"Father, I have brought Loki back." Thor knelt before Odin. A feeling of slight terror and sympathy, NO! Not sympathy; pity, for his brother. About to be brought down beneath Odin's power. Thor, in all his strength of heart and body, knows the true fortitude of his father's will.
"Bring him in." Odin's voice rang out. Frigga turned to her husband and grabbed his arm, motioning her want to leave. She couldn't watch her son be sentenced. Frost Giant or not she raised that boy, and now she cannot witness his fall. She luckily did not see Thor be cast out, but something about Loki's sentencing was worse. As she quietly exited out the side, she fell against the cold stone wall of the private hallway, grasping at her throat, trying to keep from crying out. She felt her necklace. A thin gold chain with a small flat piece of crystal, delicately carved into the shape of a snowflake. She smiled remembering all the times Loki begged to know "why momma has a symbol of monsters around her throat." Not monsters, she would tell him, often. Apparently not often enough. She peeked through the door.
Loki stood there. The first thing Frigga noticed was a ghastly muzzle of sorts on her son's face. Keeping her from seeing the emotion. She then noticed his robes. Torn, shredded in some spots, covered in dust, and, she sighed sadly, blood. It was true, he did lead a battle. She felt a hand at her shoulder and turned to see her handmaiden. She stood and moved toward her rooms, not wishing to know any more.
Darcy Lewis sat in the passenger seat, feet up, brand spankin' new iPod in her ears blaring her music. She was exhausted. She and Jane were speeding through the night after a long plane trip back from Norway. They saw it all on the news. Thor had been here, there was a battle, with his brother and a bunch of other superbly talented and special people, and they were heading for ground zero; Stark Tower. They had to find Eric, they saw him on the news, and find that guy with the sunglasses who stole her old iPod.
Darcy let out a low whistle when they came around the bend and up a slight hill and saw the damage. New York had fallen down it looked like. Half the city was in crumbled ruins, radiating out from Stark Tower.
After an exhaustively long argument with multiple officials, a man in a long leather coat and an eye patch walked toward the group. The police and army, and even some SHEILD agents were insisting that no one, not even "Thor's Girlfriend" could move any further. Nick Fury parted the group and sized up the two women. He, honestly, could not decide which one was actually Jane Foster. One looked like Thor's type; curvy, strong, and "well-built" (his way of saying she had one nice rack and what looked like a seriously fine ass) and the other was nerdy and mousy. He thought to what she studied and decided to address the nerd. "Jane Foster, you and your friend are welcome to come and see your friend Eric Selvig. He has been injured, not to mention at one point compromised, but I bet he'll be glad to see some know faces."
Jane stood up straight and said, "Thank you Mister-
"Fury, Director Fury." Darcy let out a slight giggle. Who did he think he was? Bond, James Bond?
"-Director Fury. Don't mind her. This is my intern, assistant, and friend, Darcy Lewis." Shaking hands all around and after some frazzled, polite "how do you dos" the group separated from the agents and cops/army. Leaving them in a state of quiet shock. Who the hell WERE those girls?
Eric looked up from his spot on the edge of his bed. He was surrounded by two people the girls recognized from the news footage, and one they didn't. The redheaded bad ass chick and the guy with the bow and arrows. And then some nerdy looking guy who looked like he needed a week of sleep, Darcy thought.
"Jane! Darcy! I'm so glad to see you two alright!" Eric exclaimed truthfully. He had no idea what would have happened to Jane if Loki had gotten to her.
"Glad to see you're doing okay Eric." Jane said politely. Not asking all the questions she wanted, there were people she didn't know and that always makes Jane clam up. Darcy let out a laugh and said, "So what the hell happened to you Eric. Geez, it looks like a bomb went off outside. What did you do?"
"You know, thousands of people were hurt and affected by this. The world was attacked and you joke to a man who had his brain seized by another?" The redhead glared and turned to face Darcy straight on.
"Woah man, I am just kidding. Eric knows that. Jesus, who the hell do you think you are. I know you got a bad ass rep and some serious skills but back the fuck off lady!" Darcy glared right back.
"Can every kindly stop bickering. Dr. Selvig and I have a lot more stuff going on up here than you imagine and yelling doesn't seem to be a good idea around Dr. Banner here." Clint stepped between the women. Tugging lightly on Natasha's arm, Clint took her out of the room.
"I'm just gonna, yeah" And with that Banner walked out too.
"So ah, whats up Doc?" Darcy slid onto the bed next to Eric and he sighed and began to recant his story.
"Live? On Earth? With, with HUMANS? THE VERY RACE HE SOUGHT TO DESTROY? Are you mad Thor? Is your mind wrapped up in that, that girl?! That Jane! Is that what you seek, a life on Earth? You cannot bring Loki or your kingdom into more of this madness. Have you also promised that Asgard would help the humans when they need? We backed out of the wars within other realms years ago. WHEN YOU BOYS WERE JUST SMALL INFANTS! And, and now you wish to interfere with the lives on that planet? And bring danger back?!" Odin roared a slew of questions at Thor.
"Father, just listen. Mere days among the people of Earth and I became a better man. I found my true self, I found the true heart of my power, and I found true love. Love father, what you and mother have between you, I have found. I feel that if we could take Loki's source of power from him, we can teach him humility as I have learned. I am not promising a solution for Loki's ways, I am promising a chance for my brother. And for our family. I cannot stand by and watch our family fall to pieces." Thor calmly knelt and spoke to his father. In a way he would have never before. Before he met Jane and before he fought for Earth. He developed a clear kinship with the fellow Avengers. And he wanted to be there for them.
"Heimdall and I will watch. I and your mother will interfere when we need. And you will report to us the progress you yourself see in him." Odin sighed and leaned deeply into his chair.
After a long pause, Odin stood. "Loki Odinson, you have betrayed the express command of your King. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" He steps forward to stand in front of Loki. "You are unworthy of these realms! You are unworthy of your title!" he places his hand in front of Loki's sternum and Loki's chest glowed bright green and fades..."You're unworthy...of the loved ones you have betrayed." Loki falls to the floor. And Thor kneels beside him "Brother, I am sorry for the pain." He lifts Loki's head and pulls the mask off. Loki crys out. The pain of being mortal is something he never felt. Loki's skin seems to ebb and flow like the waves of the sea and he turns blue. Back to his front giant form. His magical facade has fallen.
Loki passes out.
