- Chapter 4 -

There was still disappointment in Rhodey's eyes. When Anthony saw the reassuring expression, despite the disappointment, he smiled at it. His older brother's unwavering affection despite the messes always made him feel better. Sitting down across from him his brother was the implacable force that he'd always been. Protective but unyielding. His voice was quiet as he spoke, "Rhodey, there's more than what she told me at first."

"Isn't there always," Rhodey sighed. There'd been too many little signs over the years for him to think this was anything other than obviously headed their way. Despite that, he couldn't be angry at Anthony for choosing to bury his head in the sands of ignorance as another traumatic event bore down on him. Looking around the smoking ruin of a kitchen again showed him another place he needed to point his irritation. Himself. It was his choice to give this a little more time instead of acting on what he knew had to be there. I have very little time left to fix this before he explodes near someone else. Restoring rational thought to his brother had to come before him finding out what more there was. His younger brothers always had to come first.

"Rhodey she let ..." Anthony began quickly but paused when his older brother held up a hand to stop him.

"We'll get to that. You'll tell me everything now, like you did before, but first we need to talk." Rhodey looked around the kitchen in an over-exaggerated fashion, "about this", and then gave Anthony a pointed look, "and how inappropriate your actions were."

"It was an accident," Anthony looked down at the metal in his hands. They tightened slightly around the metal as he thought about his wife's tears.

"It always is, Anthony. Until it isn't," Rhodey said. "That's the problem."

.-.-.-.

How calmly Anthony was taking being chastised surprised Frey very much to see. He was also surprised by Rhodes' attempt to directly address Anthony's anger. It wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. He tried to address Anthony's anger candidly. It didn't go well. Loki apologized profusely as she dragged her husband from the room to deal with him herself. Later on, she managed to convince him that his nephew-by-law meant none of the crass filth that came spewing from his mouth. It was brave of Rhodes to make the attempt, if futile. Anthony's rage was so vast there seemed to be no beginning nor end to it. Frey hoped to one day discover the source of it. For only by understanding where the rage was flowing from could he hope to stem the tide of it.

Dislike edged her thoughts. Frigga didn't care to see these men anymore. She wanted to see her son. She particularly didn't care to see them since this looked like one of them was about to chastise the other for throwing a tantrum. These men were wholly unimportant. It was only Loki who was important.

.-.-.-.

"I know you always stay calm, but this is so far beyond the pale. This is someone we care about, and you keep telling me I can't even hit Thor." He looked up at Rhodey. "I could hit him and not to put my fist through his face." Again, the dark voice whispered to him. He doesn't need his whole face. Half is enough. Maybe even just a quarter.

Dark shadows of anger still clouded his younger brother's eyes. Shaking his head in disagreement, he replied, "It wouldn't be principled, patient or tolerant."

"None of what they did was principled!" he snapped at his older brother.

"We are not they," Rhodey's response was simple. It carried the weight of arguments long passed and the unyielding beliefs in them. "We can't control others' actions. We can only control our own." Years ago, he thought this was an argument that they were done having; that only little reminders would be needed in the future. Then came Loki. The magnitude of her life, of her injuries provoked a deep understanding and empathy inside his younger brother. The care those wounds required left terrible scars, so these arguments had become a common occurrence again. While he cared a great deal for his sister-in-law he just wished that turmoil and uncertainty didn't follow after her. They weren't good for anyone.

"You care about her. I know you do! I don't care that most of it isn't his fault. The hundreds of years of shitty abuse are! He deserves to burn! Aren't you even a little angry?!" He looked back at the burnt, torn metal in his hands. "You don't believe they should they get away with it. After everything we've gone through, I know you don't." Anthony's voice was quiet and sullen. You never let me get away with it. You never let any of us get away with anything. "They shouldn't get away with it. They should burn."

The sedate reassuring expression that always came out after mistakes had been made stayed on Rhodey's face. "Principles, Anthony, are for life," he began as he often did. "It doesn't matter what situation I find myself in, the best or the worst, I always apply them and the standards they come with evenly. Loki understands this. She understands many things which is what let her bring me to an understanding of her principles." A hard edge entered his voice. "You need to rediscover your own understanding." The tiny flinch from his brother told him he'd hit his mark.

.-.-.-.

"I bet he did," muttered Clint. He could feel his blood starting to boil. These men were his teammates, thinking of what Loki did to them made him grind his teeth together. What about Lilith? Where is she? Has he already captured her? Is she still alive? For any harm that befell the little woman, Loki would pay for in blood. The anger started to creep towards taking over his thoughts again. He automatically took a breath, counted to ten then focused on a memory of his children. It was a calming memory. With just a little bit more calm restored, he began forcing away the anger. Whenever the anger threatened to push back he picked another calming memory. Using one memory to deal with another was a strategy Lilith helped him to develop. She did so much for him.

It was slightly disheartening to Steve that both Tony and Rhodey were ensnared in Loki's trap. He disliked that his teammates had probably been prisoners for years, right in front of him. He hadn't known enough to help them which bothered him greatly. Both of them needed his help to be freed. A small frown touched Steve's lips. Until they were free they had to be considered armed and very dangerous. There was no part of it that he liked.

.-.-.-.

"She talked to you about …this?" Anthony asked slowly. He kept glancing down to the scarred metal. Everything was broken again. This time he was going to make certain that it was fixed. I need to start on a permanent upgrade.

"We're friends. We've talked about a lot of things, principles, and honor among them. That's why it doesn't matter that I don't immediately know the rest of the fine details because I know enough. Loki and I have already come to an understanding on this." Rhodey gently nudged at Anthony's shoe with his own to make sure he continued paying attention. His younger brother's thoughts were visibly drifting. "I'm not going to lie and say that the files and scans you showed me, what Loki did, didn't affect me." His gaze saddened for a moment. "Knowing what happened in front of us shifted my point of view like an earthquake. The truth can't help but change things. Getting to know Loki only made the changes happen faster. Honestly, getting to know her made most of it worse." Rhodey smiled when Anthony nodded in agreement. They both understood the pain of seeing someone they cared about harmed. "Whatever else embarrassment, anxiety or fear has her hiding will probably make it harder, sadder, and more painful for me. But that doesn't change how I have or will view this, or how I handle it. You, on the other hand, need to reassess the way you see this and handle it." He gave his younger brother another pointed look and then glanced around the kitchen again. Another tiny flinch followed. You're not an old monster, kid. You can do this.

.-.-.-.

"What 'truth' are they talking about?" Natasha mused aloud. Even this short exchange was rife with secrets. She could see that they were there and wanted them for herself.

"Do you think it's what we're supposed to learn about?" Bruce answered her question with one of his own.

"Maybe," she responded. Hopefully, she thought.

It's not something you should know, Frey thought. He did understand Rhodes' sentiment. Knowing Loki as well as he did made it even harder to live with what truth he guarded.

.-.-.-.

Once he was certain that it wouldn't collapse on him Rhodey sat back against the charred remains of a kitchen counter frame. A sliver of ashen charcoal fell down onto his shoulder from the remains of the counter. He flicked it off then began to consider what problem to attack first. His one leg stretched out, then he bent the other and laced his fingers to rest his hands on his upright knee. Acknowledging and dealing with the closest irritant to Anthony's hands seemed best. "You have a right to be angry with Thor. His behavior has been atrocious. What his irresponsibility caused is even worse. His treatment of your wife is valid reason to hold no respect for him. Even now he's still immature." Anthony was glancing up from time to time. Despite direct eye contact not being made yet Rhodey could tell he was listening. "All of these are all valid reasons to dislike him. They're ones I understand. When I found out I worried about having to work with Thor. I worried that my dislike and lack of respect would show through the glamour, that he would see it in my eyes, because no one will ever see it in my actions." Another tiny flinch passed swiftly.

.-.-.-.

None of this helped the Asgardian Prince to feel better. Thor learned forward. It hurt him to know that Loki had twisted these good men. Even twisted as he was, Rhodes' thoughts were still interesting. He thought Rhodes to be a shield-brother as well. The honorable colonel was always trying to assist him, not just to be a better warrior, but to be a better man. The advice he'd received from him was both wise and insightful. Thor thought he'd earned Rhodes' respect and friendship. He could hear Skuld's words again, "...that the veil of secrets might be pulled back from your eyes, that they might burn ..." Have I truly lost two shield-brothers this day? Can I rescue them? It was a slightly guilty thought that the possibility of losing Colonel Rhodes was more grievous to him than losing Stark, though Stark was his shield-brother first. The soothing feeling of peace that seemed to surround the Midgardian officer was something he was coming to look forward to. The feeling of ease and surety of thought that discussing his worries with Colonel Rhodes brought wasn't something he could get anywhere else.

Rhodes' anger was understandable to Frey. He wasn't angry with Thor for what happened. He was angry with Odin, and with himself. The boy was so uneducated that it was hard to hold much anger for Thor. There was an ever-present disappointment with his nephew, as well as his beloved sister for permitting it. Thor was Crown Prince of Asgard and not even as well-educated as the farmlands' folk of Vanaheim. He never cared for his sister's reasoning that she was giving him a better childhood than the one they received. Thor would be a Lord and King one day. His naivete wasn't just embarrassing and shameful. It was dangerous.

.-.-.-.

"Principled. Patient. Tolerant," Rhodey stated again.

"I know the standard," Anthony's voice was still sullen.

Not an ounce of irritation showed on the older man's face, though it was plain to hear in his voice. "I question that, since we're sitting in ashes again." This flinch was larger than the previous ones, but still small.

"There are certainly arguments to be made for Thor getting a solid beating, and against. We're not going to entertain any part of that notion. Either of us could easily give that beating, so it's not up for debate. The real question here isn't whether he deserves it or whether we can do it, but whether we should do that. What good will come from discarding our principles; from not giving Thor the patience to grow and the tolerance to find a solution to his mistakes?" The next question he asked was almost as old as their time together. "What justification do you have for violence?" The justification for violence was one of the best ways he had to talk his brothers through their failed interactions with other people. Violence was often their first response, though never a good one.

"Lots of 'em," muttered Anthony. He could feel the tight burn of his fires igniting in his chest again. The embers were no longer smoldering. The familiar inferno raged just beneath the surface where it belonged. Loki always said that the miracles he created for her came from those flames. They burned a little hotter as he thought about the next miracle he was going to create for her. The upgrade he was planning was going to be the final repair of that system. Everything else would be maintenance.

"Such as?" The question was even and inquisitive while being corrective and supporting at the same time. It was something Rhodey mastered for his younger brothers. Yelling never went anywhere happy, which was why he tried not to do it. He was successful more often than he thought he should be but less often than he wanted to be.

Burn, burn, burn them, Anthony knew his seidr was still hissing. Feeling distinctly at a disadvantage didn't stop him from spitting out one of the first reasons that always came to mind. "He spent hundreds of years being overbearing, controlling and abusive! He's too damn stupid to see what he's done. He won't change! He deserves to burn."

"Thor won't change? Do you think he can't?" the older man asked.

"No," came the firm reply.

"Hm. I've been working with him on and off again for a few years and I've found him capable of changing. Every time I've seen him this last year I've pulled him aside to speak with him. His check-ins are going well and the changes he's made have been remarked on by others, including you." The bitter expression that came over his younger brother's face was as close to a complaint about Rhodey's choice to mentor Thor as was going to happen. "If you choose not to acknowledge the progress he's made, that's fine. You're not wrong about his bad behavior. However, the fact remains that without guidance his behavior is ultimately self-defeating. The other Kings of the Nine Realms aren't going to put up with his brash non-diplomacy, nor should they. His own actions will take him to a time when he has to face them."

Every word that came out of his older brother's mouth had the crushing air of certainty that Anthony hated. Rhodey was so often right but he argued anyway. "As if daddy would let his golden boy fall."

"His father won't be around forever, neither will his mother. What do you think will happen when he has no one left to shield him from himself?" Quiet moments passed between them. When Rhodey didn't get an answer he asked again, "Anthony, where do you think his actions will take him?"

"Where he deserves to be which is why you shouldn't be wasting your time on him!" Anthony's voice raised then lowered as his brother's eyebrow arched as if to remind him to watch his tone.

"If his own actions will take him somewhere bad, like a violent death in a future war once he's King of Asgard, then what justification is there for violence in the present?"

A nasty edge crept into Anthony's expression. "Maybe I'm the bad place."

"Is that what you want to be for your wife? A bad place?" Rhodey asked. The disappointment in his voice still didn't cross his face. Another small his flinch passed over his younger brother's face before he quickly looked down. A few more quiet minutes went by before he asked, "I know you don't agree with the form or certainty of its punishment, but can you at least see how his behavior will become punishing?"

Thor's arrogant demands, while lessoned since Rhodey began working with him, were difficult to put up with on the best of days. He and the Asgardian Prince had already had a few disagreements over them. They were so childish to Anthony. As the CEO of a major corporation, it was all too easy for him to understand the severe consequences of immature behavior in powerful leaders. The admission was still bitter. "Yes."

"Ok." Rhodey nodded once. "You have other justifications? Can you put forward another one?"

"He was in a position of authority, and he abused that. I know what a good older brother is. It's not him! He should burn." It was futile and he knew it. He still wanted to convince his brother to let him burn someone.

Nodding again, the older man continued to keep the calm expression that helped set the tone of the discussion. "As the elder of the two of them Thor did have a responsibility to Loki which he didn't uphold. The consequences of that failure are lasting and ugly. Again, you're not wrong, but I think there's one small detail that your anger is blocking out. I think it puts much of his culpability in perspective."

Quickly Anthony pointed a finger at Rhodey and almost yelled, "There's no excuse for what he did!"

"That fact that he was also a child when it happened doesn't excuse his actions. It does explain them," tolerance made an appearance beside the disappointment in the older man's voice. "Tell me, Anthony, how well do children behave without proper guidance? Or with poor guidance?"

Slumping back against his own charred stone ruins, he looked down again. While there were more recent examples to go by his mind drifted back to his own childhood. When Howard wasn't terrorizing him into being a proper Stark or Maria wasn't teaching him how to make a balanced cocktail in early elementary school then he might as well have not had parents. Maria's idea of boarding school for three months to separate him from Rhodey didn't make things better, neither did the hunting trips with the old monsters. He didn't want to, yet cringed at how terribly behaved he was, so awkward and thoughtless. This also wasn't something he wanted to admit to. The unyielding weight of his older brother's gaze bore down on him, heavier the longer he waited to answer. A bitter sigh left his lips. "Not very well." A moment later, "Thor doesn't give a damn about Loki, he never did."

"I can't speak to that yet. All I can say is that mistakes were made." His younger brother was slowly returning to thinking about what was happening and his part in it. There was more calm correction needed. What he really needed was to get Loki's behavior straightened out. She was egging Anthony on without knowing what she was doing. It was too dangerous for his liking. "Do you have any more justifications you'd like to put forward?"

.-.-.-.

Wrinkling his nose, Frey disliked hearing his nephew spoken about disparagingly or having threats of violence made against the boy, particularly by Anthony. Him challenging his nephew to a disciplinary sparring match was the only exception. He let it go as a passing irritation. Something far more interesting was drawing his attention. This man was openly chastising his nephew-by-law and somehow forcing awkward acknowledgements from him. It looked like he was genuinely using conversation to begin talking Anthony through this. He'd tried those tactics and they failed, almost violently. Yet there Anthony was sitting quietly, listening, and responding calmly. There was no anger at this man for his actions. If the emotions crossing his nephew-by-law's face from time to time were any indication the anger was covering embarrassment. There was no violence though, even with the topic of conversation. He listens to the counsel of his brother-in-arms. That was an interesting bit of knowledge for Frey to have. This was entirely and pleasantly surprising since this brother-in-arms seemed to be taking a wise and honorable path to steer Anthony away from violence and bloodshed.

Surprised confusion or perhaps confused surprise danced around the edges of Odin's thoughts. These men were under his son's control. One of them wanting to attack Thor made sense. The other actively steering him away from it for what seemed to be well-reasoned motivations was wholly bizarre. It became uncomfortable when the calmer mortal made some very cogent points about the other Lords of the Elder Realms future dealings with Thor. What is going on here? Are they talking about my Loki? What did he tell them? Why give them different orders? Why make mortals think they can do anything to Thor? That will only end in their deaths.

.-.-.-.

"He helped force her into it! You can't explain away that," Anthony tried to keep the snarl out of his tone but was only partially successful. This wasn't an argument he was winning since it was one that he wanted to end with him burning a person alive. Preferably many people. Rhodey was an immovable roadblock in his plans. If he wanted it he'd have to go around and not get caught.

This was a touchy subject that his younger brother refused to see any nuance on. All he could do was keep discussing it with him until he ceded the point. "Thor did have a hand in driving how things happened, and some things wouldn't have happened without him. You're not wrong there either. However, you keep overlooking Loki's own actions. She was already on the move." Anthony leaned forward to snap but Rhodey was faster. His left hand moved so that he was pointing one finger at his younger. It came to rest against Anthony's chest, halting his momentum. "No. She did not deserve what happened. She was already engaged though, which does incur certain risks. I'm also not saying that Thor shouldn't be held accountable for what he's done. I'm saying that he should be held accountable only for what he's done and that there are many things to consider."

"You already said he's guilty. You admitted it. He's a cruel bastard who deserves to be punished. Stop trying to say I shouldn't burn the flesh from his bones! I'll enjoy doing it!" Very briefly he glanced down at the finger resting on his chest as the hand it was attached to grabbed his shirt, twisted in it, and pulled him forward. Fuck me. His eyes closed in preparation for him being hit again. Thor could bring Mjolnir down on Anthony's head and it wouldn't hurt one iota as much as Rhodey's lightest tap. When the feared blow didn't land he opened his eyes to find he was face to face with his older brother. Disappointment and frustration; a pain that was years in the making shone neon bright in his brother's eyes. It stared him down with a more wounding jolt than anything physical. It left Anthony wanting that punch so they could move on. His mouth ran away with him again. There was no catching it once it made off.

The hurt those sickening words inflicted showed in his eyes. "It isn't our place to take the law into our hands. Even working with SHIELD, you're still working inside the law, but you aren't military or police. You have no right to enforce the punishments for the crimes Thor committed." For a few heartbeats Rhodey just stared down his younger brother until he looked away. It never stopped being awkward to use his own hurt to correct his brothers' behaviors. Sometimes they needed to see the pain they caused to keep them from hurting others. Letting his younger brother go, he leaned back again. "We don't deal in judgment and pain." Rhodey paused long enough to let Anthony squirm uncomfortably. "Or do we? Is this your life's goal now? Hurting people for fun and profit? I didn't think you agreed with that."

"Why do you care anyway? He's a bastard. Make him bleed and move on. You shouldn't waste your time on him," it was a grumbling grouse. He wasn't going to get to burn anyone today. Rhodey wouldn't let him. That meant that Anthony needed to start pulling his anger back again.

Rhodey considered how hard he wanted to be before he spoke. "You're not going to get into it with Thor, neither am I. If I got into it with him like you want to,"

he held up his left hand balled into a fist with one finger up, "I'd expose the truth when people asked why,"

a second finger joined the first, "I'd break the law and would be subject to those consequences,"

a third finger joined the others, "I'd cause an interplanetary diplomatic incident with a superior force,"

a fourth finger joined its brothers, "I'd put our populace in danger from that force,"

his thumb extended as he opened his fist, "It'd be especially awkward since Loki would defend him from me."

"To sum: exposing Loki, abandoning my obligations, starting a war, endangering innocents, and physically assaulting someone I care about, as well as the rest of the multitude of consequences. Do any of those sound like things I would do or condone? Do those sound like good things for me to do? Or you?"

"No," his voice was almost a whisper when he answered his older brother's questions. His wife wasn't the one whose blood he wanted on his hands.

"I'm not going to compromise my principles to satisfy my anger, Anthony. As for why I'm 'wasting my time' on an immature, inconsiderate, impulsive younger man of tremendous ability from a wealthy family whose actions have left his growth as a person stunted, why would I do that, Anthony?" he directed a hard look towards his younger brother. "Why have I done that?"

A desire to curl up and hide with his anger hit Anthony fast and hard. The embarrassment was almost thick enough to hide under. The comparisons Rhodey was making weren't ones that he wanted made. As with Loki, he didn't want to understand he simply wanted to hate them. "I know why," he said quietly.

Sitting back calmly with both hands on his knee again, Rhodey asked, "Do you have any other justifications?"

.-.-.-.

Defend me? Confusion was edging the unease that Thor felt. There were many things not right with any of this, but this stood out as more wrong. There was something he hadn't seen yet that was influencing both Stark and Rhodes; some event by the sound of it. They believed him responsible for it. That Rhodes hadn't spoken with him on it had to be Loki's doing. This brief exchange had him uncomfortably unsettled. Weirdly, it reminded him in small part of how his Uncle Frey disciplined them. He always hated being called to the carpet by their uncle. Standing there for hours while he tried to remember everything he'd said, every answer he'd given, and still not having a satisfactory answer for his uncle brought a very nerve-wracking resignation with it. The disciplinary sparring match always followed after.

How is he doing this? Frey expected Anthony to snap when he was grabbed and pulled forward to be glared at. Instead, he quietly looked away when he could no longer hold his brother-in-arms' gaze. Not a single wall was actively on fire. Nothing yet shined a light on why his nephew-by-law lost control and sought violence and blood. It was something he was going to have to deal with since it seemed to involve Loki, which meant that he was also going to have to somehow handle Anthony. That this man looked to be successfully persuading Anthony away from hunting down Thor pleased him. There were no guards powerful enough if his nephew-by-law chose to strike. Spiriting Thor away to safety in hiding was the only plausible course of action. Even that was dangerous. Frey needed to know how this persuasion was done since it might be something useful to him. Is there some magic at play that I can't see? All he could see was conversation; a listing of the good and the bad so they could be weighed. It was much like what he preferred doing when his nephews needed discipline. Unlike what he did there were no remembering of previous answers to make future ones from. Anthony's terse ones were surprising enough. A little smirk touched Frey's lips. He always forced Loki and Thor to remember all their answers as they stood before him. Check-ins? Does he do this with Thor? Is he trying to mentor my nephew? A curious suspicion popped into his mind suddenly. Thor has been better behaved recently. I wonder if this man had a hand in that. If this is how he behaves then it might be wise to let him have contact with the boy. His smirk widened out into a small grateful smile. Anthony's brother-in-arms is defending Thor, from Anthony.

Arching an eyebrow, Steve tilted his head slightly to one side as he did so. This didn't look or sound like what he'd seen of the scepter's influence. Their eyes weren't even glowing blue. Nor did this sound like indoctrination. It sounded like an older brother chastising his younger brother. This sounded like every other time he'd seen Rhodey start in on Tony. It wasn't forced or fake. The disappointment and irritation in the older man's voice was very real. Steve almost smiled at it. Rhodey always reminded him of his mother. They were very alike, both were patient and kind, but unyielding.

.-.-.-.

"It'd make me feel better," Anthony said. The fire tightened in his chest. Its burning weight was familiar and almost comforting. Though it needed little kindling to ignite and had more than enough fuel to sustain it, it still wanted more to burn than it had. It wanted everything. Anthony only wanted to feed it Asgard. Soon little fire. When the upgrade is complete, then we'll burn more. The dark voice slithered from the back of his mind to whisper again. Rhodes won't stop us then. The relief in that thought was enough to dampen the last of the ache in his back that his older brother's weave didn't chase away.

The burning venom in his brother's seidr was lessening slowly. It was nice to hear even if the words coming out of Anthony's mouth weren't. "I'm certain that making your wife cry won't make you feel better," his voice was vivid in the quiet remains of the kitchen, like the flinch from his younger brother as he said it. "Loki asked you to defend him, not turn him into bloody kindling. You don't have to rush to his defense on everything, but you can at least leave him alone." Small steps, kid, you can do this.

"He doesn't deserve any defense, let alone hers. Let him burn," was the next grumbling reply. All Anthony had was grumbles at the moment. Making his wife cry already happened. Doing it again wasn't needed.

.-.-.-.

Loki defended me, from people I believed to be my shield-brothers. Is Rhodes still my shield-brothers or are they Loki's allies? Loki doesn't want them to harm me? I don't understand this. All of it was worrying. This was making it sound more like Loki wasn't in control of these men but was instead on equal footing with them. Loki has to be in control of them, how else could he have twisted their thoughts? Thor was distracted from his confusion by Fandral.

"Loki's always been pretty, but why did they keep calling him 'her', and is Loki wed to Stark?" Fandral said, the sneer in his voice was obvious. Stark could do much better than a simpering traitor in his opinion.

As his Uncle Frey was opening his mouth to speak, Thor said, "Fandral, shut your mouth." His temper with Fandral was foul of late, his patience short. He was beginning to look back on all the years spent with Loki and was beginning to see just how cruel Fandral was to Loki. The guilt twisted in Thor's gut. He laughed right along with his companions. Had that led Loki to the darker path that he walked? Thor had many questions now, and no answers. He was beginning to wonder if he would get answers this day. He dreaded and desperately wanted those answers in equal measure. Perhaps they would only make things that much worse, but Thor still had to know.

Skuld looked to him when she said that it was time to see what a real hero looked like. Thor puzzled over that. A childish voice in the back of his mind whispered that maybe Loki could come home again. Once Thor saw the truth that Skuld called him to bear witness to, maybe then he could have his Little Brother back. It was such a painfully hopeful voice. He'd heard that voice when Heimdall told them that Loki had reappeared on Midgard. It was only Loki's supposed death that silenced it. Thor wasn't certain he could silence it again. It's not him, not anymore. Just keep reminding yourself of that. Your Loki is gone.

.-.-.-.

"They'd be disappointed if they could hear that. I think it's been too long. Maybe we should take a trip out to Thornburg so you can have a chat with them. Get this all straightened out," Rhodey's voice held the very clear warning that painful accountability was headed Anthony's way unless a course correction happened.

In an instant Anthony's head snapped up so his gaze could lock onto his older brother. Fear and pain crossed his expression before he looked down again and spoke quietly. "We don't need to do that." It'd been years since he visited Thornburg. Rhodey was right, that was too long. There were times he loved going there; the times when he went to visit and bring flowers, when nostalgia and love were in the air. However, there were other times he feared going; times when Rhodey forced him up the seventy-five steps to the top of the hill. The cherry tree at the top was always cheerful. The last home, pale white with large marble beds, was waiting for him. In the silent hall he stood to explain what he'd done to cold faces that never moved. The disappointment waiting there was always haunting. Lingering emotion: it was more crushing even than Rhodey's disappointment.

After another moment he decided that digging himself out of this probably wasn't possible since his mouth had sabotaged him. Half-hearted excuses came to mind. A few even slipped out of Anthony's mouth before he silenced them. "It's just that, ..you already said, ..so I thought. I know what you think on …"

.-.-.-.

The sudden look of nervous dread that crossed Anthony's face interested Frey because it was a particular type of dread that he was well acquainted with. Anthony feared to be caught. Where is Thornburg and who is there? Perhaps Loki knows. I need to know. They may be useful as friends or allies.

.-.-.-.

Of course, you wandered into a discussion that was supposed to be between two high ranking military officers. I made sure you were occupied first. Jinxed myself. None of the frown that he felt showed in his expression. "What I said, Anthony, was that from the perspective of a senior officer, if Thor were under my command I could charge him with numerous violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Honestly, if he was under my command and I had leave I'd just haul in front of Steve; hand him the evidence and tell him that Thor had violated Articles 78., 86., 88., 89., 90., 92., 94., 98., 99., 104., 113., 115., 116., 117., 119., 128., 133. and 134. to round things out. However! Other things, like what we've already discussed, would have to be taken into account. My recommendation would be that only Articles 78., 90. for willfully disobeying superior officer, 92. for dereliction of duty, 119. and 128. under 78., 133. and 134. be pursued." A harder edge crept into his expression. "I'd also recommend some sort of educational restorative justice, so he'd come out of it a better man than he went in as. Ideally, the end result would be a man who was capable and mature enough to handle this truth. As it stands he is neither."

The metal and Loki weren't getting any less broken. Both were his fault, as Rhodey getting after him was. "Yeah, but Steve's just a Captain too. There's not much he could do."

The speed at which Rhodey's eyebrow arched was matched only by the pique of its sudden stop. "You do know he's a U.S., U.N. and NATO recognized five-star general, the highest ranking military officer globally, right? His callsign is 'Captain America', his rank is General Rogers." When Anthony's eyes widened and he continued to stare down awkwardly, he said, "You didn't think one of the most experienced, driven, and knowledgeable officers, who happens to be among the most tactically, strategically, and militarily brilliant minds the human race has ever produced, would be allowed to languish as a Captain, did you? I realize that military intelligence is the butt of too many jokes, but the service secretaries, Generals and senior officers aren't idiots."

A small shrug came with his leaning back some. "I understand your anger. Mine would have me bounce Thor off every flat surface I could find. It wouldn't care that he didn't know why I was beating him. That's why I don't put actions to my anger because none of those actions will be right."

A little huff passed his lips. "My anger feels right," Anthony said quietly, unwilling to give it up but unable to act on it either.

A softer expression came over Rhodey. His younger brother was sulking, which was a step in the right direction away from violence. His eyes were still darkened. There was still more to be discussed. "I understand that anger, you know I do. I understand why you're upset, but I need you to try to clear your mind and think. You know the answer to this, so tell me; what is anger?"

More discussions than he could remember clearly yelled at Anthony from his memories. It was phrased differently sometimes but was expounded on and elucidated until no facet was unclear. It was something he used to have no trouble with. It wasn't so easy for him anymore. Several long minutes passed before he decided to spit out the answer that could move them forward. Sullenness tightly laced Anthony's voice when he chose to speak. "Anger isn't something we act on. It's something we resolve peacefully." The dark voice whispered at him again, I can peacefully burn him alive, and Asgard. Aren't the dead always peaceful?

.-.-.-.

"Arrogant mortal, who do you think you are, to speak of our Prince so? You have no right!" Sif stood suddenly, so angry that she was spitting her words.

"Sif, sit down, please" Thor asked. He appreciated her loyalty. She was a dear friend and companion. Right then, her anger wasn't useful. It certainly wasn't justified to hold anger against men who he wasn't sure could have their actions held against them. Thor still didn't know how much Loki influenced them. Rhodes seemed most uninfluenced, yet there were little signs that he was. He still didn't know what to think.

"But Thor, this arrogant ..." Sif tried finish her sentence.

"Sit down and shut your mouth," it was Frey who spoke next. His voice was low and sharp. It rippled the air around him and rolled over those before him. The entire situation had him feeling on edge. Everything was coming apart and there was nothing he could do besides keep calm. As with Anthony, acting on his irritation wouldn't serve him well. Showing his temper might draw attention to the reason for it which he was certain was soon to be on screen. Alerting Odin to the depth of the situation any sooner than was necessary was unwise in his opinion. He tried not to pay attention to the odd look Frigga gave him. Instead he looked back to the screen, to Anthony and his honorable brother-in-arms. He would pursue an accountability that would strengthen Thor. Right the wrongs by ensuring they can't happen again? He couldn't disagree with Rhodes' position. By the laws of the land Thor was guilty of dereliction of duty, his rank as Captain in the Asgardian Army of the Land saw to that. Frey never thought it could rightfully be held against the boy. He'd never been educated in what his duties entailed. The boy still thought the rank was an honorary title. Rhodes understood and moved to educate the boy. How honorable and interesting. Perhaps I should send my investigators to discover what Thor is doing with him. While there was still nothing to tell him how this brother-in-arms was forcing answers from Anthony it was still a more pleasant consideration than things falling apart around him.

As Frigga looked over her shoulder she arched an eyebrow at Frey. She didn't care for the interruption any more than she cared for her brother possibly being peevish with her eldest son's companions there of all places. She didn't care for some foolish mortals thinking they could lay hands on either of her sons. She particularly didn't care for the lies her youngest son was still telling. This just wasn't acceptable. None of this made her happy.

Quietly glaring ahead at the screen while Sif sat was her only recourse after the Lord's order. Only a minor glare was aimed at Colonel Rhodes. Thor had already mentioned how that mortal was useful. So long as he remained respectful to her Prince then she could forgive him some ill-placed feelings since he was always polite and made Thor happy. A larger glare was aimed squarely at Stark, who Sif knew as well. She'd spoken with him several times when they'd come to visit Thor on Midgard. He was a brash businessman. Had she known he harbored such sentiments towards her Prince then she would've gutted him already. The next time they met wouldn't be so polite.

A smile was directed at Sif before a frown was directed at the screen. What duty has Loki lied about and said that I was derelict in performing? What do they think I forced Loki to do? I didn't force Loki to attack me, or to invade Midgard. Those aren't my fault. Loki's madness is to blame. He grimaced in pain. My Loki is gone. Thor frowned at them and hoped they would be able to be freed from Loki's wicked control. He still hoped it was something as simple as Loki controlling them, even though Rhodes didn't seem to be under anyone's sway but his own. Thor knew then that he needed to know what this truth was that Rhodes and Stark were keeping secret. It was some terrible lie driving these poor mortals. It couldn't be anything else. What mischief are you into now, Loki? Something uneasy twinged in the back of his mind. What if it isn't a lie? What if Loki is into more mischief on Midgard and they know what he's doing? An uncomfortable apprehension built in him bringing with it an uneasy clarity as he looked around the room at people gathered by a Norn. "I have gathered you here so that the veil of secrets might be pulled back from your eyes, that they might burn with the radiance of truth. You are all guilty," he could hear Skuld saying again. Thor's gaze traveled back to the screen. There was only one sensible conclusion. Something is coming.

A near scowl crossed Steve's face. That was a heavy list of charges to be brought by a senior officer. Even dropping most of them, Articles 78., 90., 92, 119., 128., 133. and 134 were still no laughing matter. Part of him leaned towards it all being fabricated since Loki was involved. That part was restrained by Rhodey seeming so much like himself. Before he could decide anything he needed to know more about what they were talking about. It would be useful in determining how Loki was influencing them.

A simple quirk of his eyebrow was as much surprise as Director Fury displayed. They think Thor disobeyed a superior officer, failed to do his duty and was an accessory to assault and manslaughter. All of that would be conduct unbecoming of an officer and would probably have other crimes involved. Why keep those and not the desertion, mutiny and sedition, misbehavior before the enemy, aiding the enemy and numerous disrespect and non-compliance charges? Thor's not even in the military. What would Loki get out of saying he is? How are the Chitauri involved?

A snort of disdain almost came from Odin. As if some rowdy mortal could do anything to his son. It was a laughable proposition. The other one at least seemed like a decent sort. He wondered what other lies Loki had filled these mortals' heads with. Less amusing was the frustration that came with those lies. Loki had always been manipulative, but it'd risen to a completely unacceptable level. Once he had Loki home again he was going to have words with the boy over everything that'd happened. The lying would be addressed with the rest of it. If there's anything left to address.

.-.-.-.

The vengeful violent thoughts passing over his younger brother's face told Rhodey what he already knew. Anthony needed more work. "Before we move on, let's recap. What crippling deficiency does Thor have that's pertinent to this discussion? Something that both causes and explains his behavior?"

It was another answer slow in coming. Anthony wanted to avoid the entire conversation. It wasn't going anywhere. He knew that if he didn't answer then he wouldn't go anywhere either. "He's a grown-up child and it's his fucking parents' fault. He's too much of an idiot to know what he's doing."

"Alright," the older man nodded slowly. "Will he ever face a trial in any courtroom on any planet for what he's done?"

A disgusted sneer crossed over Anthony's face, "Hell will freeze over first."

"Alright," another few slow nod passed. "That seems to leave us with two main options. Does it though?" Reaching out, Rhodey gently lifted his younger brother's chin, so they were looking at each other. Once he caught Anthony's gaze in his he spoke. His voice left no room for arguments, discussions, or whining pleas. "Senseless violence and murder are never an option. They never will be. We are not monsters." After another long hard stare, he released his brother's chin.

The dark voice in the back of Anthony's mind continued to whisper at him, Is it really so bad to be a monster? Your enemies' blood in the wind mixing with the ash of their burning homes. Their screams make a glorious chorus. He rubbed lightly at his temples. They were aching suddenly.

"Since resolving the situation through any violence isn't an option that leaves resolving things through peaceful means as our best option." Rhodey hoped that Anthony was ready to move forward. Rehashing everything was going to take time that he wanted to spent getting this straightened out. "You need to understand that if you don't use peaceful methods to handle this situation then Thor is out of your reach. Their father or anyone from Asgard is already outside what you can do. Do you want Thor to be beyond you also?"

Though Anthony's tears had stopped flowing his seidr was still grumbling. Like he couldn't deny why Thor was a screw-up, he couldn't deny why he screwed-up. It was too easy to understand. The last of the hated moisture wiped cleanly from his eyes. Crying was a humiliation to any Stark; he was no different. Unfortunately, he'd cried enough tears to fill an ocean tide since he'd met his wife, so he didn't feel like starting on a second one. One more moment passed before he pulled his seidr in a little. It was probably burning Rhodey. His older brother never complained for himself though, only for others who might be burned. Regrettably, the burn was a necessity that was losing its effectiveness. Having Rhodey discover what it was covering didn't bother him since he'd already shown his brother almost everything. It was enough to placate his brother and cover for the few things he was still hiding. It was Loki that he truly feared seeing through the rage to the trove of secrets beneath. A panicked terror was what he felt at the thought of what would happen if his secrets were ever discovered. Doing things like this didn't help preserve his secrets. He couldn't stop himself. It was always why he let his brother stop him. "I just want to burn them alive. It's not asking much," Anthony grumbled.

"And I want you to think before you speak and act, but neither of us is getting what we want anytime soon," Rhodey didn't hesitate on the frustrated rejoinder. A small sigh let loose as he felt the burn of Anthony 's seidr lesson.

"You still shouldn't waste your time on him," the younger man groused again. He'd never liked the thought of his older brother giving any of what he received to Thor. Stopping Rhodey wasn't possible which made him grumpier about the entire thing. "He's not one of us. They don't like it either." His pain at not having seen them in such a long time drove a little more irritation into his voice. None of them had found a way around the bargain yet. His bargain was stronger than their arrangement. That was always going to make him cry.

His younger brothers being both greedy about his time and jealous of who he gave it to was always as flattering and heart-warming as it was frustrating and unhelpful. All he could do was remind them time and again, "Someone doesn't have to be family to be in need of my attention, and Thor is in need of it. Whatever causes you want to attribute to it, and there are many, the fact is that he's a mess. He needs someone to give him a direction to move in with clear expectations and standards; someone to tell him what he did wrong and why it's wrong as well as tell him what he did right and why it's right. He needs someone to listen to his concerns without judgment. He needs someone who isn't going to put up with his foolishness or be cowed by his family's standing. He needs someone who's going to force him to earn respect because that's the only kind he won't abuse." Another pointed look was aimed at Anthony before Rhodey continued. "All of this should sound familiar, so it should be no surprise to you that he's responded well to me beginning to give him those things."

A little frown crossed Rhodey's face before it was put away behind the calmer more supportive look. His brother's eyes were lightening as the anger lifted. It was nice to see. "They don't like it, I know. They also understand that this is the best possible outcome I can effect. Odin is so far out of my sphere of influence that he's nothing more than an abstract concern. Guiding Thor towards becoming a principled, moral, decent man who I can respect, someone who won't make those mistakes again, isn't justice but it's the closest I can get. I can't remake the past so that I was with Loki from the beginning. I can't reach Asgard to enact the reforms that would be required to truly address the problem. The future is all we have which is why I chose to make it a better one."

Careful to keep his tone even and inquisitive with his expression supportive and uncondemning Rhodey asked, "They understand that. What's keeping you from understanding this? Which problem are you stuck on?"

In a parting shot before it withdrew to the gruesome recesses of Anthony's mind the dark voice spoke, That's good for them, but I still recommend murder. All of us know it can solve problems. Having blood already on his hands made it easier and harder to answer. A sigh slipped out of his lips when he answered himself. I don't want to like that. Rhodey is right. I shouldn't. Honesty was always best with his brother, so he looked up and let it out, "It's just hard to think that they'll never be punished for what they've done. It's not right."

The openness of his younger brother's struggle that came with the further lightening of his eyes was a positive sign to Rhodey. It meant that deeper thought was happening. That in turn meant that getting them to the actual discussion could begin. A small patient smile touched his lips. "I'm right there with you. Knowing that there won't be justice for what's happened is hard." Rhodey shrugged slightly. "This didn't happen to me. I'm just trying to help clean up the aftermath and make sure the people I care about are taken care of. Maybe I don't need righteous justice. It's not what Loki wants from her brother." His expression darkened then. "I know what I want from him."

.-.-.-.

The intent to listen drew Thor forward in his seat. So, Rhodes does respect me? He is my shield-brother. That was a relief to the building anxiety. The temptation to be insulted by the Midgardian officer's words was dismissed halfway through being brought up. With a moment of silence in his thoughts the childish part of his mind wondered if he could use the situation to get more of Rhodes' time, or at least more consistent time. That depended on a few things he didn't know yet. He hoped that maybe he hadn't lost both of them as shield-brothers; that neither were traitors. It just didn't seem like the men he knew. Stark was a good man who was wise, intelligent, and patient. Colonel Rhodes was exemplary to him. It had to be Loki. Even the occasional poor aim Stark had couldn't make him see his shield-brother in such a poor light. Thor couldn't bring himself to believe anything bad about the colonel because he didn't want to. He wanted to rescue them.

What did Loki tell these mortals, Frigga frowned at the screen as she wondered. It was something bad which displeased her. She didn't know why Loki would speak poorly of his own family. Something happened to her son. Everything was fine until a few years ago when her son just fell apart for no discernable reason. It looked like the boy came undone upon finding out that he was Joten, but that seemed flimsy. Altogether, it was a painfully abrupt way to lose her son.

Thought Odin was quite used to people speaking poorly of him, since he was a King, there seemed to be something more to this. The Lord of a Realm must be able to bear the slings and barbs of a harsh counsel but he had the impression that they truly believed he'd wronged Loki in some way. Loki has poisoned these men's minds. What further mess has my son made that I must now worry about?

An approving smile touched Frey's lips. He liked knowing that Rhodes was setting aside his personal feelings on what happened to educate Thor. Anthony had already told him of how Rhodes assisted him to care for Loki. It seemed that Rhodes was willingly caring for both his beloved niece and his nephew. Frey approved it that. He seems quite honorable. This is well, he thought. It was also interesting that Thor's name hadn't caused Anthony to go into another fit of rage. Rhodes managed to swiftly calm Anthony, and Frey wanted to know how it was done. He couldn't see how. All this brother-in-arms did was chastise and try to educate through conversation. Anthony's violent response to his attempts to use either of those made him leery of using them again. Perhaps there's a seidr technique that he's using that I can't see. Something like a Calm Heart Spell?

.-.-.-.

Honest curiosity edged Anthony's sulking thoughts. Rhodey was detail and goal oriented. If he was going somewhere with Thor then there was already a plan in place with defined steps and benchmarks to meet. "What do you want?"

To personally correct his worst mistake. "Thor has a raft of deficiencies which make him weak and ill-suited to simple adulthood, let alone handling the pressures of leadership. It won't be that way forever. Eventually, I'll work him into having the maturity, character, wisdom, and introspection to be able to handle the truth. When he's strong enough I'm going to be the one to tell him that he failed in his responsibilities as an older brother. He didn't uplift his brother. He drove Loki to suicide several times. When he begins to deal with the consequences of what he's done I'll be there to guide him to a better path. That is what I want; for Thor to understand that his actions can profoundly affect those he cares about, and he needs to be more careful."

His hopes were high for getting Thor to come around to a better way. Although his family's actions and life itself made a mess out of him Rhodey believed that he was still fundamentally sound. He couldn't say the same thing about any of his brothers, which is why he'd adjusted his expectations for them years ago. They were never going to be able to straighten out like Thor could and he wouldn't love them less because of it.

.-.-.-.

How do you know about that?! Frey's pulse sped up in alarm. His gaze darted to his nephew; whose eyes were wide with shock. I don't think this is how you meant to tell the boy. A moment later he heard the shock and grief bleed through his beloved sister's seidr. I should tell her this, at least. It'd never been a certain decision. It was only because Loki begged him, because he didn't want to hurt Loki more than he already was, that he proposed the bargain that he had. He kept his own seidr clamped down tight so that she wouldn't hear his turmoil. The ache in his chest flared up again. Frey hoped that she would be forgiving on this one matter. He knew that if she found of the rest of it she would never forgive him. If? No, when is more like. Will the 'when' be this day?

The sudden snickering he heard from the markings under his skin bothered McCorrmick. In a move that he hoped wouldn't draw the elder aunt's ire he used the sarammr to create a quiet space in his thoughts so he could have some privacy. She's testing you. Don't get distracted. He kept his confusion and disgust at her actions there as well. Suicide wasn't funny. None of this was.