Mr. Stark... I..." Peter had turned a bright red, both in embarrassment at having been caught in such a way and at the praise. "I'll do my best not to let you down, sir!"
"Hey, relax, kid," Tony said with a wink, reaching up to muss up Peter's hair. I may not be Iron Man anymore, but I still have your back."
Off to the side, Steve was sharing a pleasant dance with Natasha. They twirled about and then paused mid-move at the sight of the Hulk downing an entire bucket full of ice cream. The big guy yelped and held his head as one of the others gently coaxed him through recovering from the sudden brain freeze. They both burst into soft laughter as the big guy started in on another bucket with a little more care. It was good that the big guy was able to join the party. He'd been a key player in their fight. Steve looked back to Natasha and smiled fondly.
"You look really cute in that dress, Nat," he said softly. He winced a moment later as he almost stepped on her foot. Again. "Sorry! Sorry."
"And you, cap, have two left feet," Natasha said with a laugh. "It's cute."
At another section of the part, Odin himself had been invited, along with his wife, his two sons, Sif and the Warriors Three. And yet, the royal couple had offered their blessings to the newly wedded couple and then kept off to the side, sitting regally beside Freya as they watched the party goers around them rather than joining in on the festivities like their sons and the more boisterous warriors. Loki had, surprisingly, actively sought out Nebula.
"I hear you will be traveling with the Guardians for a time," Loki said, offering the woman a drink.
"I will be," she said, taking the drink and sipping at it. "They offered."
"Why are you going to hang out with that bunch of losers, sans your sister, of course," Loki said with a dry laugh as he sipped his own drink. "You could come with me."
"Perhaps I could," Nebula hummed softly and then shook her head. "And yet I believe that to be a poor idea now."
"Why?" Loki asked, brow rising. "We have proven to make a deadly and formidable team, have we not?"
"True," Nebula said with a nod as she looked toward her sister. She looked back at him a moment later. "But we bring out the worst in each other at the same time."
"That... is hard to argue against," Loki said with a grudging nod. "We... Well, I hope you can find what you are looking for in your travels, Nebula."
Nebula blinked at him and then looked back at her sister, who was surrounded by the people who made of the team that was the Guardians of the Galaxy. They were all laughing and cheering, joking openly with each other. Gamora turned to look her way as if feeling her gaze and offered her a smile. Nebula nodded her head in return and then looked back at Loki. Her gaze could almost be called soft.
"I think that there is a good chance that I already have," she admitted in a low voice.
"I'm glad to hear that," Loki said. When Nebula raised a doubtful brow at him, he chuckled. "No, I honestly am glad to hear that. It will be interesting to meet again later on. Will we be allies? Enemies? Could go either way with the two of us, no?"
"Indeed," Nebula said with a thoughtful nod. Her eyes hardened. "Be warned, if we should meet as enemies, I will not hold back against you."
"I would not dare do you such a disservice as to think otherwise!" Loki responded with a laugh as he turned to walk toward the Hulk.
He paused for a moment, waiting for the larger male to finish off the latest bucket of his favorite ice cream. After Hulk had set the bucket down and let out a happy burp of noise, Loki moved closer.
"You seem to be doing well," Loki said with a tiny smirk.
"Ah, yes! Super superior meat-tab... metabolism," Hulk said, correcting himself after a brief pause. He gave his stomach a firm pat. "Even Banner agrees that it has its benefits."
"Indeed," Loki chuckled and then looked pensive for a moment. "May I have a word?"
"Me or Banner?" Hulk asked with a blink.
"Doesn't really matter if Bruce is listening in. He is, isn't he?" Loki asked with a blink. Hulk nodded an affirmative, and Loki continued. "Right then, remember when we first became friends? When I showed up as Robert?"
At Hulk's nod, Loki took in a deep breath and continued.
"I told you about the universe, and I made you an offer," he said gently. "I made the same offer to Bruce. You can come with me when I leave. I intend to travel through the galaxy, and, if you'd like, you can join me. I can take you anywhere you might want to go."
Hulk looked at him with a blink and then shook his head.
"Hulk is... I am good here, Puny God," Hulk said with a grin.
"And what of Bruce?" Loki asked.
Hulk tilted his head and then abruptly started to shift forms. The change was so quick and abrupt that Bruce ended up looking more than a little silly in the oversized clothes designed for the Hulk. His hand closed quickly around the pants, pulling a string to tighten them up so that they didn't fall. Loki gave him a moment to situate himself, and Bruce looked up at him with a faint smile.
"I'm good too, Loki," he said gently. "Thank you for asking us, for keeping your promise, but we both think that we can do a lot of good right here on Earth. More than we could out there, at least. This... This is home."
"Are you certain?" Loki asked again with a small sigh. "I can get you back home afterward, no problem. Think carefully. I really do mean anywhere."
"I understand, and thank you, but no," Bruce said with a shake of his head. "Both Hulk and I want to remain here with our friends. See what good we can do, can build, here."
"Ah, well, I suppose that's how it had to be," Loki nodded his head and let out a sigh, raising his hand in farewell. "See you around then."
He Around to walk away and then paused, a mischievous smile curling his lips upwards. He took three long steps toward one of the long tables and leaped up on top of the surface. He spun about, grabbing a fresh glass from one of the servers walking close by, and held up the glass.
"Tony!" Loki shouted, causing everyone, including Tony, to turn his way with raised brows and curious looks. "You know, I'd bet that had anyone told you several years ago that you'd be inviting me of all people to your wedding, you'd have laughed your ass off."
Tony blinked at that and then did a little head bob of agreement as he burst into laughter. He raised his own glass in turn. The rest of the crowd burst into a spattering of laughter before it died down. Most had already realized Loki's intent to give a speech.
"I'll be honest, the first time I met you, you were really something to behold," Loki said with a dry chuckle. "By the Norns, but you really pissed me off. A mortal, standing in front of a god, all but spitting in my face and refusing to bend knee? I believe there is a saying here on Earth, is there not? Balls of steel, yes? Or in your case, iron."
The crowd burst into laughter. Tony ducked his head, blushing and yet smiling in pride as he tugged Pepper closer. Pepper just laughed and kissed the side of his head.
"Later, after I was banished and met you again as Robert... I'll be honest, my friend, you still pissed me the hell off, but for a different reason. Because, yeah... Tony... you're an asshole," Loki said, shrugging and tilting his head. The crowd once more burst into laughter, and Tony rolled his eyes at him, hefting his own glass yet not denying the accusation. "It's rare to see a man like you, Tony. A man who has so much potential to do good or evil... and choose good. That's what I saw every minute, every day I spent with you. You had so many people pushing back against you, insisting you were hiding some sort of vileness behind a heroic mask. That you hadn't changed your ways at all. And yet, you persevered. You kept pushing forward, choosing the hard path as opposed to the easy road. That takes a stubborn kind of courage, and you have that in spades."
Once more, the crowd cheered at Loki's words.
"And what's more valuable than that stubbornness? Why, the brave, brilliant, and equally stubborn woman at your side," Loki continued, bowing toward Pepper. The crowd's cheers doubled in size for a moment, Tony joining in and clapping for his wife. They quieted down a moment later. "She's been there to help you stay on that path all this time. Your partner, your confidant, one might even say she is your muse. Honestly, Lady Pepper, you have been an inspiration for everyone here. You're able to see the best in people even when they cannot see it themselves. You inspire people. You're nice to them, and somehow, they too respond with kindness. You make people better, just by being you!"
Everyone let out noises of agreement and raised their glasses toward the woman in question. More than one person bowed her way. Tony turned and smiled at Pepper. She looked up at his, smiling as well, and one could see the pure love shining in their eyes. It was beautiful.
"You are a wonderful couple. You make each other better than you would be alone," Loki said in an honest voice. He hefted his glass up and shouted. "To Tony and Pepper!"
"To Tony and Pepper!" the crowds shouted happily. Loki emptied his glass and tossed it to the side. Luckily, Tony's people were used to Thor's habit of tossing a glass toward the ground and caught the thing before it could break.
"Man, you humans are really something, you know that?" Loki asked with a chuckle and a shrug. "It's the potential. You're all so... so different from one another. As such, each of you has the potential for great things, good or bad. I honestly don't believe that any other species out there could have helped us pull off a fight that others might have called unwinnable. You've made it your history to do just that, face a foe you shouldn't stand a chance against and win against impossible odds. It's amazing and I... well, I like that about your lot. As such, if the Earth is ever in need, I'll lend a hand. I mean hell, I'm pretty sure I still owe you one, yes?"
There was a chorus of amused agreement. Tony pointed at him and gave a shout of 'Damn straight, you owe me one! Coffee thief!' that sent the crowd into peels of laughter once more. Loki let out an amused huff and patted his hands at the air, pulling at a golden chain hung about his neck. He pulled free what looked like a beautiful gold medallion with a blue stone shining brightly in the center.
"Well then, until you require me, this is my 'so long, and see you later,'" Loki said with a smirk and a wink. "I've got a bit of mischief to cause!"
"Wait a moment," Thor said from nearby the newlyweds, "is that the Space stone!?"
More and more of the crowd seemed to recognize what the Stone was. More than a few tensed in surprise and brief wariness. But before the tension could build, Loki wiggled his fingers at them in a farewell gesture and disappeared from sight with a small Vwoomp of noise. People blinked and started to chat amongst each other in surprise, realizing that Loki was no longer planetside.
"Loki!" Thor darted forward a few steps and then paused, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. He turned to Odin, eyes wide. "He had the Space Stone!?"
"So it would see," Odin said with a nod and a shrug of his shoulders.
"We need to... wait," Thor tilted his head at his father. "You do not look surprised."
"He had it with him when we crossed the Rainbow Bridge," Odin admitted with a small smile. Freya chuckled into her hand at his side. "He most likely stole the Tesseract from the Vault several days ago and spent time crafting it into the medallion we saw."
"And you didn't think to stop him?" Thor asked with a raised brow.
"Thor, I am afraid that trying to control your brother is much like trying to control the storm or the tide," Odin said with a dry chuckle. "Impossible. And if you try to do such a thing regardless of the warning signs, you are asking for disaster to claim you."
"Ah, well," Thor blinked and then nodded his head. "That is frighteningly accurate."
"Had this happened earlier, before all of this, I would have stopped him," Odin said with a small sigh. "However, I realize we can trust Loki to act within the best interests of the galaxy, if not perhaps in the most conventional of manners. Besides, he and the Tesseract have always seemed to share a strange bond."
"Truly?" Thor tilted his head at his father.
"Why do you think I hid the Stone on Midgard in the first place?" Odin asked with a bemused look on his face.
"Loki might have been not but a toddler, but he kept somehow getting a hold of the Tesseract," Frigga said with a small laugh. "No matter how many times your father locked the Stone up in the Vault, nor how many seals we placed upon the Vault itself, it would somehow find its' way into Loki's hands."
"I still don't understand how the Stone kept appearing next to him," Odin said with a sigh. Thor blinked at him as Odin waved his hand toward where Loki had been. "And after more than a thousand years of peace where we didn't have to worry about the blasted Stone, you're brother has it yet again! What am I to do?"
"It... sounds like Loki was quite the handful as a babe," Thor admitted with a faint chuckle.
"You both were," Odin said firmly, Frigga nodding in agreement. "When you threw a temper tantrum, no matter the reason, thunder and lightning would sound outside. If the little Prince didn't get his drink in the correct cup, lightning would burst from his little fingers!"
Thor could feel the blush start to spread up his cheeks.
"More than one servant had to hide under the tables else sport a new hair-do for a week," Frigga said with a wide grin.
And the blush worsened.
"Thank the Norns, you both turned out as well as you did," Odin said with a heavy sigh.
"Ah, well, ahem," Thor grinned awkwardly and once more rubbed at the back of his neck. "Eventually, at least. Do you really think it is alright for him to have the Stone?"
"I have no fear at the thought of him holding onto the Stone," Odin said with a gentle shake of his head. "Something tells me that the Stone will be safer with Loki than hidden within any vault or carefully chosen hiding spot."
"Aye," Thor said after a moment of silence, "this is true. Infinity Stones do seem to have a will of their own, don't they? Are there not legends of them choosing their own Guardians at times?"
"Yes," Vision said, appearing next to Thor with a smile on his lips. He indicated the Mind Stone attached to his forehead. "Your brother was rejected by the Mind Stone, and it has found its' place with me. The Space Stone does adore him."
"I suppose that is all that needs to be said then," Thor said with a shrug. "The Stone has spoken, in its' own way."
"So," Bruce started, walking over as Vision wandered back over to Wanda's side, "he's out there, traveling the Universe, about to cause all kinds of mischief, isn't he? And he can go anywhere with that Stone, right? Look like anyone thanks to his own magic?"
"That's... a fairly accurate breakdown of the situation, yes," Thor said with a chuckle.
"You know... that's... oddly reassuring," Bruce said with a chuckle of his own. "How strange is that?"
"Hmm. It rather is, isn't it?" Thor blinked, looking up toward the ceiling as if he could see the stars beyond the walls around them. He smiled fondly. "Well then, I guess I'll see you whenever you feel like coming back home, my dear brother."
Loki's journeys across the cosmos have been amazing. The Stone truly sang in his hands, delighted to be put to use by such a clever being that was willing to use it and not afraid of it. Be it traveling short distances or long, traveling up or down, or every which way, across the Universe, it all but sang and laughed its' joy, and Loki laughed with it.
As such, one day, on a planet that would seem strange to most Humans with its orange-red soil, a rather peculiar event occurred. The people who called this world home had skin much the same color as the land they lived on, a wonderful camouflage that usually aided them in blending in with the ground around them, and had bright, yellow cat-like eyes. Sadly, one of the kingdoms was almost constantly being attacked by a dragon-like creature, and no amount of camouflage could save them from the clever beast. After the latest attack, the King had called his people together in a desperate bid to find someone brave enough to face the creature attacking them.
"I say this!" the King called to the gathered crowd. "To whomsoever can slay the dragon and end this accursed plague, I shall grant this person whatever it may be that they might desire as long as it is within my power to do so!"
"Oh, really now?" a voice rang out, cocky and sure, from near the front of the crowd.
All eyes turned to look upon a person they'd not really noticed until just then. The male in question was quite typical in looks when compared to their average citizen. Tall, slender, and moderately handsome by their standards. Someone who could, well, easily blend into a crowd.
"Alright then," the male said, nodding his head toward the King and pointing at his hand. "Promise me that ring on your finger there, and I'll slay the dragon for you. That's within your power, yes?"
"I... this ring?" the King asked, haltingly as he held up the hand in question. The male nodded his head, still smiling. "It is true that this ring is my most treasured possession, as it was handed down to me by my father, who received it from his father before him and so on. Yet, the only value in this ring is purely a sentimental one! It is not even made of the best materials that our lands offer. What use could you possibly have for what to you, would be not but a trinket?"
"It is exactly for that reason I ask for it," the newcomer said with a shrug of his shoulders. "That ring, your most treasured possession, is my price. You need not take my offer. Simply decline, and I shall be on my way, and things here will not change. Mind you, think carefully, good King. Know that if you accept, the dragon will die, and I will claim my due. However, should you renege on our bargain, you will face a disaster far worse than some mere dragon."
"I... very well," the King said with a nod and a rough swallow. "If it will make my people safe, then I agree. Please kill the beast, and the ring shall be yours!"
The figure bowed and then turned away, disappearing into the crowd. The people talked and gossiped, wondering if the man had been a fool or simply insane to challenge the creature that had done so much harm. And yet, only one day later, the male came back, carting the head of the dragon behind him. He walked freely through the city, and the King came out to meet him. He tossed the head at the King's feet and smiled.
"The deed is done," he said and then held out his hand. "Now, my price if you would?"
"I..." the King looked to be at a loss for words, the cat-like pupils of his eyes blown wide with shock. He shook his head a moment later and then smiled, taking off the ring and holding it out to the male who had saved his people. "Yes. As you requested. You've earned it. And if there is anything else I can do, know that I have more valuable treasure than just this. Please, take this ring with my gratitude and any other treasure you might wish."
"Thank you," the stranger said, taking the ring and looking it over. He smiled and held the ring back out to the King. "Here, a gift for you."
"I..." the King blinked, startled, and reflexively took the ring back from the stranger. "What? Why?"
"Because you are a good King," the stranger said, his voice kind but serious. "You put your people's safety above your pride. You kept your oath and didn't even think of trying to squirm out of such a simple promise like some others might have. You, fair and just King, shall be blessed. Heh, know too that you did better than the last King I made a deal with. He refused to give up the sword that he had promised to me, and... well... he's dead now. Killed by his own countrymen no less."
"I... who..." the King swallowed nervously but held his ground. "Who are you?"
"My, I thought you might never ask," the stranger said with a playful smirk. "My name, good King, is Loki. Remember it well. As long as you are King, I shall ensure your kingdom and its people are protected."
The male, Loki, winked at the King and then disappeared in a bright flash of light. The people who had gathered around them let out startled yelps and then broke into stunned conversation once they realized the male was gone. The King himself was not certain what had just happened, only that it was clear that they had been visited by a higher power of some sort. Well, he thought to himself, he should just count himself lucky then that he had passed the being's test for him!
And so, Loki traveled from world to world on a whim. Sometimes he stopped by worlds he was familiar with to see how things might be going. Sometimes it was a place he had never been to before. Eventually, though, he would find his path leading to Asgard, to home, where his brother Thor would cheer and hold a feast for his wandering brother.
He would even return to Earth from time to time. It was a nice place, even if the residents knew nothing about staying out of trouble.
And he enjoyed his wanderings. He truly did. And he would never deny it either. Loki was akin to a force of nature, a being that could not be controlled. He enjoyed the wildness, the Chaos of it all, with every fiber of his being. And it was all because he had finally accepted the true spirit of who he was. What it meant to be a god of mischief and Chaos. For Chaos was one of the few things that one might try to defend against but could never control. Loki had found many a world led by overbearing tyrants intent on controlling everything and everyone around them and... well... caused a bit of trouble for those tyrants. Whether the outcome of his actions turned out for the better or for worse, well, that was up to the populace.
Not him.
There were two things that he had learned in his years about a storm. One, the storm cannot be controlled. And two, if you tried to control the storm regardless of the first point, well, you were asking for disaster to strike, now weren't you?
But... if you learned to work with the storm, then good things could come from that.
Something that Thor had pointed out to Tony while they were talking about Loki's latest batch of antics. Tony had laughed, shaking his head and bouncing his precious baby girl, Morgan, on his knee.
"Yeah, well, whatever, Point Break," Tony said with another laugh as Morgan let out a happy squeal. "As long as he's on our side, I suppose the things he gets up to aren't too bad."
"That he is, Friend Stark," Thor replied with a chuckle of his own. "Loki considers you a dear friend now."
"Eh, that's cool," Tony said with a shrug. He frowned after a moment. "But how is he even supposed to know if we need help?"
"Oh, he'll know," Thor responded with a satisfied smirk. "I may not know the particulars of how, but I know that he will come if we need his aid."
"Ha! You can't even figure out how your own brother does things either!" Tony said in a joking accusation.
"No, no, I really cannot," Thor admitted with another booming laugh. "However, if I could, then, well, what fun would that be?"
"Nah, I suppose you're right," Tony said with a small snort. "He's just going to show up whenever and wherever he pleases, isn't he?"
"Precisely!" Thor said with a grin, reached out to pick up one of Morgan's toys and zooming it toward her outstretched hands as if it were flying toward her.
As her happy burbles filled the air, Thor found that he was already looking forward to the next time Loki decided to just 'pop in.' It would probably be when people least expected it, like always.