Thor was woken by a great shout, healers running back and forth, slowly Thor tried to sit up, but the immense pain shot from his arm again and he hissed. Then he looked to the bed next to him and realized, Loki was sitting up, his eyes straight in front of him.

"What… What's going on?" Thor asked in a groan.

Loki hissed slightly. "Please… Please no." he whispered.

Just then, a man came running inside, a man with a big red beard and hair holding what looked like a frail figure in his arms.

At first Thor was confused then his eyes widened, the figure in Volstags arms! It was an old man with long gray hair and only one eye. "FATHER!" he shouted.

He didn't get any further though as Eir came running. "My king! This way!" she gestured.

"Wa-WAIT!" Thor tried but they paid him no mind as Odin was rushed to another room, then the others came. Hogun, Fandral and Sif, all looked rather beaten up but were fine enough to stand. "Friends." he gasped looking at them.

"Thor!" Sif rushed towards him. "Thor you're hale, thank the Norns!" she cried.

"Never mind me, father!" Thor gasped.

"Thor I… I'm sorry, we tried to get him back as soon as we could."

"SPEAK WOMAN!" Loki shouted from his bed.

Wide-eyed Sif turned to him and the others, Lokis words were of course rude, but one look at his face and it was clear he was panicking.

Fandral sighed deeply. "He was hit, by one of the Chitauri knives, he seemed fine at first but..."

Lokis eyes widened. "Poison."

"We brought him here as fast as we could." Hogun assured. "Your highness I..."

Loki sighed. "No, Lady Sif. I apologize for my rudeness." he finally spoke looking down.

Sif softened by that. "That's okay, your highness." she halted, looking at his blue frame and again Loki seemed to grow self concious as he turned his head away. "I… I'm sorry. Forgive me." Sif spoke. "I just… Is that." she halted. "Permanent?" she finally asked.

Now Loki was almost hiding under the covers, trying to shy away from the eyes on him.

"It was a noble sacrifice." Thor informed demanding all eyes on him. "The universe was crumbling, to safe it all stones had to be gathered. To get the soul stone, something of immense personal value had to be given up. It would not accept anything less than what could truly be felt… Loki gave up his own Aisir self… So no one had to die. Normally it would take nothing less than a full life in exchange, Loki managed to find a way around it… By giving up his life as an Aisir, so all could be saved."

Loki squinted his eyes, his entire body now turned away from the others.

"Your highness." Fandral gasped.

"Leave." Loki asked. "I don't want you looking at me… Go away."

Sif halted, then she bowed. "Prince Loki. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you."

Loki laid quietly, then the rest bowed as well.

"Loki." Thor asked, finally Loki turned around and saw them all bow for him, he hissed slightly.

"I'm fine, you are dismissed." Loki murmured turning back.

"Loki." Sif breathed as she stood up.

"It's okay, give him time." Thor asked. "We have a lot to process, barely any time has passed since Loki even found out about his Jotnar origin, and now his life has changed in a flash. I beg of you, not as your prince but as your friend. Be patient with my brother." he asked.

"Just do me a favor, if you desire to mock. Do it in the open. Don't run around in the corners." Loki murmured. "Anything you wish to say, say it to my face!"

"Loki." Thor sighed deeply.

"I understand, he needs time." Sif assured, though she was twiddling with her fingers, clearly unsteady.

"Loki look..." Thor tried. "This is going to be hard for everyone, you earned your spot in Asgard without a single doubt. But… continued admiration needs to be continually earned." he stated. "your behavior is going to reflect more on you than your skin tone."

"I am not really in the mood for one of your lectures right now." Loki stated, his back still to all of them. Actually curling together… It reminded Thor a bit of Lokis cat form.

Sif chewed on her lip. "Odin said… He found you at Jotunheim, so you were always."

"Loki is Loki." Thor stated. "His appearance doesn't change his mind nor person. He is my brother, he is Prince of Asgard. Son of Odin and Frigga. And that's that."

"What happened to your arm?" Now Fandrals eyes were on Thors arm which was all wrapped up, though even at the edges of the bandages angry red marks were shown.

"Well..." Thor hesitated. "Let's just say, I shall have to practice swinging Mjolnir with my left hand from now on." he stated. "So if any of you desired to honestly beat me in the arena, now would be the time before I fully mastered my left hand swing. I will not let you keep the advantage for long."

Their eyes widened.

"It… It's that bad?" Hogun asked. "Your arm?! But..."

"Are you sure it can't be healed?" Sif asked.

"It was the price which had to be paid." Thor simply stated. "Like Lokis Aisir skin was a price which had to be paid, if they weren't paid, none of us would be here."

"How… How are you feeling?" Fandral asked a bit aghast.

"I'll live." Thor chuckled honestly amused. "Friends, it is truly great to see you."

"And you Thor." Sif breathed sitting down on her knees next to her bed. "So this is what was going on?" she asked. "The world was vanishing and you knew?"

"Well… It's a bit more complicated than that." Thor informed siting up. "But… Sort of?" he outright seemed to ask.

"I'm just glad you weren't really turning your back to Asgard." Sif sighed deeply.

"Never!" Thor gasped. "How can I?! Asgard is not perfect, there are many dark secrets at this place. But it still my home! My blood! My spirit. My heart belongs to Asgard. I don't want us to be destroyed, I want us to rise and be better!" he stated.

"Secrets?" Sif asked. "I know of Lokis true origins, there is… more?" she asked.

Thor sighed. "Aye… So much more." he informed. "And the first step is to be honest about it, and honest with ourselves. I am afraid though, that for now…. We need to focus on healing." he sighed. "Father." he looked to the door Odin had been carried through.

"He.. He'll pull through right?" Fandral asked though he looked pale. "We got him here in time!"

Thor exhaled a breath as he sadly looked down. "Father has cheated death for centuries… By the power of Odin sleep. He is not as strong as many would like to think he is."

All were quiet as they looked at Thor.

"Why do you think he was pushing so for my coronation?" Thor asked. "Even though I was clearly to inexperienced, to rash! To easily blinded by emotions. Not at all impartial. Thinking more of my own satisfaction than the safety of our people. A horrible fit for a throne."

"Thor..." Loki then spoke quietly and Thor turned to him. "That was then, this is now." Loki informed glancing up with his red eyes.

Thor quieted.

"You have flaws for certain." Loki informed. "You have refused to compromise and been greedy, you have a rather selfish side wanting it all, not settling for just half. Your heart is large, so large you have trouble being impartial, it is soft as well, your emotions still often guide you rather than your reason." he stated. "But… You are steady like a rock, you are someone a people can depend on, whom wont sway even against impossible odds and persist in pushing through, no matter the hardships, a person they can look up to and find inspiration to stand up for themselves. You are honest, deceit is not in your nature. You have an ability to listen and learn in the way most wouldn't be able to. Your love for all things living, and for Asgard is very real. And thus your wish to see the people flourish is real as well. And I have a feeling you would be willing to do just about anything to see that happen… With a person like you on the throne, the reign wouldn't be flawless. But… It would be a good thing for Asgard and lead to a great nation."

Thor was stunned, absolutely stunned as he looked at Loki.

"Odin will not be around for-ever. Asgard will need a king." Loki stated.

"But… I..." Thor tried.

"Who else Thor?" Loki asked. "You are the only logical choice."

Thor swallowed, he was lightly shaking.

The four warriors with them looked rather stunned as well.

"I don't know." Thor breathed looking down. "I am very flawed I can't..." then he halted and he turned to Loki. "On one condition." he stated.

"Oh? Greedy again are we?" Loki asked.

"You have to stay!" Thor stated. "It is like you said! My heart is large, I have trouble being impartial. Unlike you!" he stated. "I can be a slave to my emotions, and often are… Unlike you who sees reason. I've been very greedy where you would decide to cut a deal… I need you to guide me." he informed.

Loki frowned.

"If you're not with me, I will refuse to be king!" Thor stated.

"you are being greedy again Thor." Loki stated. "And very selfish."

"Aye!" Thor stated. "I am! I'll refuse the crown if you don't stay by my side!"

"Will you now?" Loki asked.

"Aye!" Thor stated. "And I am very stubborn!"

Loki looked at him, then he smiled amused as he shook his head. "You leave me little choice."

Thor held his breath, waiting for Lokis answer.

"Very well. Where else would I go anyway?" Loki asked turning to him. "Despite my current appearance I have no desire to move to Jotunheim." he fully admitted.

"That's fair." Thor nodded.

Loki smiled a bit amused, Thor returned it.

"So we have a deal?" Thor asked.

Loki sighed as he leaned back. "It seems like we do. I am stuck here, with you."

Thor chuckled. "Aye. Apologize brother."

Loki waved his hand. "What else is new?" he asked. "It's the story of my life really."

Thor smiled amused then turned to his friends. "I trust I can still count on you as well?"

All fell to their knees.

"My prince!" They stated.

Thor smiled softly. "You still follow orders so easily, but soon it will be a time for you to grow as well. For now, keep me company for a bit." he asked. "I missed your company."

And they smiled as Fandral ran to gather chairs.

Loki just laid on his back away from them, but he didn't complain, as they started to chatter he even began to join the conversation and all in all, they had a pleasant afternoon until Thor was just to tired to keep away ones again and they all left, allowing Thor and Loki to rest ones more.